Maritimers are known to love potatoes, in all of its wonderful forms, but one community takes their love to another level.
For the last 56 years, Grand Falls, N.B. has celebrated their love of the root vegetable.
“Being a potato festival, it has a lot to do with our industry and something that's sustained our economy for a long time. So it's to celebrate our economy, our culture and our diversity and get together with old friends,” says Brian Mulherin, potato festival president.
The Grand Falls Potato Festival is a hit, bringing in visitors from Quebec, Maine and the rest of the Maritimes for some music, lots of homegrown food, and to show off some of the industry's newest toys.
Organizers wanted to add a bit more to the festival for farmers and the entire agricultural industry, since the weekend was founded with them in mind. So this year the festival includes an agri-expo.
“It's a pretty exciting time for us. We have a good quality of potato here in the region, if you haven't tried, it's pretty good,” says Pierre Michaud, past-president of the Valley Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to celebrating the beloved spud, the festival has also become a homecoming of sorts.
“Being a small rural town, we do have a lot of people that move to Moncton, to Fredericton, Ontario, Quebec, the country and the world,” says Mulherin. “Being the long weekend, it's time for us to get back together with old friends, old acquaintances.”
The agri-expo is on until Friday evening, while the rest of the festival runs all weekend long.
Organizers are hoping thousands will come out to help celebrate the potato.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Laura Brown
