Forksful of flavor & fun to be found at Potato Bowl
This year marks the 57th Anniversary of a grand tradition known as Potato Bowl USA.
The week of September 5-9, 2023, will be filled with entertaining events centering on our region’s most popular staple crop. Expect tons of tasty food including a potato pancake breakfast, baked potato bars and of course, the World’s Largest French Fry Feed. The festivities culminate on Saturday with a parade, tailgate party and University of North Dakota football game.
On September 24, 1966, the very first Potato Bowl football game was played at Memorial Stadium. It was billed as a battle between two of the largest potato growing regions in the United States (Idaho and the ND/MN Red River Valley). The idea of creating a week of festivities to celebrate potatoes and football was the brainchild of University of North Dakota Athletic Director Len Marti, Head Football Coach Marv “Whitey” Helling, Assistant Football Coach Jerry Olson and Sports Information Director Lee Bohnet.
Make sure to bring the whole family out to one of North Dakota’s best and tastiest celebrations. When the chips are down, count on Potato Bowl to offer up the most spudtacular time around!
POTATO BOWL USA WEEK HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, September 5
POTATO CHIP GIVEAWAY // All day at Scheels Sports
Wednesday, September 6
HUGO'S POTATO BOWL GOLF TOURNAMENT // 11 AM at Valley Golf Course
Thursday, September 7
BAKED POTATO BAR // 11 AM to 2 PM at all local Hugo’s locations
WORLD'S LARGET FRENCH FRY FEED // Beginning at 4 PM in University Park // FREE fries courtesy of JR Simplot, food/soda concessions, kids' fun zone, potato sack races, live DJs, French fry eating contest, meet UND Fighting Hawks athletes
Friday, September 8
BAKED POTATO BAR // 11 AM to 2 PM at all Hugo’s locations
UND FAN LUNCHEON // 11:30 AM at UND Memorial Union
GET WET & RUN WILD! // 4 PM (registration); 5:30 PM (races begin) at Choice Health & Fitness // 1K & 2K races and FREE Swim for all racers and their families after
Saturday, September 9
SONS OF NORWAY POTATO PANCAKE BREAKFAST // 7:30 AM to 1 PM at 1401 9th Avenue South
KEM SHRINE POTATO BOWL PARADE // 10 AM in Downtown GF/EGF on DeMers Avenue
TAILGATING PARTY // 12:30 to 3 PM in Alerus Center parking lot
57th ANNUAL POTATO BOWL USA FOOTBALL GAME: UND VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA // 3 PM kickoff inside Alerus Center
Further information, including an entire schedule of events, may be found at PotatoBowl.org. For a listing of all the grand to-dos in Forks, go to VisitGrandForks.com. We also invite you to follow Visit Greater Grand Forks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.