The potato will be king again, or at least for the three days of the Savannah Potato Festival.
“This event celebrates the potato,” said John Spellman, the event's chairman. “It used to be the largest crop grown right here in Savannah. The potato is no longer the king but we celebrate like it still was.”
The annual event will have games, rides, food and a car show, which will all focus on the potato. For Spellman, his favorite game is the mashed potato tag team wrestling match.
“We get 500 people alone just to watch that event,” Spellman said. “That's just a fun event because people love to see other people slop around in eight inches of mashed potatoes. The object is not only to pin your opponent but cover them in as much mashed potatoes as you can. This year's featured match is going to be Little Spud vs. Potato Eye. It will be worth watching.”
Preparation for the wrestling will begin five hours in advance, when a cement mixer is used to mash the potatoes. After they are placed into the pool, pepper and butter may also be added for some flavor, Spellman said.
Participants for the event will be divided up into age groups for male and female children, and male and female adults.
Another popular event is the potato gun shoot-out, where contestants compete to see who has the most accurate launcher.
“You use some 4-inch PVC pipe, a can of hair spray and a potato, and musket it down the tube,” Spellman said. “Then all you have to do is light the fuse and pull the trigger and watch it shoot the potato. We are looking for the most accurate shot. The winner will get a ribbon and some money.”
And anyone that gets hungry from all of the competition will be able to find something to eat in one of the many food vending tents, Spellman said. Every vendor was asked to make at least one potato dish for the event, whether it's a drink, a salad or a main course.
“There will be chocolate cake with potatoes, chocolate pie with potatoes, potato stew, potato soup, potato salad, potato pizza and more,” Spellman said. “The cake is really good, people always clamor over it. It's just a huge three-day potato frenzy held in Savannah.”
And with more than 5,000 people and an Elvis impersonator expected, Spellman said the event was easily the largest in Wayne County.
“There is also a flea market, a potato peeling contest, a tractor exhibit, a car show and 3-D fireworks,” he said. “You just need to pick up the glasses at the emcee tent. If you haven't seen fireworks in 3-D, then you've never seen fireworks. It's amazing.”
Nate Robson
253-5311 ext. 248
nathan.robson@lee.net
If you go.
What: Savannah Potato Festival
When: Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19; 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20; and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21
Where: Just off of Route 31 in Savannah
Cost: $2 parking
Info: Call 365-3156
Full schedule of events
Friday, Sept. 19
1 and 4 p.m. - Mike Amico's magic show
5 p.m. - Amusement rides
6 p.m. - Wildflower centerpiece and vegetable art contest
7 p.m. - Photography contest
Saturday, Sept. 20
10 a.m. - Parade
Noon - All-county ATV mud bog
Noon to 4 p.m. - Classic car show and amusement rides
2 p.m. - Potato gun shootout
4 p.m. - Potato wrestling
6 p.m. - Potato peeling contest
8:30 p.m. - 3-D fireworks
Sunday, Sept. 21
7:30 a.m. - All you can eat pancake breakfast
10 a.m. - Fireman's water ball contest
Noon - Amusement rides
Noon to 4 p.m. - All-Elvis revue
The annual event will have games, rides, food and a car show, which will all focus on the potato. For Spellman, his favorite game is the mashed potato tag team wrestling match.
“We get 500 people alone just to watch that event,” Spellman said. “That's just a fun event because people love to see other people slop around in eight inches of mashed potatoes. The object is not only to pin your opponent but cover them in as much mashed potatoes as you can. This year's featured match is going to be Little Spud vs. Potato Eye. It will be worth watching.”
Preparation for the wrestling will begin five hours in advance, when a cement mixer is used to mash the potatoes. After they are placed into the pool, pepper and butter may also be added for some flavor, Spellman said.
Participants for the event will be divided up into age groups for male and female children, and male and female adults.
Another popular event is the potato gun shoot-out, where contestants compete to see who has the most accurate launcher.
“You use some 4-inch PVC pipe, a can of hair spray and a potato, and musket it down the tube,” Spellman said. “Then all you have to do is light the fuse and pull the trigger and watch it shoot the potato. We are looking for the most accurate shot. The winner will get a ribbon and some money.”
And anyone that gets hungry from all of the competition will be able to find something to eat in one of the many food vending tents, Spellman said. Every vendor was asked to make at least one potato dish for the event, whether it's a drink, a salad or a main course.
“There will be chocolate cake with potatoes, chocolate pie with potatoes, potato stew, potato soup, potato salad, potato pizza and more,” Spellman said. “The cake is really good, people always clamor over it. It's just a huge three-day potato frenzy held in Savannah.”
And with more than 5,000 people and an Elvis impersonator expected, Spellman said the event was easily the largest in Wayne County.
“There is also a flea market, a potato peeling contest, a tractor exhibit, a car show and 3-D fireworks,” he said. “You just need to pick up the glasses at the emcee tent. If you haven't seen fireworks in 3-D, then you've never seen fireworks. It's amazing.”
Nate Robson
253-5311 ext. 248
nathan.robson@lee.net
If you go.
What: Savannah Potato Festival
When: Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19; 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20; and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21
Where: Just off of Route 31 in Savannah
Cost: $2 parking
Info: Call 365-3156
Full schedule of events
Friday, Sept. 19
1 and 4 p.m. - Mike Amico's magic show
5 p.m. - Amusement rides
6 p.m. - Wildflower centerpiece and vegetable art contest
7 p.m. - Photography contest
Saturday, Sept. 20
10 a.m. - Parade
Noon - All-county ATV mud bog
Noon to 4 p.m. - Classic car show and amusement rides
2 p.m. - Potato gun shootout
4 p.m. - Potato wrestling
6 p.m. - Potato peeling contest
8:30 p.m. - 3-D fireworks
Sunday, Sept. 21
7:30 a.m. - All you can eat pancake breakfast
10 a.m. - Fireman's water ball contest
Noon - Amusement rides
Noon to 4 p.m. - All-Elvis revue
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