Top the Tater Days is the annual community festival for Farmington, Minnesota. Top the Tater Days (formerly known as Dew Days), highlights the unique qualities of our community of  to visitors and residents in order to promote the city and surrounding townships as an excellent community for families and businesses. The festival will provide a variety of activities for all ages by exploring the local and regional music and arts, history, culture and natural surroundings of Farmington in an entertaining atmosphere.

Organized by the Farmington Area Enhancement Group which is a volunteer-led sponsorship-based organization committed to promoting the community of Farmington by highlighting our quality of life through a variety of family oriented fun-filled experiences.

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Want to know the history of our name?

The citizens of Farmington drink more Mountain Dew per capita than any other city announces Pepsi Cola in 1979.

A city festival was planned to celebrate and the citizens of Farmington have continued to support a festival for the past 44 years. Life changes and so did the festival, from its name, to its location, to its sponsors and the activities. The one thing that has not changed is the citizens of Farmington, who love to celebrate each summer.

At the 125th city celebration in 1997 Mountain Dew Days was renamed to “Founder’s Days”. Following the Founder’s Day renaming the festival was again renamed and shortened to “Dew Days”.

In 2025, a new partnership was formed with Kemps as a naming sponsor for the festival. Kemps has been a Farmington business for almost 100 years and is owned and operated by a cohort of family dairy farms. Kemp’s desire to invest in Farmington and to celebrate the fact that all the Top the Tater in the country is made right here in Farmington led to a multi-year partnership to be the naming sponsor –  and now Dew Days will be known as Top the Tater Days!

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The Ten Commandments Of Top The Tater

‘Top The Tater’ is a staple for us here in the Midwest. I have never met a person who hasn’t loved Top The Tater. However, there are people who don’t understand the importance of how to eat it, and how to properly respect the little green container of joy.

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I: Thou Shalt Not Call It “Top OF The Tater”

Some people mistakenly refer to this as Top of The Tater. “Please pass me the top of the tater.” NO! It’s Top The Tater. Do you want to look like a tourist? No, get it right!

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II: Thou Shall Use Wavy or Rippled Chips When Dipping

If you’re going to dip straight out of the container (which is acceptable), make sure you use a rigid chip or pretzel to scoop it out. Regular chips are prone to crumbling and contaminating the container.

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III: Thou Shalt Not Double Dip

It goes without saying, but for the love of God put enough on the chip the first time so you don’t have to go back.

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IV: Thou Shalt Not Dip Doritos Into Container

Some people like Top The Tater on their Doritos. If you’re going to do that, remove the dip from the container onto its own plate. Nobody else wants the nacho cheese powder in the dip.

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Nick Cooper TSM

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V: Thou Shalt Not Put Almost Empty Container Back In The Fridge

If there are less than two tablespoons of Top The Tater left in the container, do not put it back in the fridge. It just creates a huge disappointment for the next person. Eat the rest of it and go buy a new one to replace.

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VI: Thou Shall Replace Top The Tater If Thou Eats Last Of It

The person that eats the last of the Top The Tater is obligated to purchase new Top The Tater within a 48 hour time period.

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Nick Cooper TSM

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VII: Thou Shall Remove The Plastic Seal And Throw It Away

Some people do this strange thing, like my wife. They peel back the seal and leave it on the container every time they put it away. It makes it look like a fresh container. Not cool. Especially when she violates commandment #5. This is what started this list.

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VIII: Thou Shall Spread The Good Word of Top The Tater to Outsiders

A lot of people don’t realize that Top The Tater is really only available in the Midwest. It’s our delicacy, and we can share it with tourists who then fall in love. Then we can brag that we have something that

they don’t.

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Nick Cooper TSM

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IX: Thou Shall Aide Relatives Who Are Marooned In Top The Taterless Areas

There are members in my extended family that have shipped Top The Tater in dry ice to the west coast to help a family member in need.

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X: Thou Shalt Not Put Any Other Dips Before Top The Tater

When it comes to Top The Tater, it is important to know that it is the one and only Dip that you will ever need. Do not buy other dips in its place. Do not sacrifice its fridge space or cooler space for anything else.

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