Barnesville preparing for Potato Days 2010

Food, family fun and many events make up the Potato Days Festival, held this year on Friday and Saturday, August 27 and 28 in Barnesville, Minnesota.

Well known for its potato production, Barnesville draws on their potato heritage for two days of “spud”riffic fun. Each year, an estimated 17,000 tater lovers from across the country descend on this town of 2,200 to enjoy bushels of FREE fun for the entire family

Anyone that has attended the festival raves about the good food court that serves up the best of potato pancakes, dumplings, Norwegian lefse, french fries, mashed potatoes and gravy and potato sausage. There are non-potato items such as pork or beef sandwiches, hamburgers, fried bread tacos, watermelon and smoothies served as well.

The main-stay of the festival is the potato peeling and potato picking contests but family fun continues with such events as the mashed potato wrestling competition, strong man contest, sculpting contest, street fair, “Eyes of Fashion” fashion show, quilt contest, stage entertainment and the ever-growing classic car show. Also there are the cooking contests consisting of making the best lefse entry or the best potato recipe.

The featured event at the 2010 festival is the Strongman Competition. This event grows bigger every year with more and more joining in on the fun. People come from all over to watch this fun, family competition. Whether you are a competitor or just like to watch – this is the year to join us at Potato Days 2010!

The demolition derby, a very popular event, continues to grow and to bring in the sports enthusiast that likes the thrills and banging of smashing cars.

Other activities include the whist and pinochle tournaments, horseshoe contest, and Miss Tater Tot Contest. For the chocolate lover there is the chocolate festival. There are dances for all ages as well! Friday night is a teen dance and on Saturday night a street dance for the over 21 crowd.

For those wanting more athletic competition, come and join the 5K/10K/Fun Run, softball tournament, the 3 on 3 Basketball contests or the Volksmarch.

Whether “spuds” are part of the activity or not, combine all the food and events and you’ve cooked up a “spud”tacular Friday and Saturday while attending the Potato Days Festival in Barnesville, Minnesota on August 27 and 28, 2010.

For more information check out the festival’s website at www.potatodays.com or for a free brochure including a complete schedule of events call the “spud” line at 1-800-525-4901