A beloved food returns to the spotlight on Saturday with the revival of Houghton’s Potato Festival.
From the 1920s until 1980, the city hosted a potato festival celebrating the hearty crop that local farmers grew and shipped to markets across the Midwest. Community Development Manager Danielle Perkowitz said remnants of that era still dot the region.
“I mean, you can still see some of the old potato sheds around. I think there’s one in Lake Linden and one not too far from here. And those were buildings they used to fill with potatoes and they were right off the train tracks,” Perkowitz said.
The festival saw a small return in 2007 through the Carnegie Museum. This year, the city and museum joined forces to make it bigger.
“Elise Nelson of the Carnegie Museum wanted to bring that back and she did a small version in 2007, but then we decided to join forces this year and make it something a little bit bigger and get everybody really excited about potatoes,” Perkowitz said.
The Carnegie Museum of Houghton will set up displays on the region’s potato farming history. Visitors can learn about the history of potatoes in the Keweenaw and discover facts about the vegetable itself. Free kids’ crafts, including build-your-own Mr. Potato Heads and potato sack races, round out the daytime activities from noon to 4 p.m.
From 3 to 7 p.m., the community will gather on the waterfront pier for more fun and food. East Fork Pasty Co. will serve pasties, pierogies, tater tots and french fries. Local spots will also offer potato-themed treats. Prickly Pine will serve a sweet potato casserole latte, and Beviamo will mix a potato syrup into a take on the Cosmo.
“We’re gonna have different potato sweets,” Perkowitz said, describing the festival’s lineup.
Find more details for the Potato Festival in Houghton on Saturday here.
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