Garlic Festival brings flavor to market
Garlic was celebrated at the Mission Falls Farmers Market last week. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
The Rock Pickers provided entertainment at the first Garlic Fest in St. Ignatius last week. Pictured left to right are Tim Krantz, Tony Mathis, Lyle Cronk and Amelia Cronk. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
Rose Bear Don’t Walk, manager of the Mission Falls Farmer’s Market, adds corn to the grill during a garlic festival. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
As patrons visited the Mission Falls Farmers Market last week, they were treated to the sounds of local music and a visit from the Garlic Fairy.
Rose Bear Don’t Walk, manager of the farmers market, donned garlic garb as she moved about Friday, Sept. 28, for a Garlic Festival at Old Timers Park in St. Ignatius.
Bear Don’t Walk explained that while “a lot” of the farmers market board members are farmers, they came up with the idea to celebrate garlic because many people grow it in the Mission Valley.
About 150 attended the event, which organizers plan on making an annual happening, Bear Don’t Walk said.
The market board intended to host special events throughout the season, she said, going with the market philosphy to provide local events to promote local food “and enjoy what this community has to offer.”
About one-third of the vendors offered garlic or garlic-themed treats, ranging from seasonings to confections shaped like the garden staple.
In the nearby field, a pig was cooked along with corn.
The dinner was donation-only, with proceeds benefitting the market and community, Bear Don’t Walk said, including the SNAP and Double SNAP programs.
The last day of the Mission Falls Farmers Market is Friday, Oct. 5.