One of northeast Michigan’s most popular summer festivals returns this weekend, when the annual Posen Potato Festival opens Friday.

The Village of Posen has been gathering to discuss and celebrate the annual potato harvest for 61 years, with family and friends from near and far.

A full slate of events is planned throughout the weekend.

In addition to three days of carnival rides, the festival features live music, an antique flea market, lots of polka music and dances, an arts and crafts show, a bump and run, and of course lots of potatoes, potato displays and potato pancakes.

One of the highlights of the event is Sunday’s grand festival parade, which starts at 1:30 in the afternoon.  As many as 20,000 people are expected to line the streets of the village to watch the parade, which is one of the largest in the region.