This spud-tacular festival is returning to St. Matthews after 70 years

Dahlia Ghabour, Louisville Courier Journal
·3 min read
Ultra rich mashed potatoes use olive oil instead of cream or milk for a result that is richly savory and just a bit peppery.
Ultra rich mashed potatoes use olive oil instead of cream or milk for a result that is richly savory and just a bit peppery.

For more than 100 years, the champion of St. Matthews has been the potato.

The area we now know as St. Matthews used to be open farmland that became famous for growing potatoes and onions. The St. Matthews Produce Exchange, formed by 200 farmers in 1910, became the second-largest potato shipper in the world. In 1946, the St. Matthews Community Center sponsored the first-ever Potato Festival to honor the city's history and act as a fundraiser.

The festival ran annually until it was retired in 1953. Now, 70 years later, the Chamber of St. Matthews is reviving the spud-tacular celebration.

The St. Matthews Potato Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 27 at the St. Matthews Community Park, 310 Ten Pin Lane, from noon to 6 p.m.

Chamber of St. Matthews Chief Executive Officer Josh Suiter said the idea came from the group's Chief Operations Officer Elizabeth Cleary, who has coordinated their community events for many years. He said most people today don't know the city's extensive potato history ― which includes a potato on the city's flag.

"For the longest time we ran an event called 'the street festival' in August, but it didn't quite embrace who we were as an organization," Suiter said. "We thought, what better way to celebrate our community than reviving a historical festival?"

The free festival will have 30 vendors from local groups, commercial vendors and artists set up to interact with the community. A kids' zone will include a bounce house and carnival games, and local musicians will perform on a stage the entire day. Food trucks and food vendors like Fistful of Tacos and Georgia's Sweet Potato Pie Co. will be available as well.

The various sweet potato pies, muffins and scents -- from candles to wax -- are available at Georgia's Sweet Potato Pie Co. in the Highlands on Bardstown Road. January 21, 2021
The various sweet potato pies, muffins and scents -- from candles to wax -- are available at Georgia's Sweet Potato Pie Co. in the Highlands on Bardstown Road. January 21, 2021

You may like:August 2022 events calendar: 60+ things to do around Louisville this week

Performing bands on the Mashed Potato Hits stage include the School of Rock Show Band, Daniel Cain, The Song Sparrows and Bourbon Revival. Other activities were planned for this year's festival, such as a "Tasty Tater cook off" and "Spud-Putt hole-in-one contest" but were canceled due to logistical issues. Suiter said in the future, the Chamber would like the festival to expand to two or three days.

"My favorite part is we're bringing people together after several years of not being together," Suiter said. "We've heard from people in the community who remember the original festivals. For them to remember that it's like, OK, we're totally bringing back the right now."

Reach reporter Dahlia Ghabour at dghabour@gannett.com.

St. Matthews Potato Festival

WHAT: A revival of a historic community festival in St. Matthews. The area we now know as St. Matthews used to be open farmland that became famous for growing potatoes and onions. The St. Matthews Produce Exchange, formed by 200 farmers in 1910, became the second-largest potato shipper in the world. In 1946, the St. Matthews Community Center sponsored the first-ever Potato Festival to honor the city's history and act as a fundraiser.

WHERE: St. Matthews Community Park, 310 Ten Pin Lane

WHEN: Aug. 27 from noon-6 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: The event and parking is free. Organizers request guests park at the park, not at nearby businesses. For more information visit stmatthewspotatofestival.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The St. Matthews Potato Festival is returning after 70 years