Potato Day your chance for a free baked potato

Well over 100 years have passed since Greeley celebrated the first Potato Day in 1894. Held in downtown Lincoln Park, it paid tribute to Weld County’s most important crop at that time.

Since the festival was resurrected in 1987 as a fundraiser by the Friends of the Greeley Museums, it has grown to include events and fun for the whole family. But that doesn’t mean the fundamental spirit of Potato Day has been changed in any way.

“It celebrates and commemorates our agricultural roots in Weld County,” said Ann Norman, this year’s Potato Day chairwoman.

Potato Day has now become one of the largest living history festivals in northern Colorado. On Saturday, it will return to the Centennial Village Museum, 1475 A St. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. — bringing back with it all the historical re-creations and flavor of life in the 19th century.

Between 30 and 35 stations will be set up across 8 acres of space, featuring demonstrations of activities such as blacksmithing, quilting and scrub-board laundry. Norman said these attractions offer a stroll down memory lane for most folks.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to re-create our past,” she said. “This is a really good opportunity, if you’re a history buff.”

Musicians and dancers will be on hand in the Village throughout the day, including the Kiwanis Red Shirt Band, Happy Harpers, and singing cowboy Ray Delgado. Norman said it was important for the selected performers to be representative of Greeley’s diverse ethnic heritage.

“We try to cover all the different ethnic groups in our entertainment,” she said.

This year’s events will also offer an expanded slate of childrens’ activities. Kids can enjoy carnival games in the Potato Patch, and look inside Lone Valley School to see what classrooms looked like years ago. As for adults, there will be a cake walk, bake sale and used book sale.

And that’s without mentioning the free baked potato that comes with the price of admission to Potato Day, loaded with all the toppings and served with free slices of watermelon and popcorn. Prices are $6 for ages 12 and over, $4 for children 3-11, and free for children 2 and under.

Norman said Potato Day is her favorite festival of the year, and a wonderful way for the Friends of the Greeley Museums to begin its fall season. She believes that attendees will take with them a feeling of well-being, and a sense of pride in being able to live in such a special area.

“It’s a wonderful celebration of folks coming together,” she said. “It’s good food, good people, (and) having a great time.”