The 52nd annual Potato Bowl Week officially opens today, and organizers of its hallmark French Fry Feed are adding an extra half-hour to the dipping frenzy Thursday in hopes of breaking 2015's record for golden-crisp glory.
More than 2.5 tons of french fries were served in 2015, and about 10,000 people attend the event each year.
Ted Kreis, head of promotions for the Potato Bowl Committee, said the extra daylight should help boost the numbers, but it all depends on the weather.
"We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed," he said.
The French Fry Feed will begin at 4 p.m. in University Park, and fireworks will top off the event in Memorial Stadium.
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The Potato Bowl tradition began in 1966, when UND played Idaho State to see whose football program - and potatoes - were better. UND won the game.
"With all the extra season tickets sold this year, there's a lot of excitement around the team," Kreis said. "They're ranked in the Top 10 in the country, and we're expecting a huge crowd at the game."
The kickoff against Missouri State isn't until 4 p.m. Saturday in the Alerus Center, but there are plenty of ways to celebrate all week long.
Love a parade
Marching bands and more than 100 floats will take part Saturday in the KEM Shrine Potato Bowl Parade down University Avenue. The parade begins at 10 a.m. a block west of North Washington Street and continues to Memorial Stadium.
In the lead will be Grand Marshal Peter Johnson, who retired this summer after serving 29 years as UND's top spokesman. He's staying through December to help with the transition.
"I'm thrilled. I'm truly honored and humbled," Johnson said. "It goes back to 1966. There haven't been that many grand marshals, so I'm excited about it.
"Agriculture is huge. Potatoes are huge. What better way to celebrate our heritage than a week of Potato Bowl events."
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The fourth-generation Grand Forks resident said his father's father helped build the State Mill & Elevator and his mother's father was an engineer stationed with the Great Northern Railway in Grand Forks.
"No pun on potatoes, but our roots are deep here in the Red River Valley," he said.
The schedule
• Tuesday: Hugo's Potato Bowl Plinko begins. Register at any Hugo's.
• Wednesday: Hugo's Potato Bowl Golf Scramble, registration at 11 a.m., tee time at noon at Valley Golf Course in East Grand Forks; chip giveaway at Scheels, Columbia Mall.
• Thursday: Baked Potato Bar, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., all Hugo's locations; chip giveaway at all Frandsen Bank & Trust locations; French Fry Feed and Fireworks event, 4 p.m. to dusk, University Park and Memorial Stadium, feed courtesy of J.R. Simplot Co., live entertainment and inflatable games, meet UND football athletes and coaches. First 500 families to Memorial Stadium will get potato coupon courtesy of Black Gold Farms and a chance to win Hugo's gift cards.
• Friday: UND Fan Luncheon, begins at 11:30 with noon program, Alerus Center; Baked Potato Bar, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., all Hugo's; Get Wet and Run Wild! Hugo's Potato Bowl 1K and 2K Races, for ages younger than 14, races start at 5:30 and 5:50 p.m. Free swim for racers and families after the event. Also, JLG's Rock the Streets concert/street dance in downtown Town Square. Sponsored by JLG Architects. Food and beer available at 6:30 p.m., and music from Wicked Bees begins at 7 p.m.
• Saturday: Grand Forks Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., Grand Forks Central High School; Sons of Norway Potato Pancake Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1401 Ninth Ave. S., Grand Forks; KEM Shrine Potato Bowl Parade, begins at 10 a.m. on University Avenue. Parade is sponsored by Opp Construction. The Alerus Center parking lot opens at 8 a.m. for the Tailgating Party. Tailgate Village opens at 1:30 p.m. Games, activities, food and music will be available. People can get a free baked potato with all the toppings at the Northern Plains Potato Growers tent. The Hugo's Potato Bowl Plinko Finale also will take place in the parking lot near the baked potato tent. UND faces Missouri State with a 4 p.m. kickoff in the Alerus Center for the 52nd Potato Bowl game.
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