By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — The 52nd annual Houlton Potato Feast Days celebration kicks off Aug. 19-21 and promises to be a fun-filled event for all ages.
“Potato Feast Days started as a one-day event in July, 1960,” said Lori Weston, executive director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. “Individual activities have come and gone and the event has grown to a weekend celebration. The object of the event, however, has remained the same over all these years.”
IN LINE — Children stay in line behind the leaders of the annual Doll Parade. The Doll Parade is a popular event and will be held Friday, starting at 5:30 p.m.
The goal of Potato Feast Days is threefold — to promote potatoes; to promote Houlton and to promote community spirit.
The Friends and Needles Quilt Guild kicks off the weekend with a show at the Houlton Elks Lodge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5. Later in the day, a “Touch a Truck” event will be held on Broadway, starting at 4 p.m. followed by a children’s Parade of Dolls at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street, and a coin scramble in front of Cary Memorial Library at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, the events continue with an arts and craft fair, children’s games and potato cooking contests held at Monument Park. A “Taste of Italy” public dinner will be held from 4-8 p.m. and the band Double Tap will perform from 8:30-11 p.m. in Community Park.
HOP, HOP — During the Potato Feast Day celebration, children have a chance to enjoy a few games, including the old-fashioned potato sack race.
New this year, the Houlton Fair Association will hold a park-wide Flea Market/Yard Sale in Community Park, Saturday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in conjunction with Potato Feast Days. Also at the park will be midway rides from Kavanaugh Amusements from Nova Scotia Thursday and Friday from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.
“This is a great opportunity for you or your organization to sell off items or even clean out your house and make some extra cash,” said Paul Cleary, president of the Houlton Fair Board. “What a great fundraiser. The cost to participate in our flea market is $20 for the day.”
Admission to the park will be free, but there will be charges to ride on the midway rides, Cleary said. 
EVENTS — Women will have a chance to compete in the Potato Peeling Contest. Who will have the quickest peeler in town?
“Greta and Dave will also be there selling hamburgers, hotdogs, steak and cheese subs and other food items for you to enjoy,” Cleary said. “We are also working with a couple of local vendors to do a BBQ on Saturday as well.”
For more information on the flea market, call Cleary at 538-1020 or email pcleary@pwless.net.
HERE’S A REAL DOLL — Amelia Bouchard enjoyed herself last year at the annual Doll Parade, kicking off the Houlton Potato Feast Day celebration.
During the Potato Feast celebration, children and adults have the opportunity to dress up “Mr. Potato Head” to see who will win a prize. In the photo to the right, James Muse takes a look at the designs on “Mr. Potato Head” and decides they aren’t too bad. Muse was one of last year’s winners.
