What to Expect and Wear at the Potato Festival

The Potato Festival is an annual fundraiser in Fairbanks in fall. This post provides insight what the funds will be used for, what to expect and what people wear to the event. Thus, you will be able to decide whether you want to go, and if so, you will have a broad idea what to wear. 

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.

Festival Fairbanks hosted the 20^th Annual Potato Festival

One of the fall events in Fairbanks is to celebrate the harvest with local growers and chefs. Festival Fairbanks hosts this so-called Potato Festival as a fundraiser for beautification of downtown Fairbanks. Besides the UAF Culinary Arts scholarship fundraiser, the Potato Festival presents the most delicious food you can get in town. And its a nice event to dress up a bit.

All dishes on the seven course gourmet menu prepared by the Midnight Sun Chefs Association feature locally grown potato varieties. These potatoes and other Alaska grown harvest products were donated by local producers.

Over the last 20 years, many things have changed like the location, the addition of a 50/50 raffle, the music, the moderator and the cost of the tickets. While in the beginning the event took place at the Pump House, the venue is now the Westmark Gold Room. Even the name changed from Potato Extravaganza to Potato Festival.

Things that remained the same are that there is live music, the time (6 pm to 10 pm), a silent auction with donations from local stores, door prizes and delicious food as well as the dress code – Fairbanks Formal.

Meeting old friends

The event starts with a wine mingle an hour before the actual dinner service. People go from table to catch up with former neighbors, old friends whom they don’t see on a regular basis as well as people from out of town, i.e. the so-called Alaska bush. On the contrary to many other places, “bush” is not a bad word in Alaska. Anyone who lives in the bush or provides service to the bush has highest honors. You are proud being a bush teacher, a bush pilot or the off spring of one.

The Seven Course Gourmet Dinner

Of course, the menu is different each year. However, each course has potato. The menu below gives you an idea what kind of food to expect.

Appetizer: Purple Potato Canapé with Green Chili Creme Fraiche
Soup: Potato Pear Soup with Crisp Bacon
Entrée: Roast Salmon w/ Pommes Anna in a Creamy Dill Sauce
Intermezzo: Pineapple Tidbit Sorbet
Entrée: Garlic Roasted Pork with Romesco Potatoes
Salad: Creamy Pineapple Slaw served in a Cheesy Potato Cup
Dessert: Dolce Mariposa with Chocolate Ice Cream

My hubby and I switched the entrées. He ate my pork, while I ate his salmon. He likes pork and doesn’t eat fish, while the opposite applies to me. We also swapped the intermezzo and dessert. He loves sorbets, but is allergic to chocolate. Sorbets are not my thing, but for my money

You wonder where a potato gets into the sorbet? Vodka, my dear. There are many places in the Interior that make Vodka.

My Look of the Day

You are in a minority when you wear formal. But I decide to go for it.

What My Husband Wore

My husband picked a posh casual look with an original style Alpine janker, window panel shirt, wool pants, oxfords and bolo tie.

What the other guests wore at the fundraiser

The dress code was Fairbanks Formal. Here is a collection of my favorite Fairbanks Formal street style looks at the event. Please feel free to pin your fav outfits to your own pinboard.

Don’t let the right outfit be a random thing. Wear the right look in every situation by looking up what to wear when in How to Dress for Success in Midlife. Buy my book now.

P.S. Like these outfit ideas? If so, please feel free to pin them to your own Pinterest board.

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Photos of me: G. Kramm

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