The Valentine's Day Bandit
Each Valentine’s Day for nearly fifty years, Portland has mysteriously awoken to hundreds of red paper hearts taped to windows, doors, and lampposts — the work of the city’s beloved “Valentine’s Day Bandit.” The anonymous tradition began in the 1970s and was quietly carried on for decades by Kevin Fahrman of Falmouth, who was revealed as the Bandit after his passing in 2023. Though his identity is no longer a secret, the spirit of the Bandit lives on through Portlanders who continue to tape hearts around the city each February 14th — a simple, joyful reminder that a little mystery and kindness go a long way.
For all the days along the way
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