Braids of garlic hang from the side of the booth for Channing Family Farm, from Twisp, Wash., at Garlic Fest last year.
The 21st annual Garlic Fest is currently seeking more vendors as the county prepares to host the event for the first time since taking ownership of it.
Last year, the fate of the popular area festival, which is known for bringing together garlic lovers for good food and entertainment, was unknown. Former organizer Judy DeVaul said it would be the last Garlic Fest unless another organization took it over.
Since the event had been held at the fairgrounds for the last 11 years, Fair Manager Tamara Hayes said it was decided the festival would be a good fit for the county, which took over the management. The county did not pay anything to take over the festival, Hayes said.
“There are no major changes at this time besides making it bigger and better and trying to grow the vendors and the music,” Hayes said.
If any changes were to be made, it would happen at next year’s Garlic Fest, Hayes said.
Since it’s the county’s first time putting on the event, Hayes said they first have to get a feel for the festival.
“Garlic Fest has been a very successful event. We kind of want to see how it goes and then decide what is it that we think from a fair management perspective we can bring to it,” she said.
The way the event is operated is unique because it gives local organizations and charity groups a chance to raise money for their particular causes. At previous events, the net proceeds were divided between the volunteers who worked the event based on the hours of time they donated, generating tens of thousands of dollars for the charities and organizations over the last 10 years.
Hayes said volunteers will work at the event this year as well.
The Southwest Washington Fairgrounds recently received $5,000 in lodging tax funds from the city of Centralia to help market its interim events, specifically Garlic Fest. Hayes said that money will be used to draw people into the festival outside of a 50-mile radius through various advertising, which will include ads in AAA’s Journey Magazine.
Garlic Fest was originally founded by Shawn and Andie Hamilton. The duo held the event at their farm off Scheuber Road until the DeVauls took the event over and moved it to the fairgrounds.
Typically, the event draws in between 13,000 and 20,000 people.
Hayes hopes to build on that success.
“The people love it and the vendors love it,” she said. “We are happy to have it as part of the county and the fair. We want to keep it going and growing as much as possible so it continues to get more successful.”
