The Annual Canadian Garlic Festival takes place in Sudbury, Ontario on the fourth weekend in August. This community celebration of the "pungent root" offers a variety of family oriented activities: workshops on the cultivation and use of garlic, puppet shows, pony rides, contests and entertainment by local artists. Participants can enjoy a sit-down meal designed around a garlic theme, or informally sample a variety of appetizers from garlic soup to garlic ice cream. Garlic bread, homemade dill pickles, the bounty of local garlic harvest as well as crafts and cookbooks are also available from vendors during the Sunday Food Festival. Community volunteers organize the festival, and the proceeds support the Sudbury Community Foundation as well as Sudbury Seniors` Services and Projects.
One may ask, "Why Sudbury?" Why Garlic? The Festival dates back to November 23, 1991 when the Sudbury Ukrainian Seniors’ Centre, a charitable non-profit organization, held a "Garlic Gala". This potluck dinner was such a success that the Centre decided to host the first Garlic Festival the following year. Based on the local growing season, the seniors decided that the event should take place on the fourth weekend of August. Originally inspired by the Ukrainian seniors` gastronomic heritage, the Festival was readily embraced by the diverse community of Sudbury region.
The first Garlic Festival took place in 1992. It attracted about a thousand visitors and featured garlic folklore, contests and plenty of garlic-laced food. Local restaurants created meals that were auctioned to the highest bidders. Self-proclaimed "Garlic King" Ted Maczka, who has displayed his harvest at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, made his first appearance here and extolled the general virtues of garlic and the particular virtues of the Canadian grown bud. The "Great Garlic Recipe Contest" presented prizes to finalists and resulted in a cookbook of recipes submitted by 42 contestants.
Since its inception, attendance at the Canadian Garlic Festival has increased each year. The success of the initial Festival attracted the support of Sudbury`s business and civic community. A core group of volunteers at the Ukrainian Seniors` Centre continues to marshall the support of the community in organizing the Festival. A sample of Festival activities over the years reflects the extent of community involvement: – the Mayor’s garlic relay, garlic braiding, a garlic-perogie eating contest, the Geriatric Garlic Gallop and even a garlic-breathalyzer operated by the Sudbury Regional Police. Entertainers have included the Ukrainian dance troupes Veselka, the Sudbury Symphony String Quartet, the Copper Cliff Chorus September Classics, the Valley East Theater Troupe, the Amazing Rene (magician) and the Betancourts (tenor soloist and pianist).
In the Millenium year, the Canadian Garlic Festival participated in developing a 40 ft by 100 ft area adjacent to the Festival site as an arbour (bower) resting-place on the 10,000 mile Trans Canada Trail. This rest area will provide those who take the trail with the opportunity to restore themselves thereby perpetuating a time-honoured travelers` tradition.
What began as a fund-raising event for programs and social services of the Ukrainian Seniors` Centre has evolved into a community-wide benefit. The Canadian Garlic Festival is the seniors` enduring legacy to the community they call home.