"Potato Bowl wouldn't be what it is without community support"

A line of lawn chairs pops up along downtown blocks before sunrise, kids clutch candy bags at the curb, and a UND marching cadence rolls down the street. That’s Potato Bowl week in Grand Forks — a decades-old tradition that turns the city green and white.

In remarks reported by the Grand Forks Herald, this year’s grand marshal put it plainly: the event “wouldn’t be what it is without community support.” It’s a reminder that what happens on parade day and game night grows from months of local planning by neighbors, student groups, and businesses.

A tradition built by neighbors

Potato Bowl has long been a UND-and-city project — a week where campus life meets downtown sidewalks and families make a point to come in from Thompson, East Grand Forks, and along the Greenway. Organizers and long-timers say the draw isn’t complicated: familiar faces lining the route, UND spirit on display, and a full weekend that gives residents something to do together, according to past coverage in the Grand Forks Herald.

The event has grown over the years as more local groups have pitched in — from school bands to neighborhood associations. City crews handle barricades and cleanup, student volunteers keep things moving, and small businesses front windows with UND gear, according to notices and updates the City of Grand Forks typically posts in the lead-up week.

The Details

• Where: Parade in downtown Grand Forks; UND football plays its Potato Bowl game at the Alerus Center
• When: Held each fall; check official listings for this year’s dates and times
• Cost: Parade viewing is free; football tickets available via UND Athletics
• Info: Schedules and updates are posted by UND Athletics, the City of Grand Forks, and the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce. Check ahead for final routes, closures, and kickoff details

Who leads the parade — and why it matters

The grand marshal waves from the lead car, sets the tone, and spends the week popping into pep events and meet-ups — a role that carries a lot of local pride. In past years, grand marshals have emphasized how the honor reflects the community behind them, not just one person, according to reporting by the Grand Forks Herald.

If you’re new to town, think of the grand marshal as the community’s storyteller-in-chief for the week: someone whose connection to Grand Forks helps bridge campus and city. It’s ceremonial, sure, but it’s also a nod to the people who keep traditions going between big moments.

How the community makes it happen

Local businesses underwrite floats, feed volunteer crews, and keep storefronts open a little later when crowds are downtown. Service clubs and student organizations help with lineup, information tables, and cleanup — the unglamorous jobs that make a parade feel effortless. Event partners and parade organizers typically coordinate logistics with the city, which posts detours and staffing needs as the week nears, per the City of Grand Forks.

Area employers and ag-adjacent companies often get behind the week because it’s ingrained in the UND calendar and the local economy, according to the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce. If you’ve got a team at work or a neighborhood group, this is one of the easiest events to plug into — from building a float to volunteering an hour at lineup.

Why it matters here

Potato Bowl brings UND spirit to street level and gives families a reason to plan a weekend in town. Restaurants near the Alerus Center and along Demers see heavier foot traffic, hotels fill with visiting fans, and youth groups earn a little money doing parking or cleanup — benefits business leaders routinely cite around major event weekends, according to the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce.

Culturally, it’s one of the clearest UND–Grand Forks crossovers: alumni back on campus, kids waving at the Pride of the North, and a football game that still feels like a hometown night out. UND sets the game day, and city partners build the rest of the week around it, per UND Athletics.

Keep the tradition strong

The grand marshal’s message this year is straightforward: show up, pitch in, and invite a friend. Continued volunteer help, small-dollar sponsorships, and in-kind support keep the week viable and welcoming, themes that organizers and city updates repeat ahead of parade day, according to the City of Grand Forks.

• Volunteer: Watch for sign-up calls through the city’s channels and UND student orgs; many roles are one-shift commitments
• Build a float: Businesses and clubs can register through event partners; the Grand Forks Chamber shares entry and deadline info
• Plan your weekend: Confirm the parade start time, game kickoff, and any road closures a day or two before you go via UND Athletics and the City of Grand Forks

What you can do this week

• Check the official schedule for dates, times, and routes via UND Athletics and the City of Grand Forks
• If you’re a student or part of a service club, ask your advisor about volunteer slots tied to parade day
• Businesses: Contact the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce about float entries or small sponsorships

What to Watch

• The grand marshal announcement and full event schedule typically land in late summer; look to UND’s news office and the Grand Forks Herald for first word.
• City road-closure maps and parking advisories post the week-of; check the City of Grand Forks for updates before you head downtown.
• UND will confirm kickoff time and ticket availability at the Alerus Center via UND Athletics; grab seats early if you want to sit with friends.