9th Annual CLATSKANIE GARLIC FESTIVAL
What’s so special about the Clatskanie Garlic Festival? Ask your friends. They were probably in the crowd of 2000 visitors that showed up last year or they might even have been one of the 56 vendors. That’s a good trick for a small town.
This year the Clatskanie Farmers Market Garlic Festival will be on August 17th from 10:00am to 3:00pm at Cope’s Park across the street from the City Library in the oxbow of the Clatskanie River.
The Festival has grown steadily through the years, but last year’s attendance tripled the previous year. Everyone seems to have an opinion regarding the success of this overnight sensation that has been a decade in the making. Some say it’s due to the number of growers who specialize in garlic and are passionate about this allium. We have several growers in the Clatskanie area, but have also attracted some from as far east as White Salmon, Washington and as far south as Eugene. That matters because the climates in those two regions are different from here on the east flank of the Oregon Coast Range. All the growers bring the strains that grow best for them. This provides an enormous collection of strains and varieties. While we had a lot of vendors specializing in garlic last year, we are adding even more for this year’s event.
Friends and neighbors like the Festival because it has become the event of the Summer. The atmosphere is joyous and festive. Many folks come for the music. This year Joe and Briar will return to open the day. This acoustic duo investigates an eclectic blend of genres. Briar’s vocals are at once familiar and delightful weaving in and out of Joe’s various string compositions. The Festival will then feature The Lorna Baxter Septet. Lorna will be backed by some powerhouse musicians steeped in the blues, rock and pop, but landing squarely in the world of Jazz.
You will not want to miss the 20+ strains of unique garlic varieties, garlic ice cream from Cascadia Creamery and specialty vendors from across Oregon and Washington!