Cornwall Ontario – On August 28, 2016, garlic producers and locavores will once again be dazzled by the second edition of the Eastern Ontario Garlic Festival (EOGF), hosted from 10am–6pm at Lamoureux Park in downtown Cornwall.

Showcasing everything local, this event will feature 100+ vendors including garlic growers, farmers, beer and wine producers, artisans, artists and musicians, and many community organizations and partnering businesses. The festival will come to life on Sunday between 10 am and 6pm, with an “all local” beer and wine garden open from 11am to 8pm. With plenty of food, workshops, musical talent, art and free children’s activities planned over the weekend, this event will surely have something for everyone.

The event is produced by Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects (KCEP), a not­ for profit organization advocating for and creating projects related to agri­food. As a core partner of the All Things Food Network, KCEP aims to increase awareness and support for the diverse agri­food system and resources available to our local community.

“We want to think and act on what it means to shop and eat locally,” stated Brenda Norman, of KCEP “What better way is there to do this than to give people the chance to network with their farmers, artists and so on to give us direct access to their wares, services, and resources all in one place.”

In addition to the festival on Sunday, the festival’s Beer and Wine Garden on the Seaway will also be open from 5pm­11pm on Saturday the 27th. The garden will feature only local alcoholic beverages from Rurban Brewing (Cornwall’s newest brewery), Beaus’s All Natural Brewing Co., Strathmore Winery, and Smokie Ridge vineyards. Live musical talent and artists from Your Arts Council, Focus Art and the French Cultural Centre in an interactive “Art in Motion” will be onsite to entertain.

“Twelve artists will be in motion, rotating every twelve minutes, over twelve canvases, twelve words reflecting meaning behind helping things grow. The idea is that these pieces will become a collection of art that will be exhibited throughout the community,” said Kim Cameron, KCEP Art Director.

This event has been made possible by generous sponsorship from Homestead Organics, the United Counties of Stormont Dundas and Glengarry, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, the Eastern Ontario Agri­food Network, and the City of Cornwall. Deborah Stone a member of the Eastern Ontario Garlic Festival planning team and Co­-owner of Landscape Pro a sponsor of the event explained “being part of the community means getting involved, the opportunity to contribute to this event as residents and a business has been meaningful to us”.

Also supporting the event through partnerships are many community business and organizations including Transition Cornwall+ who will be offering a bike valet service and children’s activities, Rhoice Marketing & Events, Pommier Jewellers who made a garlic charm as a fundraiser for KCEP, the Priest’s Mall Art Works, Remax,The Brick, Tartan,Trottiers Farm Equipment, Marlin Orchards & Gardens Centre, Cornwall and the County Tourism, and The Terrace Green B&B, among many others.

“So many businesses and individuals have stepped up to the plate by offering their area of expertise or skill to help us bring this festival to the community, and we are ever grateful. It is really quite remarkable to see what has grown out of this idea to showcase everything local”. said Norman.

For more information on the Eastern Ontario Garlic Festival programming, volunteer opportunities, and to see our featured vendors please visit the website.