Friends of the Greeley Museums are sponsoring the 24^th annual Potato Day from 10am-4pm on Sept.10. This much anticipated festival, held at Greeley’s Historic Centennial Village Museum, 1475 A St., will engage young and old alike in entertainment, education, food and fun.

The day will begin with a short ceremony to remember the victims of 9/11, at 10:30 a.m., featuring Skip Carlson with a reading and Caitlyn Ochsner with a song.  Following the crowning of the 2011 Potato Queen, Dorothy Martin Zabka, Queen Dorothy and the Tater Tots will then parade around the central part of the village, to kick off the day’s fun.    

In celebration of their 25^th anniversary of working with the Greeley Museums, the Friends have added some new activities to the Potato Day Festival.  A new Living History Pilot program called “Cowboys and Cattle Drives” allows the visitor to experience a “wee bit of the life on the cattle ranch.”  At the cowboy bunkhouse folks can “saddle-up” to rope a steer and brand a cowhide. 

In addition, weary travelers can catch a ride on the stagecoach or Federal Truck to destinations around the park.  

Ongoing demonstrations at the numerous living history stations will feature early firearms, blacksmithing, printing, stained glass, telegraphy, Swedish arts, Lone Valley School, tortilla making, the Spanish Colony model and many more. 

Musical groups and dancers perform at various places in the Village throughout the day. Featured performers include:  The Kiwanis Red Shirt Band, Centennial Blend Sweet Adeline Chorus, Rodarte Dancers, Merry Mixers, Cowboy Singer Ray Delgado, Rocky Mountain Rangers, Pearly Mae and Emil, and Colorado Dance Collective. New this year is the addition of a cowboy poet, Bill Brewster. 

A baked potato, smothered with a variety of toppings of choice, is included with the price of admission. Belly-up to the counter, starting at 11am until the potatoes run out. Popcorn and watermelon will also be available at no charge. Also, visitors will find authentic food samples offered at several of the exhibits. For those who are looking for a different type of victuals, Dayspring Christian School Girl’s Basketball Team will have taste tempting items and drinks for sale at their concession stand, located near the potato serving line.

The youngsters will have a great time in the Potato Patch as they join in carnival games and other hands-on activities. They can step inside the Lone Valley School and learn what “School days, school days, good old golden rule days…” were all about.