Elizabeth City, NC

Each spring, the North Carolina Potato Festival takes root in downtown Elizabeth City. The event has been on Elizabeth City’s calendar since 2001, but the statewide potato celebration dates back to 1963.

That is when Fanny Leary of Camden peeled 8 pounds, 4 ounces of potatoes in 10 minutes at the National Potato Peeling Contest. The potato-peeling contest still occurs annually in Elizabeth City as part of the statewide celebration.

The Saturday festival features a wide variety of activities, but the food truly stands out. Unlimited french fries are available to the public in addition to funnel cakes, snow cones, hot dogs, gyros, fajitas, cookies, orangeades, lemonade and smoothies.

Besides food, there is a Little Miss Tater Tot Contest, free amusement rides, potato sack races, a beer garden and a street dance. Past musical entertainers have included Mark Roberts & Breeze, Satellites and Sirens, Ehringhaus, Amber Braddy Jones, Step of Faith, Further Adieu, and Bobby Plough and Friends.

Some people might not think of North Carolina as a potato grower, but the North Carolina Potato Association is the oldest commodity association in the state, starting in 1928. Elizabeth City is the home office of the North Carolina Potato Association.