
Old fashioned
fun awaits in Barnesville,
Minnesota as the lowly spud takes center
stage for the annual Potato Days Festival. Touted as one of the best
potato producing areas in the country, Barnesville is proud to celebrate
their potato heritage with two days of "spud"tacular excitement.
A perfect weekend getaway, the entire family will enjoy bushels
of activities from sunrise to sunset. The festival, originally
dating back to the late 30's, combines
some of the more traditional fare with a new millennium twist.
There's something for everyone, from the nostalgic Potato
Picking and Peeling Contests
to the updated Miss Tator Tot Pageant and
the specialized art of Mashed
Potato Sculpturing.
Besides a wild assortment of potato-theme contests, games and
displays on the slate, the Potato Days Festival also boasts an
"a-ppealing" menu of potato favorites. The Norwegian influence
is evident in the "spud"riffic smorgasbord which includes lefse,
potato dumplings, potato sausage, baked potatoes, potato
pancakes and
potato soup. In addition, participants
are invited to display their culinary talents as part of the National
Lefse Cookoff and Potato
Cookoff competition.
Rated as one of the best festivals in the country by US News and
World Reports, the Barnesville Potato Days Festival truly captures
small town America at its finest!
Relax as you take in the Horse
Drawn Historic Wagon Tour, keep
your "eyes peeled" for the Hidden
Golden Potato, marvel
at the Sewing and Stacking competition and
take in the huge Potato
Days Parade featured on Saturday evening.
Visitors are sure to do a double take at the cleverly designed
potato sack outfits while they
browse through the street fair and produce vendors
or enjoy the wide variety of stage
entertainment.
Kids find non-stop fun as they try their hand at the all time
favorite Potato Scramble. Tator
enthusiasts of all ages are entertained with events such as the Potato
Car Races and Mr.
and Mrs. Potato Head competition. Have fun and test your skill
with the Dunk
Tank,
and inflatables. Everyone enjoys a look at the
antique potato equipment.
What particularly stands out in the eyes of visitors from across
the country is the festival's allegiance to its name sake ... potatoes.
Virtually everything you could possibly do to a potato is done
over the two days..pick it, peel it, toss it, fry it, race it,
bake it; but most of all enjoy it. One visit and we're sure that
you'll agree, "It's a smashing good time! |