Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, September 2nd, 2023, the town of Bennington, Vermont, was transformed into Garlic Town, USA for a day-long celebration of all things garlic and the last days of summer. Over 7,200 residents and visitors from across the country gathered to savor the pungent delight of garlic in its many forms, making this year's event a great success.
Organized by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Garlic Town, USA 2023 aimed to not only celebrate garlic, but to focus on agriculture, arts and community. With more than 125 vendors, various cooking demonstrations, live music, two main bars, kids’ activities and an array of garlic-infused activities, the festival exceeded expectations.
Highlights of the Festival:
Largest Family Farmers’ Market: With over 125 vendors, the festival curated a diverse mix of products and foods. Garlic Town, USA boasted a high-level, juried vendor list that included: garlic growers and produce farmers, specialty packaged food and drinks such as craft spirits, liqueurs, wines, Vermont cheeses, meats, maple syrup, pickled products, pestos, olive oils, sauces, spice and herb blends; wares and craft vendors offering handmade kitchen and home decor items, jewelry, pottery, clothing, artwork and much more.
Food Trucks: The food portion of the festival was large and in charge with over 25 food trucks featuring a mixture of cuisines and food truck festival favorites like fresh garlic bread, specialty sandwiches, fried chicken, loaded fries, garlic burgers and hot dogs, fried pickles, even fried whole garlic cloves! Jamaican plates, Mexican street tacos and burritos, Mediterranean and Greek options, award winning crab cakes, gourmet macaroni and cheese, cheesesteaks, and many more garlic-centric options were available. Treats and desserts were also key with ice cream, roasted kettle nuts and fudge, pretzels, churros, fried dough, shave ice, and of course fresh squeezed lemonades and crafted specialty drinks.
Music & Bar: Two stages promised a day of continuous music and entertainment. Village Garage Distillery, a small batch craft distillery and restaurant located at 107 Depot Street, hosted Stage A at Clove A (Tuttle Lot) and included musicians Carly Rogers, Whiskey West, and The McGuinness Brothers. Stage B at the Bennington Station Lot (Clove B), this year named “The Jim Woodward Tribute Stage” in honor of the late local music man, included GVH & Cindy Baxter, Kitchen Sync with Julie Shea, Buck2Fifty, and Made In The Shade. The music sponsor was Coggins Auto Group.
Next to each stage full cocktail bars were set up stocked full of Vermont beers on tap, wines, mixed drinks, as well as Garlic Town’s famous Garlic Margaritas and Garlic Bloody Marys. The Village Garage Distillery provided the bar in Clove A (Tuttle Lot) and Ramunto’s provided the bar in Clove B (Bennington Station Lot).
Entertainment, Chef Demonstrations & Kids Activities: Back by popular demand was the Entertainment, Demonstration & Kids Activity Tent in the middle of Clove B (Bennington Station Lot) and it didn’t disappoint! Features included Chef Cara’s “When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip,” a World of Wonder Photo Op, Jim Thatch’s Garlic Trivia followed by Doug Eash’s Magic Show. Rounding out the day was a Garlic Ice Cream Demo! The Bennington Museum provided a workshop on creating vampire bookmarks. Sponsors of these features and tents included Maple Leaf Realty, Simmons Financial Group, Gamers’ Grotto and couch + cork.
Garlic Town Merchandise Store: A record-breaking year for the merchandise tent, volunteers sold an array of t-shirts, including a special limited edition design celebrating Bennington landmarks, a tie dye t-shirt featuring the Garlic Town logo, kitchen aprons, youth and toddler “Little Stinker” t-shirts, shopping tote bags, handmade garlic bulb hats, magnets, ball caps, keychains, stickers, and drinking glasses.
Downtown Bennington
Downtown merchants were open and welcomed customers throughout the day, including an additional music stage hosted outside of Knapp’s for live entertainment. Local restaurants offered unique garlic-centric food and drink specials throughout the week. The Better Bennington Corporation hosted JUNIOR Garlic Town in Merchants Park Splash Pad Stage that featured young entrepreneurs and additional kids activities.
Volunteer Participation
Over one hundred volunteers, dubbed the ‘tie-dye army’ for their distinctive tie dye shirts sported day of, started on Wednesday the week prior to the festival to build the “town.” Volunteers managed tickets, parking lots, waste removal, vendor and guest services, field marshals, music, design, tractor rides, information and more! The Bank of Bennington was the volunteer sponsor this year.
“Every year we are humbled and energized by the massive amount of volunteerism that happens with this event,” stated Matt Harrington, executive director of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber. “In this day and age, when we see reports and criticisms about people not helping or volunteering - it should be a main source of pride for our community that so many come out and assist us with this massive event.”
Sponsors
Garlic Town, USA could not take place without the contribution of sponsorship.This year the presenting sponsor was M&T Bank. Vermont News and Media (Banner/Journal) and Old Mill Road Publishing were media sponsors, while T-Mobile provided support for the parking and parking shuttles. Coggins Auto Group sponsored the musical acts and stage, while Maple Leaf Realty and Simmons Financial supported the demonstrations and kids’ activities. The Bank of Bennington sponsored volunteers, and the following were small business sponsors: Seniors Helping Seniors, Hayden Plumbing, K&E Plastics, Mirabito Energy, Vermont Paws and Boots, VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region, Silver Therapeutics, Labrador Acres Lawn Service, Four Chimneys Inn.
"We couldn't be happier with the turnout," said Mikaela Lewis, Event Manager with the Chamber and producer of the event. "Garlic Town, USA is not just a festival but a celebration of community. The proceeds from this event will benefit local small business and tourism programming through the chamber of commerce.”
Mark your calendars for the Labor Day Weekend in 2024, when Garlic Town, USA returns to Bennington for another day of aromatic excitement. Keep up to date with festival plans and visit www.garlictownusa.com.
Photos: Courtesy of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber and Lauzon Photography
Source: Bennington, VT – SWVTChamber.com
