Maine
Maine’s 4th annual Garlic Fest expected to attract thousands
Garlic lovers can rejoice: Maine’s Garlic Fest is returning for its fourth iteration this weekend — and attendees can anticipate extra scrumptious choices and leisure than ever earlier than.
Roughly 2,000 folks attended the competition at Lake George Regional Park in Canaan and Skowhegan final 12 months, and organizers are anticipating 3,000 this weekend, stated Darryll White, park director.
With every model, the competition has grown in reputation, he stated, so organizers determined to double floor dimension for the occasion and add a second meals station, drink space and stage for performances.
Maine’s Garlic Fest started a variety of years in the past at Loopy 4 Garlic, a Canaan-based farm targeted on rising Russian pink garlic and that was lead sponsor of the occasion. When the competition outgrew the property, the house owners partnered with Lake George Regional Park to convey Mainers a fun-filled weekend that additionally advantages the one regional park within the state, White stated.
Attendees recognize the native choices and music, actions for youngsters and delightful views and fall foliage, he stated.
“There’s loads of chatter on the market this 12 months, so we really feel like we’re in good condition to develop,” he stated. “And the climate appears prefer it’s going to cooperate.”
The competition can be held from 9:30 a.m. to six p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, and from 9:30 a.m. to three p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Lake George Regional Park, 10 Primary St., Canaan, and attendees ought to go to the west aspect gate for tickets.
Admission is $5 per individual, with children 12 years outdated and youthful free.
Funds profit the park, a nonprofit that operates primarily based on revenue derived from person charges and a number of other fundraisers, White stated.
A bigger and improved competition additionally means extra advertising and marketing was wanted to unfold the phrase, White stated. Lake George Regional Park obtained a $2,500 grant from the Kennebec Valley Tourism Council with the stipulation that it match 50 cents on the greenback, he stated.
The park spent $4,000 on advertising and marketing for the competition, together with the grant. Officers took out radio ads and employed somebody to deal with the park’s social media channels.
The competition will characteristic arts and craft gross sales, meals from native distributors and a money bar. There can be pumpkin portray, caramel apple dipping and a hay maze sack race for youngsters. Kayak leases are free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Yoga on the east aspect of the park begins at 8:30 a.m., in keeping with the occasion web site.
“We do invite farms that produce garlic and different garlic merchandise,” White stated. “That’s undoubtedly a theme. It’s additionally fairly assorted [with other offerings].”
Distributors embrace Midsummer Night time’s Meadow Farm in Garland, Wittsies Barn Quilts in Canaan, Mrs. Hartman’s Farmhouse Market in Dexter, Penny’s Alpaca Farm in Fairfield, Tupper and Buddies Maine Maple Syrup in Cornville and lots of others.
Fifteen and a half hours of stay music from Maine-based artists are scheduled for the weekend, White stated. He intends to continue to grow the music portion of the competition.
Lee Sykes, Matt & the Barnburners and Sharon Hood & Dixon Street are slated to carry out Saturday. Elaine Malkin and Gail Lipfert, Dwight Gagnon, Emee G. Smith, Brian Richmond, Clay Camero and Sagittarius Rising take the stage Sunday.
“I definitely need to meet the expectations that I consider have come from the distributors and attendees,” White stated. “We proceed to boost the bar so we have now one thing to stay as much as. We hope to see smiling faces.”