EASTON, Pa. – Gray skies and a little rain didn’t stop Easton’s 19th annual Garlic Fest from making a big stink downtown over the weekend.
The Stinkin’ Fest had a turnout of thousands of people, organizers said.
While the gray skies and occasional mist kept some of the usual crowd of about 50,000 home on Saturday, the energy and excitement – and smell – of the festival stayed. In Centre Square, the aroma of garlic filled the air.
- Easton's annual Garlic Fest was held Oct. 1 & 2 in Centre Square
- The rain-or-shine event saw some inclement weather, but it didn't dampen enthusiasm
- Mayors from Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton took part in the 3 Mayors Cook Off during the event
About 1 p.m., the 3 Mayors Cook Off got underway, with Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and Chef Karnail Singh of Tandoor Grill Easton taking first prize.
Two Rivers Brewing won the Gastric Garlic People’s Choice contest and Stoke Coal Fire Pizza won the Chef’s Choice contest.
For those who didn’t get to participate in the People’s Choice contest, there was plenty of other food and snacks to devour – such as garlic marsala fries, fried pierogies and garlic pesto ice cream.
Gail Lehman, owner of Backdoor Bakeshop, sold roasted garlic butter cookies at this year’s event. Lehman said she prepared for the event for two weeks and made about 5,000 cookies for the weekend’s patrons.
“[I] roasted about probably over a hundred bulbs of garlic,” Lehman said.
Lehman said she last attended Garlic Fest about 10 years ago. The recipe of the garlic butter cookies that Lehman brought to the fest was specifically created for the weekend’s festival.
Lehman said she hopes the amount of cookies would sell, but mostly she was looking forward to being at and enjoying the event.
The fest was packed with new and old vendors. Isasuma, an ethically sourced artisanal boutique selling handmade bags from Latin America, has been at the festival for more than 10 years.
It set up a booth right outside its shop on Northampton Street and nestled in the festival's Latin Quarter, where live music and DJ sets kept a crowd dancing.
Meanwhile, over near the mainstage, Anastasia Smith was a second-time attendee, selling her custom hand-painted glassware that, yes, featured paintings of garlic bulbs and flowers.
Patrons were floored by garlic beer and ax throwing found in the beer pavilion, while kids had fun with at the Little Stinkers’ Row.
Aubrey Calhoun attended with her family. She said it was her first garlic fest.
“The one particular thing I wanted to try was the bounce house” inflatable play attraction, Calhoun said. The bounce house was shut down by the time she arrived a little later in the afternoon but she said that overall the festival was a great place to have fun.
Organizer Jo Moranville said overall the festival went well. She guessed attendance was in the thousands. Moranville said she was most proud of the restaurants and businesses of Easton as they showed up and supported each other and really made it a festival of family.
