Garlic Fest 2024 is gearing up for another year celebrating the culinary staple, and is also looking to highlight what else local farmers are growing. Hosted at Queen Elizabeth Park Sunday, Sept. 15, 11 a.m. to 5 pm., the festival will include over 70 food and craft vendors, a collection of live performances, interactive workshops and activities for the whole family.
“We’re here to promote food security and education and garlic is a part of it,” Mia Knobler, Revelstoke Local Food Initiative (LFI) events coordinator told Revelstoke Mountaineer. An expansion of focus from solely garlic is allowing regional growers to showcase and sell a range of crops, she added.
In its second year under LFI’s stewardship, Garlic Fest 2024 has grown to include a second stage of workshops, family friendly storytime and performances. Kiki The Eco Elf will perform on stage and also around the event grounds.
Local farmers and vendors will be selling garlic harvests and garlic themed treats as well as a range of other produce and products harvested late in the season.
“This year, it is a bit of a harvest festival,” Knobler said. “An opportunity to educate people on growing locally.”
Garlic Fest will have a selection of family-friendly activities, including chicken bingo and a chance to play street hockey against members of the Revelstoke Grizzlies. Performances include Gabbie Cournoyer and the Garlic Guys, Prairie Dogs, Niklas Winnitowy and more.
The festival operates as a key fundraiser for LFI and its programs around food security offered throughout the winter. Entry is $5 per person, kids are free.
Last year’s Garlic Fest was a learning opportunity for LFI on multiple accounts. A reassessment of the space provided at Queen Elizabeth park showed the festival had room to grow, leading to the addition of 20 vendors to the community festival. Reports of expired garlic being sold shortly after last year’s event has created new quality control strategies for the festival, Amanda Cockburn, LFI’s executive director told Revelstoke Mountaineer.
“This happens sometimes, no different than the strawberries you buy at the grocery store that go bad the next day,” Cockburn said. “All of our vendors are small, local businesses who strive to bring the best quality products.”
Cockburn explained that LFI is working closely with vendors and requesting quality control checks done on all products sold at Garlic Fest 2024. She is looking forward to the new vendors and shows at this year’s festival.
“It’s going to be so epically fun and a great gathering of the community to celebrate local food,” Cockburn said.
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