While there are many winter vacation destinations to choose from for groups, families, and couples, Delray Beach, Florida, has something for everyone. Florida as a whole is a top destination for its abundance of pristine white sand beaches, warm sunny weather, and activities everywhere you look. Only an hour north of Miami, Delray Beach is a world renowned city that has received multiple awards from Rand McNally and USA Today for being a top vacation destination. The community here is vibrant, creative, and friendly. Delray Beach has an extensive list of things to do and see that includes museums, live entertainment, boutique shopping, parks, beaches, art galleries and more. Lovers of the outdoors will be head over heels with activities such as sun bathing, snorkeling, diving, fishing, biking, hiking, and just about every fun activity under the warm Florida sun. No matter the reason for your visit, Delray Beach will be a destination you won't forget.
During your stay in stunning Delray Beach, make sure not to miss out on the community’s events and festivals. One such event, The Delray Beach Garlic Fest, is one of Florida's leading festivals and it attracts thousands of people from the region and the entire country. This festival is proudly going into its 17th year and has been recognized internationally as a can't-miss event. The festival prides itself on highlighting and exploring the benefits and uses for garlic. There are few other festivals that encompass the selection of entertainment, food, and activities that you’ll find here. On top of that, it's all set in a family friendly environment with the beautiful backdrop of downtown Delray Beach. Make your next winter excursion one for the ages and head to Delray Beach for the Delray Beach Garlic Festival! We interviewed Nancy Stewart-Franczak, Certified Festival and Events Executive for Festival Management Group, Inc., to talk about the Delray Beach Garlic Festival.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
NSF: The 17-year-old Delray Beach Garlic Fest is now an internationally award winning event. We have gained notoriety as a gourmet food and entertainment event which features national entertainment acts, a professional “Garlic Chef Competition” (modeled after the Food Network’s Iron Chef Competition), 180 exhibitors, and large children’s area. All of this allows us to attract visitors from around the country. We expect to draw between 35,000 and 40,000 attendees this year. As far as the demographics of our crowd, we try to be an event for everyone. The demographics change based on national acts performing on Friday and Saturday night (definite millennial crowd), to children and families during the daytime hours.
RAL: What makes the event unique?
NSF: The Delray Beach Garlic Fest is modeled after the original Garlic Fest in Gilroy, California, which began thirty-five years ago. We have designed the event as a community fundraiser that is now staffed by 15 local nonprofit organizations, over 500 volunteers, several full-time staff people, and over 25 contractors. We’ve received dozens of international awards, have been featured on the Food Network’s “Unwrapped” program, and have raised over $549,000 for local organizations. We’ve earned the affectionate nickname of “The Best Stinkin’ Party in Town”.
RAL: Take me through a typical day at the event.
NSF: We have a multitude of activities for people to enjoy including 180 exhibitors selling art, crafts, sauces, spices and clothing. We will be featuring an Iron Chef-type cooking competition at our Garlic Chef Stadium. We have a bunch of rides and activities for kids, so bring the entire family for a great experience!
RAL: What can attendees expect to find for local lodging?
NSF: Our guests stay in downtown hotels, walk to the event, walk to the beach, dine in restaurants downtown, and shop at our retail shops. There are plenty of options where visitors can stay, and you can check them out on the accommodations page of our website. Make sure to plan your trip in advance as lodging close to the festival sells out weeks in advance. Don't worry though! There are more options further away from the event.
RAL: What does the festival mean to the community.
NSF: With the large amount of people attending our festival, the local economic impact is quite considerable. Research has shown that during this 2 ½ day event, the economic impact is valued at $1,313,328. People who are visiting for the festival flood into all the local shops, restaurants, gas-stations, hotels, motels, and attractions, providing a large boost during the season where sales are traditionally slow.
Perhaps a wider reaching and longer lasting benefit of the festival is the support we receive from volunteers. To date, over $600,000 has been contributed back to the organizations that help staff the festival with volunteers. More than 15 different groups, including more than 500 individuals, kindly donate their time, energy, and hearts to our festival.
Volunteering is about helping others; it’s the glue to connect to your community and to make it a better place to live! Volunteering can be a great way to develop skills, learn more about career options, make friends or new professional contacts, get exercise, socialize, raise money for your favorite local non-profit organization, or help to deliver services, products and opportunities that otherwise might have been provided at a higher cost – or not provided at all. Volunteering is a way to do good in your community and enjoy yourself at the same time. What better way to connect with your community and give a little back!
RAL: Why should people come to your festival?
NSF: We’re the best stinking party in town! There are few better walking locations for tourists than in downtown Delray Beach.
For more information about the Delray Beach Garlic Festival, please visit their website.