56th Annual Potato Bowl USA Week is here

Fun at University Park on Thursday ushers in weekend parade, Fighting Hawks football

Let’s cut to the chase. The french fries are back!

After a one-year hiatus from having heaping helpings of deep-fried potato goodness due to the pandemic (and some years of cancellations thanks to poor weather), University Park once again will be the place to be to get your fill of french fries this week.

The aptly named “World Largest French Fry Feed” by Simplot is an annual highlight of Potato Bowl USA week, celebrating its 56th year in Grand Forks-East Grand Forks. The event is the traditional precursor to the weekend Potato Bowl USA parade and football contest, which this year pits the UND Fighting Hawks against the Northern Iowa Panthers.

The French Fry Feed will kick off at 4 p.m. Thursday, in Grand Forks’ University Park, just east of the UND campus on University Avenue.

Check out the rundown of this year’s Potato Bowl USA events with the week at a glance.