With humble beginnings as a promotional tool for a struggling business back in the late 1980’s, the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival has grown into something much bigger. Being one of the first garlic festivals in America has given the event a dedicated and ever growing following. Now the festival has become a showcase for all garlic related activities and much more. The atmosphere of the is vibrant and fun, the air is filled with the smell of garlic, and the sounds of the live music permeate everything.
Vendors from all over the country bring their garlic and wears to show and sell. You can take part in classes that teach you some of the best techniques of how to grow garlic and general gardening. Once you figure out the best ways to grow the garlic, stop and learn the best ways to use it. Guest chefs will be giving lectures and demonstrations about cooking with garlic and the many uses it has. The festival features a marketplace where vendors sell beautiful arts and crafts. Bring the entire family because there is fun for all ages; kids will especially enjoy the Children's Craft Tent where they can get their faces painted and makes fun arts and crafts. After all that fun, you're going to work up an appetite and the festival will not disappoint. There is a food marketplace that features many types of food for people of all tastes. I got the chance to ask festival representative Elizabeth Bechtold questions about the event.
RAL: How many people do you annually draw?
EB: We average an annual attendance of between 35,000 to 40,000 people.
RAL: How long has the garlic festival been running?
EB: This year is our 27th festival.
RAL: What makes this event unique?
EB: The festival celebrates all that is garlic. We offer something for someone of all ages including a children’s tent for the kids, plenty of music on four separate stages, lots of food, crafts, and cooking demos.
RAL: Tell me about some of the activities and food options at the festival?
EB: There are four stages that will have a variety of musical performances throughout the festival, cooking demos, and even a children’s tent with activities for the kids. There are 50 food booths with plenty of options for you to sample. The overall environment is family friendly with plenty of space to sit and take a break while enjoying great food from one of the food vendors.
RAL: Does the event support a special cause in the community?
EB: The Kiwanis Club of Saugerties donates all the proceeds from the festival back to the community.
RAL: Does the local lodging fill up during the event?
EB: Many times it does since there are a limited number of hotel rooms in the Saugerties, but Kingston is about 15 minutes away and has some lodging options available as well.
RAL: Why should people come to the garlic festival?
EB: At the festival there is something for everyone. For the kids, we have a children’s area where the kids can do crafts and have their face painted. We have the Arm of the Sea puppet theatre that performs. For adults, there are four stages of live music going on. Of course, having lots of food, craft and garlic items for purchase is always a highlight, and offers options to take home to remember your day.
For more information please visit their website.