Posen Chamber says 75th Potato Festival was a success
Chamber thanks organizers, volunteers, and Blackwater NE
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ALPENA -- The 75th Posen Potato Festival wrapped up on Sunday, concluding a weekend full of music, polka dancing, and lots of potatoes.
Friday kicked off the event with a Sawyer Brown concert hosted by Blackwater NE. Off the Record, a local band, opened before Hannah Marie Kelly, a country singer from Nashville, took the stage.
Before Kelly started her set, Presque Isle Sheriff Joe Brewbacker led a moment of silence for 9/11 and invited local first responder personnel to the stage.
"The American people were scared," Brewbaker said. "We were confused and we were angry. As more information came in where the attackers originated from, our country came together like never before."
"It didn't matter what side of politics you were on, didn't matter what gender, didn’t matter what race," he added. "Didn't matter old, young, didn't matter. All we knew was our country was under attack and we didn't like it."
He took a moment to acknowledge the work that first responder personnel do for the community and the sacrifices they make to maintain public safety.
"These are the people that take the calls in the middle of the night that nobody wants to go on," Brewbaker said. "These are the ones that get it done."
"I've seen what they do and they do an outstanding, phenomenal job," he added. "Thank you, each and every one of you, for what you do every day."
After the moment of silence, Brewbaker invited Kelly up on the stage for her performance.
She performed original songs like Yo Momma's Muscadine Wine and covers of Dolly Parton and Tanya Tucker songs. She told those in attendance that this was the first time she'd been to Posen and is looking forward to coming back to northern Michigan.
Sawyer Brown finished out the night by playing their hits over their 45-year career.
Posen Chamber of Commerce President Andrea Konwinski said that the festival had a good turnout with more people attending on Friday than years prior. She said the Sawyer Brown concert encouraged more people to come out to the festival early and stick around.
"We are super proud of the Sawyer Brown concert," Konwinski said. "We are so happy that Blackwater approached us and they could make it happen in Posen. It was wonderful."
Konwinski said that festival volunteers were surprised to see people arriving in Posen Friday afternoon and visiting vendors and businesses.
"Its never been so busy on Friday," Konwinski said. "We had so many people already going to the vendors. We have never seen people come out like that."
She said that the chamber is excited for Blackwater to bring more concerts to Posen and to drum up more foot traffic for local businesses.
"Everything is good and they're going to be having more concerts," Konwinski said.
She added that community members have told the chamber and festival organizers that this year's grand parade was "the best parade ever."
Konwinski said that the nice weather helped bring out the large crowds, as well.
She thanked her board members and volunteers for the work they do in organizing the festival and facilitating all the activities.
"My chamber board members and volunteers, they did such an awesome job," Konwinski said. "We couldn’t do it without our volunteers."
She added that some of her board members will be stepping down soon and the Posen community needs more young people to step up and take their places.
Bands on Friday night performed at the Wolf Ridge Amphitheatre which Mike Romanowski, Blackwater NE CEO, said was constructed in about three and a half weeks.
Overall, Romanowski said that the concert had a good turnout and that the Posen community welcomed them and their musical guests with open arms.
"It was wonderful to see so many people come out to a band large enough that everyone knows," Romanowski said. "Everyone was having such a wonderful time. The place was packed. There were people dancing and singing and for a minute I forgot we were in Posen."
"The community has been wonderful and we were told there were more people in Posen than there has been in years," he added. "This is a win in our book. If the gas station sees two more people and E&Ts sell one more pizza, we did our job."
Romanowski said that the Posen community can expect more events in the future.
"Get ready for the future dates and event information," Romanowski said.
On Saturday, the festival boasted many activities for families like a 5k early in the morning, a potato pancake breakfast, a bump-n-run derby, carnival rides, polka dancing, and more.
The Posen School Trip Club hosted a craft show on Sunday and Options Pregnancy Center from Alpena hosted a polish dinner fundraiser. The Posen community shut down roads to make room for the Grand Parade which featured floats from local farmers like the Budnik family, local politicians U.S. Representative Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, and Michigan Representative Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, and various businesses and groups from Posen, Alpena, and Rogers City.
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.