In Oregon, tater tots are our potato preference. These petite, poppable puffs of potato perfection were in fact invented in Oregon in the 1950s, and there is a lot of state pride surrounding this feat! So much pride that for the first time ever, there will be an entire festival honoring the tater tot. Mark your calendars: the inaugural Tater Tot Festival is happening in Ontario, Oregon on Sept. 17-18, 2021 and it’s really a must for anyone who’s hot for tots.
Tater tots are an utterly delightful culinary creation – and here in Oregon, we have a lot of love for this terrific tuber.
Tater Tot Festival/Facebook
The humble tater tot was invented in Oregon as a bit of a fluke when Ore-Ida founders Nephi and Golden Griggs were looking for a way to use up leftover, irregularly cut potatoes from their french fry factory in Ontario.
Gibchan/Wikipedia
The result, a bite-sized potato puff dubbed the “tater tot,” was an instant success.
Gibchan/Wikipedia
Ontario, Oregon, takes a ton of pride in this claim to fame, and is pulling out all the stops for this year’s epic Tater Tot Festival on Sept. 17-18.
Tater Tot Festival/Facebook
The two-day festival is sponsored by Revitalize Ontario, and will feature more than 100 vendors, all showcasing this snack-able spud.
Tater Tot Festival/Facebook
The festival will also feature classic carnival games and rides, including a Ferris wheel.
ryan harvey/Flickr
There will also be some unique culinary creations at the Tater Tot Festival that really challenge the definition of the ubiquitous ’tot.
jeffreyw/Flickr
Loaded nacho-style tots? You bet.
Tater Tot Festival/Facebook
There will also be a tot eating contest for those tater gourmands looking for bragging rights!
Ray Dehler/Flickr
Tater tot purists, however, will be pleased to know that the festival will have tons of unadorned, straight-up tots at this event, too.
Tater Tot Festival/Facebook
Because there’s really nothing that compares to the classic tater-tot-and-ketchup combo.
Mr.TinDC/Flickr
How do you prefer your potatoes? Straight-up, in french-fry form, or tot-style? Whatever your fancy, the Tater Tot Festival will undoubtedly be a lot of fun! Stay up-to-date on the latest updates for this year’s festival on the event’s Facebook page.
Tater Tot Festival/Facebook
Gibchan/Wikipedia
ryan harvey/Flickr
jeffreyw/Flickr
Ray Dehler/Flickr
Mr.TinDC/Flickr
Tater tots aren’t Oregon’s only notable culinary contribution; the marionberry was invented here, too!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Ontario, OR 97914, USA
