CORNWALL, Ontario – Garlic lovers and local foodies rejoice – the First Annual Eastern Ontario Garlic Festival is coming to Cornwall this summer.
On Aug. 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., local garlic producers, farmers, artisans, and community organizations will unite in Lamoureux Park to celebrate everything in the region that helps people and communities grow.
This gevent is produced by Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects (KCEP), a non-profit organization working on several projects for the common good of the community.
“This event represents the heart and soul of what we are trying to do with KCEP,” said Brenda Norman, owner at Kozroots Garlic and Herb Farm and President of KCEP. “We are working collaboratively with countless members of our community to create an event that represents, attracts, and is accessible to everyone.”
Sponsored by Homestead Organics, the City of Cornwall, Prescott & Russell Counties, the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, and many other community organizations, the Eastern Ontario Garlic Festival will feature a variety of garlic themed vendors, and activities for the whole family.
Free family and community friendly activities will be plentiful, including garlic cooking and gardening demonstrations, Iron Man obstacle course for teams and families, an apple pie baking contest, a corn roast, face painting, artists’ corner, and live musical entertainment.
Peter McClusky, author of the Ontario Garlic Book, will also make a guest appearance to talk about the history of garlic in Ontario.
All proceeds from this festival will go towards Green Thumbs Project , a new initiative launching in the spring of 2016 for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
“Program participants will be invited to work their own plot at Kozroots Farm, a garlic and herb farm located north of Monkland, as a way of learning how to grow produce for themselves and for farmgate sale” said Norman. “All profit from farmgate sales will go right back into the hands of the Green Thumb farmers as income.”
To date, Cornwall and the surrounding communities have been very receptive to the overall goals of the festival.
“The mission of the Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network is to promote local food and our local producers,” says Sylvie Paquette, Coordinator of the Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network, “so we are thrilled to see locally grown garlic in the spotlight at the garlic festival!”
All interested vendors, artists, musicians, community partners, or general volunteers are invited to contact eogarlicfest@gmail.com or to visit www.easternontariogarlicfestival.com for more information. Also learn how your family, company, or organization can take part in the Iron Man Field Day and Obstacle Course Competition.
In the case of rain the event will be held in the civic complex next to Lamoureux Park on Water Street.
