Annual Two-Day Long Island Ode To Garlic To Feature Garlic Olympics, Workshops, Garlic Iron Chef, Music, Cooking Demos, And More

A spectacular smorgasbord of all things garlic will return to Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market in Riverhead on Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15 during the 16th Annual Long Island Garlic Festival.

This year Long Island’s only Garlic Festival will offer a plethora of garlic inspired bites, crafts, plain garlic – to eat or plant – and more.

“This year we are excited to be doubling the Garlic Eating Fun, with TWO Garlic Eating Contests each day,” Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht, Long Island Garlic Festival Organizer and Founder and Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market co-founder, relayed. “One will be for new contestants, and the second will be a ‘Championship Round’ for previous winners and experienced competitors!”

Special garlic focused programming on Saturday will kick-off with a “How to Grow Garlic” workshop with Phil from Biophilia Organic Farm from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Then, rising chefs will highlight the ingredient of the weekend during the Junior Garlic Iron Chef Competition at 1 p.m. There will be a vendor cooking demo at 2:15 p.m. One of the Festival’s most amusing moments, the Garlic Eating Contest, will take place at 3:30 p.m. and the newest event, Garlic Olympics! Championship Round of the Garlic Eating Contest – for repeat offenders only – will take place at 4:15 p.m. As for live music, Bruce McDonald of Barbeque Bruce and the Brisket Brothers will take the stage from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Nina Etc. is next up from 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and Eastbound Freight will headline from 3 to 6 p.m.

“As usual, we’ll have over 50 vendors of all things garlic, garlic ice cream, garlic to eat and plant, as well as unlimited hayride tours of the farm for all attendees, pumpkin picking, bluegrass music, and more!” Kaplan-Walbrecht noted.

On Sunday, there will be another “How to Grow Garlic” workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This one will be led by Garden of Eve co-owner Chris Kaplan-Walbrecht. The kitchen will heat up with another Junior Garlic Iron Chef Competition at 1 p.m. and the vendor cooking demo returns at 2:15 p.m. First time Garlic Eating Contest competitors will battle it out at 3:30 p.m. and veterans can compete during the Garlic Olympics at 4:15 p.m. Live music will feature Ken Korb of Red River Ramblers from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Justin Ryan Country Band from 12 to 2:45 p.m., and Buddy Merriam & Backroads from 3 to 6 p.m.

The Festival will also showcase the various ways that garlic can be utilized, including pickled garlic, garlic jellies, garlic soup, and even garlic ice cream. There will be loads of freshly harvested, organic garlic, available in several different varieties, as well as garlic braids, crafts, and more.

Little ones can keep entertained with children’s games and play equipment, pumpkin picking, pony rides, and an animal farm. There will also be hayrides every half hour, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

The wondrous celebration of “Garliciana” will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days. Admission is $10 per person and free for children under 2-years-old, which includes access to the bounce house, mini-pumpkin picking, farm animal area, the other attractions, and unlimited hayrides.

Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market, 4558 Sound Avenue is located at Riverhead. For more information, visit gardenofevefarm.com.