2013 Connecticut Garlic and Harvest Festival

By MelissaR for Fairfield Green Food Guide, September 3, 2013

Garlic lovers flock each year to the Annual Connecticut Garlic and Harvest Festival to provision themselves with new crop garlic for the next winter, attend garlic growing lectures and cooking demos, and shop for specialty garlic products ranging from garlic sea salt to garlic oils. This enormous festival (200 vendors last year) will be held for the ninth year on October 12 and 13 from 10-5 at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $1 for children under 12.

View our photo album from the 2011 event on Facebook to get an appreciation for the high quality and diversity of vendors and exhibitors.

This is the place to shop for premium garlic, including organic and heirloom varietals plus the braided garlic wreaths perfect for hanging on your wall or give as gifts. Not all garlic is equal. The garlic you buy in the grocery store was probably refrigerated, which can drastically shorten its shelf life. Freshly harvested and dried garlic will last at least 5-6 months, possibly longer depending up on the variety, so long as you keep it in a cool spot out of direct sunlight. Grocery store garlic is also unsuitable for fall planting as many are sprayed with sprout inhibitors. For a successful crop, it’s important to buy garlic with a history of growing well in our soil and climate that’s free of soil borne diseases that will destroy your crop. Many farmers in Connecticut save some of their best garlic as seed garlic for the next crop, or buy from another farmer rather than order seed out of state. Do as the farmers do and you should have a great crop.

Bring a shopping tote to carry your purchases around, saving the heaviest and most fragile for last.

When you’re tired of tasting and shopping, stop by the food court for some lunch (full of garlic of course!), get entertained by live music and attend class or demonstration. Click here for a list of food vendors and exhibitors.

No dogs allowed. Insider advice: Do not plan to leave right at closing time. There is only one exit and traffic gets badly backed up.