Posen?s 53rd annual Potato Festival set to start Friday

Friday is the start of the 53rd annual Posen Potato Festival and the village of Posen is ready for the event. Organizers roll out the red carpet every year for townspeople and visitors the second weekend in September. Reigning over the festival will be Miss Posen Dorothy Romel, the daughter of Leo and Denyse Romel, who was crowned at the August 13 Miss Posen Pageant. Grand marshals for Sunday’s parade will be Leonard and Margaret Wozniak, who have been involved in one way or another with every festival.

Instead of trophies this year, money will be awarded by grand parade director Andrea Konwinski in the categories of most beautiful, most original, best musical float, most patriotic, most humorous, judges’ choice, best entry by a service organization, most appropriate (Potato or Polish heritage), United We Stand (special theme). Honorable mention winners will receive ribbons.

KONWINSKI SAID parade organizers wanted to give something back to groups or organizations that spend time and money constructing a float. All entries must be registered at the Posen baseball field. The parade starts promptly at 1:30 p.m. at the baseball field and ends at Oak Street. Any organization, business, musical group, or equestrian unit wishing to participate is advised to contact Konwinski at 766-8133 or the festival office at 766-8128.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm was invited to walk in the parade, but wasn’t able to fit it into her schedule. Two months before she was elected governor, Granholm marched in the 2002 parade. Schmidt Amusements begins its three day run Friday at 6 p.m. with a special rate for Family Night.

A GREAT ATTRACTION at the festival is sure to be the 12th annual arts and crafts show, Saturday only, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An admission fee of $1 is required. The kiddie parade will be conducted on Saturday starting at noon at the Community Center with registrations beginning at 11:15 a.m. One of the best parts of the Posen Potato Festival is the way your tummy feels after you go there. Great food is available each day, prepared by local groups. The Knights of Columbus will have a potato pancake breakfast Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.

The VFW Post 7804 and auxiliary will have its dinner Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. Featured at the meal will be Polish food, homemade breads and much more. They also have a breakfast on Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The VFW-sponsored meals will be at the VFW Hall.

A SPECIAL MEAL is being planned by the Presque Isle County Council on Aging Saturday featuring chicken, meatballs and more with serving starting at noon and running until 5:30 p.m. at the St. Casimir School gymnasium. The big meal, the traditional favorite — the potato pancake smorgasbord — takes place Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community Center. Another main festival attraction is the entertainment. This year, two dance halls will run simultaneously with different types of music for all to enjoy. The music of “Dr. Rock” of Saginaw, featuring Posen native Tom Klimaszewski, will be

heard Saturday in the green pavilion beginning at 8 p.m. Polka bands are the “core” attraction with national polka stars being regulars.

POLKA MUSIC is featured three nights and two days of the Posen Potato festival. On tap Friday and Saturday night is John Stevens and Double Shot and Ten Busch Brothers, starting at 7 p.m. both nights at the Polka Pavilion. Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. a free admission concert will feature Pan Franek and Zosia and Polka Music Sound. Sunday, at the Polka Pavilion, Pan Franek and Zosia and Polka Music Sound are back to perform from noon to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

AGAIN THIS year, visitors and members can enjoy the Polish Polka Folk Mass at St. Casimir Church Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Pan Franek and Zosia will be providing the music. Several field events also are planned. The seventh annual bump and run is Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., while the demolition derby starts Sunday at 3 p.m. In addition, numerous street merchants and free attractions are scattered throughout the festival. Those include a midway, central vendor area, and a flea market. There also will be tours of the Elowsky Grist Mill with buses picking up people in Posen at various times.

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