National Potato Day to be celebrated August 19

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Vauxhall Advance

National Potato Day on August 19 will be commemorated at Exhibition Park in Lethbridge with opportunities to build-your-own gourmet potato at a special “Potato Chuckwagon” concession hosted by celebrity foodie Julie Van Rosendaal.

“Whoop-Up Days has more than 100 years of history in southern Alberta,” says Mike Warkentin, Chief Operating Officer. “This year, it was important for us to showcase this world-class agricultural production region and provide an opportunity to the community a little differently by delivering a summer experience that still brings people together, while ensuring everyone’s health and safety.”

Best-selling cookbook author Julie Van Rosendaal will be attending the Potato Chuckwagon in person, 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. She is CBC Calgary Eyeopener’s culinary host and a contributing food editor for the Globe and Mail. “I could eat potatoes every day,” she says. “They’re incredibly versatile, accessible, affordable, and there are so many ways to prepare them. Some of my favourite dishes are roasted, baked, fried and mashed potatoes.”

A week-long social media contest to share the region’s best potato dishes is underway. To enter, post a photo of your favourite potato dish, using the hashtag #CouchPotatoFoodFest. and tag @dinnerwithjulie and @exhibition_park_lethbridge.

Entries can be posted on Instagram or on the Exhibition Park Facebook page in the “Couch Potato Food Fest” event listing.

Three contest winners will be announced August 14, 2020 and will each receive an “Explore Lethbridge” hotel package with complimentary attraction passes as well as a ticket for two to a live cooking show and dinner with Julie Van Rosendaal on National Potato Day. The show will be streamed on Facebook Live.

National Potato Day festivities at Exhibition Park are presented in partnership with Julie Van Rosendaal (@DinnerWithJulie), Lethbridge & District Exhibition, Potato Growers of Alberta, Tourism Lethbridge, Lethbridge Lodging Association and Travel Alberta.