The Portage Potato Festival has seen a couple of changes this year including a location change and an expansion over two days. Potato Festival co-chair Cindy Macdonald says the response to the changes has been positive.

"The feedback on the two-day thing has been really good. The moving locations, everyone is a bit freaked out about that. I think once everyone comes here and realizes how great of a venue this is with all of the trees and huge area with great parking, I think the feedback will be phenomenal."

She notes the expansion created a few changes in the planning process.

"Planning was a bit more challenging because we need more volunteers and that was a little bit of a struggle. We have covered everything now so that's good. When you add another day, you need more volunteers. This year we are also running our own concession. That makes a big difference too. If we run our own, we can make some more money for next year. Every year we are just trying to find new ways to make money and make it bigger and better every year."

Macdonald notes there are a number of great reasons to hold the event over two days.

"Another reason we going to two days is we are partnered with the PRRA and we have some fastball, softball and soccer tournaments going on during the weekend and that will bring a lot more people to Republic Park. Plus, it gives us an opportunity to apply for some extra funding. We have an application due at the end of September to apply for some more funding for next year. We are hoping for more funding and we can add more on to make this bigger and better."

The Potatoe Festival continues today at Republic Park in Portage la Prairie.