Mount Jackson’s TaterFest Returns: A Celebration of Potatoes
Mount Jackson is gearing up for its annual TaterFest on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lions Park, offering a full day of potato-themed activities and family-friendly fun. The festival has gained regional fame, attracting attention from prominent publications like Southern Living and Garden & Gun, which Town Manager Olivia Hilton finds validating.
Entering its third year, TaterFest aims to refine successful elements while preparing for a larger crowd. Hilton describes it as a place where “all your potato dreams can come true.”
Schedule of Events:
- The festival kicks off with a 5K run, followed by delightful contests such as Granny’s Tater Salad Contest and mashed potato sculpting.
- Further competitions include hot potato and potato sack races, Cow Fight Bingo, and a French fry eating contest.
- Attendees can enjoy a variety of activities hosted by local organizations, such as potato whittling by Boy Scouts and digging for veggies in a soil pit.
Local vendors will offer potato-themed goods, and food trucks will provide a range of culinary options from gourmet tater tots to ice cream. Wine lovers can indulge at the Wolf Gap Vineyard and Winery booth.
A tractor show, hayrides, and a pink tractor, owned by local resident Leslie Burkholder, will also be part of the attractions. The event features new dog bandanas for TaterFest fans.
With an anticipated increase in attendance—roughly 3,000 people attended in the first year—the festival has space for growth, including extra parking and transport options. The community’s involvement is growing, with local groups like Triplett Tech planning to serve a potato breakfast to kick off the festivities.
Hilton emphasizes that the charm of TaterFest is both genuine and quirky, appealing to visitors from near and far. “People love a quirky festival,” she said. “But the taters have really caught on.”
