- Easton will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Garlic Fest in Centre Square this Saturday and Sunday
- Over 100 vendors will offer up fresh garlic, garlic foods, beverages, and even desserts
- Cooking competitions will be held to find the very best garlic dish and dessert, judged by festival attendees
EASTON, Pa. — It’s time to celebrate two decades of Easton Garlic Fest, with organizers encouraging locals and visitors to come on down to the city and eat, drink and stink.
Arguably Easton’s most notoriously smelly festival, Garlic Fest is coming to Centre Square this Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with Headline Chef Abe Lopez, executive chef of Coal Fire Pizza.
Over 100 vendors will be present, offering up plenty of garlicky eats, fresh bulbs, merchandise, crafts, prepared and packaged foods, and service providers.
Two stages will feature free live music, including the Sizzlin’ HOT Latin Music Stage at Northampton and Second Streets, along with the Main Stage at Third and Ferry Streets.
But, let’s be honest, you’re going for the garlic. Time to dig in!
Various local farms will have plenty to offer, including Dragonfly Hill Farm & Kitchen’s gourmet diced blend in a jar, Tall Oak Farm’s half-pound bags and single bulbs of Doukhobor and German white garlic, and Valley Fall Farm’s black garlic and bottled garlic vinegar.
For $10, you can get a plate of garlicky pasta at the Big Stinkin’ Wheel of Cheese Booth, where a wheel of melted Reggiano Parmesan cheese is swirled together with Vicidomini gourmet lemon linguini, both offered by Vicidomini USA. Finish off the plate with some garlic pesto or creamy garlic sauce and enjoy.
Pungent Plaza, sponsored by Valley Business Systems, will be offering up two ticketed tasting events beginning at noon each day. Tickets are available for purchase – $12, cash only – beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Those interested in the Gastric Garlic People’s Choice Contest can hit up the Pungent Plaza from noon to 2:30 p.m., where 400 participants will sample and judge the very best garlic offerings created by chefs from local restaurants. Who will win the coveted garlic bulb winner’s plaque? The people will decide!
If you’re looking for the best garlic dish you can find, you really can't miss no matter what you choose. But if you're asking Mayor Sal Panto Jr. , who will be at the ‘fest for both days, the Lebanese garlic chicken can't be missed.
In a town defined by a vast variety of festivals, Garlic Fest is one of the big ones, matched only by Bacon Fest.
“It's definitely one of the hallmarks. It's a great festival,” Panto said.
“Easton has become a great food town. We’ve got great restaurants, and we have great food festivals. And this one happens to be an outgrowth of the farmers market and it's taking on a life of its own. I think Garlic Fest brings people to Easton, they see all the good things are going on, and they come back down.”
After all those savory dishes, you might be craving some sweets – but remember where you are, because those delectable desserts are packed with allium sativum. The Dangerous Desserts People’s Choice Contest will pit the creative works of local chefs against 200 brave souls to determine the finest sweet course.
And the stink doesn’t stop there – not even the alcohol is safe! The Stinkin’ Beer Tent, sponsored by The Alfredo Company and hosted by 3rd & Ferry Fish Market will feature a selection of draft and canned beer, cocktails, sangria, and yes, garlic Bloody Marys.
If you need to keep the kids busy while chomping all those cloves of garlicy goodness, there’s always the Little Stinkers’ Row at North Third and Church Streets.
Fee-based activities include a moon bounce, obstacle course, trackless train, games of chance and a face painter. Free activities include a show by Balloons the Clown on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on the Culinary Kids Stage and the Ray Grins Comedy Juggling Show on the new permanent Centre Square stage by the fountain at 2 p.m.
On Sunday, the Easton Arts Academy Elementary Charter School’s fourth- and fifth-grade ensemble will perform on the Centre Square stage at 2 p.m.
Kids also have an opportunity to craft their own paper garlic hats for free to wear as they stroll around the festival.
Starting at 11 a.m. on both festival days, kids can sign up for a chance to participate in the Culinary Kids Cooking Contest, which begins at 2 p.m. Five contestants will be selected to compete in the cooking contest.
Other entertainment includes strolling performers like stilt walkers Grins & Grins, jugglers, Earl the Accordionist, and Easton Garlic Festival mascot “Stinky” with the Wilson High School Cheerleaders.
If you want to commemorate your trip to Easton’s Garlic Fest, swing by the Odiferous Merchandise and Information booth, sponsored by Unity Bank, which features EGF shirts and hoodies, and a basket raffle.
