EASTON, Pa. — Easton’s most pungent festival returns this weekend, and this time, patrons will have a sneak peek opportunity to savor the stink in advance.
Garlic Fest is back, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, offering up all the punchy, fresh Allium, mellow, sweet and savory dishes, and crazy cocktails you can handle.Easton Garlic Fest
Garlic Festis back, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, offering up all the punchy, fresh Allium, mellow, sweet and savory dishes, and crazy cocktails you can handle.
But this year, guests will have an opportunity to dive into the festivities a day early with the new preview night, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 3.
Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense will be joined by the James Supra Band and Local Mutants for a free show, and visitors can score some garlicky goods from Amigos Mexican Grill, Antonios Pizzeria & Restaurant, You Got Pork’d, and the Stinkin’ Beer Tent.
But that’s just the start to the stinkiest celebration in the city.
This year, the fest has named Paul Ratchaphol Rojratana of La Kang Thai-French Cuisine the 2025 Headline Chef.
Visitors will have plenty of opportunities throughout the weekend to try some of his most garlicky gastronomic efforts at competitions and stalls.
Smelly Saturday
Want to take part in determining the best savory, garlic-forward dishes from local chefs? Line up early to score one of 400 tickets for the Gastric Garlic People’s Choice Contest at noon Saturday.
Or perhaps you’re a bit more daring? In that case, make sure to get one of the 200 tickets to the Dangerous Desserts People’s Choice Contest, in which local bakeries and restaurants will do their best to bring some savory garlic flavor to some sweets.
Both events will take place at noon on their respective days at the Pungent Plaza on Pine Street near The Marquis.
Over at the Stinkin’ Culinary Stage in Centre Square, the Mystery Basket Cook-Off will pit Sette Luna Executive Chef Adan Campos against Porters’ Pub Executive Chef Seth Harrow in a competition to craft a unique and tasty meal from identical baskets of ingredients at noon.
At 3 p.m., the Chef’s Choice Cook-Off will see reigning champion Stoke Coal Fire Pizza Executive Chef Abe Lopez square off against LaKang Owner and Executive Chef Paul Rojratana to craft dishes of their choosing for a panel of five judges.
Savory Sunday
On Sunday, there will be another Mystery Basket Cook-Off at 11 a.m., with Pop’s Kitchen Chef Harrison Lemus and Shelby Executive Chef Cristian Gonzalez.
Starting at 2 p.m., the Mayors’ Cook-Off will see Sal Panto Jr. and Rojratana face Phillipsburg’s Randy Piazza and Papen Cuisine Executive Chef and owner Wilson Patiño to see which culinary expert can pull off the best dish under the pressure of a time limit and a relatively inexperienced sous chef.
Wrapping up the big shows will be The Stinkin’ Rose Relay, in which Lopez, Gonzalez, Campos, and Foxi Ice Cream owner Amanda Cox teaming up on a single dish.
The catch? They each have 10 minutes to contribute to the cuisine, but they can't communicate with one another.
Will the end result stink? Well, of course. But will it be good? That’s the question.
Stuff for little stinkers and more
Throughout both days, dozens of vendors will have plenty of local garlicky goodness, including fresh prepared foods, prepackaged items, adult beverages and merchandise.
Hankering for garlic truffle waffle fries? Twisted Steaks has ‘em. Daring enough to sample a garlic negroni? Stoke Coal Fire Pizza & Bar has you covered, along with garlicky Roman Micheladas.
And that’s just the tip of the bulb, with local favorites such as BunBusterz, Porters’ Pub, Queso at Casa and many more offering up their own special garlic-laden options.
For the little ones, there will be Little Stinkers’ Row, where the Culinary Kids Cook-Off starts at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Five randomly selected young chefs will have an opportunity to prepare their very own garlic-centric pasta dish with a little help from some of the area’s best Executive Chefs.
Little Stinkers’ Row also will feature special Pirate Training Shows with Captain Jack Sparrow and the crew of the Black Pearl at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on both days.
Beyond that, there will be plenty of family friendly activities, including face-painting, slime creation and paper garlic hat making throughout the row.
Of course, what kind of Easton festival would it be without the music?
Top acts such as The Unpronounceable and Exploratory Bite will be at the Stinkin’ Music Main Stage on S. 3rd St. near Ferry St. Looking for some salsa, merengue and Latin beats.
You also can check out acts including Sol Katana and Combo Melaza the Sizzlin’ Latin Quarter on North Third Street between Spring Garden Street and Centre Square.
