Potato Chip Festival In Saratoga This Weekend
There aren't many things the Capital Region is known for aside from the Saratoga Race Track, politicians, and the inventor of the toilet paper roll. One of the more notible inventions is the potato chip created in Saratoga Springs. For the second year in a row, you can enjoy the Chip Festival happening this weekend. If you grew up in the Capital Region, you probably know the story of how the potato chip first came about. There was a patron at a restaurant back in the late 1800's who kept sending back his potatoes because they were too thick. The chef got so frustrated, he took out a razor and cut them thin, then fried them. The customer loved them and the potato chip was born.
At the festival in Saratoga on Saturday, historian Alan Richer will share these stories and alternative theories of the potato chip's creation. He will also have a lot of his own memorabilia on display. There will be a variety of chip samples, a national chip contest with winners in 12 categories, and an appearance by the Big Idaho Potato Truck, a traveling six-ton imitation spud.
The Chip Festival goes from 10am until 4pm at the Saratoga City Center and is a major fundraiser for the Saratoga Springs Lions Club. The club hopes to exceed last year's $15,000 it raised to continue to help local camps like Camp Abilities Saratoga, a one-week sports camp for blind, visually impaired and deaf children, at Skidmore College in August.