Celebrate All Things Potatoes At This Small-Town Michigan Festival

I’ve covered everything from blueberry, apple, and even pickle festivals since I started writing about my home state of Michigan. Before you chuckle at some of these very specific celebrations (like I did with the pickle party), take a moment to realize that these only exist because of how important they are to that area’s history and community. Needless to say, I knew there was more to the story when I heard about the Posen Potato Festival. While it’s definitely one of the quirkiest fall festivals in Michigan I’ve covered so far, I learned a lot about why it has existed for so long in this small town. Let me show you why there’s much more to this celebration than just taters.

Michigan Home of Home Signs

You’ll have to travel to what Michiganders call ‘Up North’ (we just call the Upper Peninsula the U.P.). The closest big town is Alpena. This is a very agricultural community, which is why they celebrate the potato harvest here.

Little Hill Farm LLC/Facebook

While the population of this town and the potato farms have declined since the festival was founded, there’s always a strong turnout when fall rolls around. This is their 72nd annual festival, which has only grown as the years go by.

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How else do you kick off a festival than with a potato-themed parade? This town of less than 300 grows by the thousands during this time of year. Many of them will line up along the main drag to watch the potatoes float by.

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Nowicki's Sausage Shoppe/Facebook

There are some top-notch food vendors that not only match the potato theme but also the Polish vibe: Pierogi, Polish sausages, and more.

Nowicki's Sausage Shoppe/Facebook

This festival is just as Polish as the Polish immigrants who settled here. You’ll find plenty of iconic Polish traditions here, such as sausages, polka bands, and Polish potato dishes.

Austin Brothers Beer Company/Facebook

This brew comes from a local brewery specifically for the Posen Potato Festival. Each year, Austin Brother Beer Company rolls out its Prawdziwy Pilsner to pay homage to the original Polish settlers.

This year’s festival goes from Friday, September 8 until Sunday, Sept. 10. For a full list of events and times, visit the Posen Potato Festival Facebook page. If you’re heading to Posen, you’re likely driving a decent way to get there. Check out our road trip guide to make sure you’re enjoying the journey just as much as you’ll enjoy the destination.