Next time mashed potatoes sit on the dinner plate, imagine wrestling in them.
Illustration by Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Savannah adds new attractions to festival that tends to get down and dirty
Savannah adds new attractions to festival that tends to get down and dirty
John and Carol Spellman, directors of Potato Fest held on Route 31 in Savannah each year, said potato wrestling is one of visitors' favorite attractions.
Potato wrestling, peeling, decorating and tasting are back for its 12th year of festivities from Friday to Sunday.
“Families really enjoy it and it puts Savannah on the map,” John Spellman said.
The Spellmans, who have planned the festival for the past 11 years, said the attendance and popularity of the festival grows each year.
After the first year, the Spellmans took over the planning, envisioning a festival with tractors, amusement rides, flea markets and of course, potatoes.
Potato Fest began with the goal of bringing back the Empire Potato Company Festival that ended in 1948, John said.
“When the festival started nobody knew where Savannah was. Now people visit from out of the state,” he added.
Carol Spellman estimates an attendance of about 7,000 people based on previous year's attendance records.
Potato Fest will open noon Friday, celebrating Senior Citizen Day with floral arrangement competitions, a photography contest and a mini-tractor pull.
Volunteer judges will rank each competition and award the prizes.
For the evening, the Spellmans planned a new square dancing event.
“We wanted to beef up Friday night,” John said.
Saturday's festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a parade and a motorized model airplane show followed by numerous potato events.
Judges will pick the best potato dessert, bread and main dish during the Food Contest late Saturday morning. One of the three will be awarded “Best of Show.”
In 2004, a Caramel Swirl Potato Cheesecake with pecan and a macadamia nut crust won the competition, Carol said.
Later in the day visitors will have the chance to compete in two types of potato peeling contests or
test their homemade potato
guns against other festival competitors.
Jackson Farms and Wayne Farms, Inc., both of Savannah, donate all the potatoes for festival events.
Aside from potatoes, the festival offers two tractor pull competitions on Saturday and Sunday evening as well as an all-terrain vehicle mud bog Saturday afternoon.
“Teens love to participate in the Dash for Cash following the Mud Bog,” Carol said.
In Dash for Cash, teens and children have the chance to race through the mud bog pit to reach the other side where envelopes filled with cash and other prizes are placed.
The Spellmans also added amusement rides to this year's festivities. Admission for rides is charged by the amusement company.
A committee of volunteers begins planning the festival immediately after one ends.
“It's amazing how the volunteers pull together to both plan the event and then run it,” Carol said. “By Sunday night we are exhausted, but it's worth it.”
Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or
kristina.martino@lee.net
If you go
What: Potato Fest 2006
When: Noon Friday through Sunday
Where: Route 31, Savannah
Cost: $2 for adults 16 and older; free parking
For details: Visit: http://potatofest.tripod.com
Potato wrestling, peeling, decorating and tasting are back for its 12th year of festivities from Friday to Sunday.
“Families really enjoy it and it puts Savannah on the map,” John Spellman said.
The Spellmans, who have planned the festival for the past 11 years, said the attendance and popularity of the festival grows each year.
After the first year, the Spellmans took over the planning, envisioning a festival with tractors, amusement rides, flea markets and of course, potatoes.
Potato Fest began with the goal of bringing back the Empire Potato Company Festival that ended in 1948, John said.
“When the festival started nobody knew where Savannah was. Now people visit from out of the state,” he added.
Carol Spellman estimates an attendance of about 7,000 people based on previous year's attendance records.
Potato Fest will open noon Friday, celebrating Senior Citizen Day with floral arrangement competitions, a photography contest and a mini-tractor pull.
Volunteer judges will rank each competition and award the prizes.
For the evening, the Spellmans planned a new square dancing event.
“We wanted to beef up Friday night,” John said.
Saturday's festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a parade and a motorized model airplane show followed by numerous potato events.
Judges will pick the best potato dessert, bread and main dish during the Food Contest late Saturday morning. One of the three will be awarded “Best of Show.”
In 2004, a Caramel Swirl Potato Cheesecake with pecan and a macadamia nut crust won the competition, Carol said.
Later in the day visitors will have the chance to compete in two types of potato peeling contests or
test their homemade potato
guns against other festival competitors.
Jackson Farms and Wayne Farms, Inc., both of Savannah, donate all the potatoes for festival events.
Aside from potatoes, the festival offers two tractor pull competitions on Saturday and Sunday evening as well as an all-terrain vehicle mud bog Saturday afternoon.
“Teens love to participate in the Dash for Cash following the Mud Bog,” Carol said.
In Dash for Cash, teens and children have the chance to race through the mud bog pit to reach the other side where envelopes filled with cash and other prizes are placed.
The Spellmans also added amusement rides to this year's festivities. Admission for rides is charged by the amusement company.
A committee of volunteers begins planning the festival immediately after one ends.
“It's amazing how the volunteers pull together to both plan the event and then run it,” Carol said. “By Sunday night we are exhausted, but it's worth it.”
Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or
kristina.martino@lee.net
If you go
What: Potato Fest 2006
When: Noon Friday through Sunday
Where: Route 31, Savannah
Cost: $2 for adults 16 and older; free parking
For details: Visit: http://potatofest.tripod.com
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