North Carolina Has A Free Fun Potato Festival

Potatoes are one of the most versatile and delicious foods! You can do so many different things with them. I had no idea that here in North Carolina we have a potato festival. It's funny because I have a few potatoes I need to use and took out some bacon from the freezer today so that I can make twice baked potatoes. Then I saw the info on this festival. Too funny!

According to Only In Your State, this fun spring festival happens annually in Elizabeth City. Potatoes are one of the region's most important crops, so it makes sense to celebrate it. And let's be honest; there's so many things to celebrate about potatoes.

This year the festival is happening May 17-19, and all the fun is free! Elizabeth City is about 5 hours from Charlotte, so you may want to plan a weekend getaway. The Outer Banks is less than an hour away, so you can do some walking around at the festival, then roll to the beach.  The Potato Festival is offering festivities for everyone in the family.

You can hit the midway and enjoy rides and games, there's a street fair with lots of art vendors, live music, and potato-oriented activities. In addition to all the fun, there's lots of food to enjoy. Fill up on delicious fair food like ribbon fries, loaded baked potatoes, turkey legs, Italian sausage, lemonade and ices, and funnel cakes. There's a Beer and Wine Garden too!

I've never heard of an event like this, but I bet it's a trip to watch! At the festival, there's a potato peeling competition! Volunteers participating in the event will win $250 for the non-profit of their choice. If you're quick with a veggie peeler you may want to get in on this! They're also holding a cornhole tournament which takes place at Mariners' Wharf Park this year. In addition, they're holding a Little Miss Tater Tot Pageant and a Coloring Contest for the kids.

If fries are one of your favorite foods, the festival is offering 2,000 pounds of free French fries on Saturday from 10 a.m. while supplies last. Free fries! That's worth the road trip! You can also win a prize if you find the 'Golden Potato'. A week before a golden potato is hidden somewhere in downtown Elizabeth City. Clues about the location of the special spud will be shared on the festival's Facebook page.

More events are happening, and you can get all the details on the festival here. Kids and adults will enjoy checking this festival out.

Times may change. Diets may change. However, one thing remains the same. People love French fries, even if they were invented in Belgium. I don't know a single person who can resist popping at least one French fry into their mouth. Carnivores, omnivores, pescetarians, flexitarians, vegetarians, vegans...fries work for everyone. And if you get them from a fast food joint, they don't cost much! French fries truly are the food of the people.

Most people have opinions about which fast food chain serves the best fries. TastingTable has ranked 25 of them from worst to best. Personally, I feel that local favorite Bojangles was disrespected. Their perfectly-seasoned fries are much better than 18th in the nation. You can see the entire list HERE. Check out the top six choices that are available in the Charlotte area below.

BK has definitely stepped up its French fry game. Their standard natural-cut fries that are crisp on the outside and pillowy on the inside. They also offer chicken fries as an option.

Chick-fil-A's famous waffle-cut fries are crisp on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. Their shape helps them hold a lot of ketchup.

Their natural-cut, boardwalk-style fries come in regular and Cajun versions with very large portions.

They have the meats and the fries. Arby's seasoned and crispy curly fries are perfect for those want something out of the ordinary.

America's most iconic fries are consistently delicious and usually rank at the top of the list. Looks like we have an upset!

Whoa! According to this poll, Wendy’s has knocked McDonald’s from the number one spot. Wendy's fresh and salty natural-cut fries have a pleasing soft interior and crispy exterior.