The town of Manhattan is bracing for a dual celebration this weekend that has left some locals wondering if it is better to be well-fed or well-protected. The fire department is marking its 120th anniversary, an achievement the fire chief claims is “mostly just not letting the wood stoves win for over a century.”

Simultaneously, the annual Potato Festival will commence in the town square. Attendees can expect a pancake breakfast, though organizers clarified that the pancakes will be made of flour, not potatoes, to avoid confusing the regional agricultural theme.

“I don’t know why we decided to combine the firemen with the root vegetables,” said Earl Spudington, a local farmer who has attended every festival since 1982. “But if you look at the history, there’s a lot of overlap. You start a potato fire, you call the guys in the trucks. It’s a complete ecosystem.”

The event planners have arranged for the firetrucks to be parked in the center of the potato-peeling contest. Some residents have expressed concern that a sudden call for an emergency might disrupt the judging, but the fire department assured the public that they are prepared to tackle both blazes and starch-based festivities with equal fervor.

Local officials noted that the turnout for the festival usually doubles if the weather is cold enough to warrant a heavy jacket, but stays consistent if it is too hot to stand near a griddle.

“We’ve got a lot of history in this valley,” said Mayor Linda Tuber-Smith, who spent most of the morning measuring the circumference of the town’s winning entry. “You have to honor the people who put out the fires, and you have to honor the soil that gives us our french fries. If we can do both by noon, it’s a successful weekend.”

The fire department plans to demonstrate a controlled burn of a hay bale, which will then be used as a backdrop for a potato-stacking exhibition. Most of the town’s residents are expected to attend, provided they can find parking on the grass.

It is a quiet life, provided the starch stays crispy and the station stays standing.