Minnesota Garlic Festival
Road Trips Foodies who are fans of the pungent bulb will converge at the McCleod County Fairground, 840 Century Avenue SW, Hutchinson, Minnesota, next month for the 13th annual Minnesota Garlic Festival.
Yes, there will be garlic ice cream (from Minnesota Nice Cream Café) at this event, set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. August 11, 2018. (Well, not actually garlic ice cream because the garlic ingredients will be in the cones and toppings, not in the ice cream itself.)
Not to mention the ultimate in pop-up restaurants: The Great Scape Café. A full dinner menu will be served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Local Foods Tent — including The Pig Roast. Minnesota wine and craft beer also are available for tasting.
The complete line-up of entertainment, fun and games is online.
Admission is $5 for adults, with children under 12, free. Parking is $1 per vehicle.
Minnesota garlic growers will have the first of their fresh gourmet garlic crop at the festival, and it can keep in your kitchen for up to a year. There are more than 100 varieties of garlic grown hereabouts, all planted in the fall, harvested in July, and ready just in time for the festival.
The Garlic Festival is a production of the Sustainable Farming Association and its Crow River Chapter.
There are more garlic fests if this one doesn’t fit into your travel plans. The Gilroy Garlic Festival takes place July 27, 28 and 29, 2018, in Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy, California — about 30 miles south of San Jose off Highway 101.
There’s a garlic fest on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom August 18 and 19, 2018. Another one is set for the same weekend in Pennsylvania. The Laurel Highlands Garlic Festival takes place at Faranda’s Farm, 1171 Penn Avenue, Hollsopple, Pennsylvania.
The 21st annual Elephant Garlic Festival is August 10, 11 and 12, 2018, in Jessie Mays Community Park, 30975 Northwest Hillcrest Street, North Plains, Oregon. A Garlic and Harvest Festival is scheduled for October 6 and 7, 2018, at Bethlehem Fairgrounds, 304 Main Street North,Bethlehem, Connecticut.
