MONTE VISTA – On Saturday morning, Chapman Park was already filling up with people, for the annual San Luis Valley Potato Festival, that marks the harvest of the Valley’s signature crop – potatoes.
By 7:30 a.m., just before the Tater Trot 5K was about to start on Sept. 7, hundreds of people, including farmers, vendors, and businesses with booths were gearing up for the celebration.
The event was as exciting as it has been in past years with the fun-filled Tater Trot race and the first of two of the ever-popular agricultural tours bound for the CSU Research Center, and then on to two Valley farms. The ag tours allow people to gain insight and receive information about what goes into the planting, growing, and harvesting of the Valley’s potato crop.
Many festivities were held at the Potato Festival this year, including corn hole, and many vendors were set up selling their wares – paintings, jewelry, tumblers and T-shirts, baked goods and more. There were also multiple food and drink trucks at the park and many businesses had booths and were giving out information.
Larry Brown of the CSU Extension Office in Monte Vista handed out information about the office.
The San Luis Valley Antique Car Club brought their colorful kids train ride to the festival. The children were laughing and smiling on the popular train ride. There were large bouncy houses at the park for kids, including a giant green bounce house. There was a giant monster truck bouncy house, and children could be seen going up and down the truck, bouncing and laughing as they slid down the main part of the truck. There was a zipline at the festival this year that both children and adults slid down.
The Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (CPAC) organizes the event. There was a free baked potato lunch with the Monte Vista High School boys varsity basketball team collecting donations for the lunch. The team members served the loaded potatoes.
The San Luis Valley Community Band played many lively tunes for the crowd. The Professional Chef Cooking Competition was held. The Swoop of the Cranes live auction also took place.
The Potato Festival brought hundreds of people to Chapman Park this year, and was a huge success, according to Jessica Bradshaw of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee.
“It was great. We had a lot of people here. We had a great turn out. It was a great festival. We want to thank our sponsors; without them we couldn’t do this, and we want to thank the community for coming out,” she said.
Creede resident Katey Kuhnel said that her family came for the day and enjoyed the Potato Festival.
“This is our first year living here. It’s so cool that all the things are free for the kids. We are really enjoying this, and we will definitely come next year,” Kuhnel said.
For more information on CPAC, visit their website at coloradopotato.org.
