Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival Postponed Until 2021

It is with heavy hearts that the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce informs the greater Bennington community that the 25th Annual Garlic and Herb Festival traditionally held on Labor Day Weekend will be postponed until Labor Day Weekend of 2021.

“On Friday, May 22 of this year, Governor Scott indicated that county fairs and field days, and other outdoor festivals must be canceled this summer,” Matt Harrington, executive director of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce commented. “This past week our board voted to postpone the Garlicfest after discussions with Garlicfest captains, community stakeholders and the chamber staff. Many of us understand and respect the tough decision the Governor made even at the detriment of this festival and organization.”

The Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival, affectionately known as “Garlicfest” by many, has been a staple of Bennington and Southern Vermont for the last 25 years on Labor Day Weekend.   Growing from a small garlic growers farmers’ market in Wilmington, the festival now sees over 200 vendors, 20 food trucks, 8 live bands and 2 days of family fun yearly at Camelot Village.  Garlicfest has consistently seen travelers for many years visit Bennington, Vermont with last year's festival seeing over 16,000 patrons from all over the USA and other countries.  The Garlicfest has been recognized as an Time-Honored Top 10 Vermont Fall Events by the Vermont Chamber, a consistent New England Newspapers' Reader's Choice, and identified by Reuters as one of the Top 10 Garlicfests in the world!

In 2019 when polled, 76% of Garlicfest patrons indicated that they planned to return to Bennington within the next 12 months in addition to Garlicfest and 81% said they planned to return for the 25th annual Garlicfest this year.

Last year over 140 community members came out to volunteer 2,500 volunteer hours to make Garlicfest happen.  

Harrington added, “The Garlicfest is more than a festival run by a local chamber of commerce; it is a community tour de force! It is the envy of many festivals in Vermont and throughout the Northeast.  It is a source of great pride for this community and chamber.”

The economic impact to the local economy shouldn’t be overlooked either.  In last year’s post Garlicfest survey business owners indicated in one Labor Day Weekend: 85% of dining establishments saw between $1,000-$10,000 in revenue, 50% of lodging was between 80-100% capacity, and 55% of retail saw between $1,000-$10,000 in revenue.  Harrington added, "Labor Day Weekend can traditionally be a slow weekend for the hospitality and retail sectors.  The chamber has held Garlicfest in Bennington for the past 14 years to spur on economic growth during the weekend."

“The safety and comfort of all Benningtonians, our volunteers, and our guests is our highest priority. With how many changes happen every day during this pandemic it would be incredibly difficult for us to establish enough resources to make a large group of people feel safe and socially distanced from one another, while simultaneously bringing the community the same Garlic Festival that we all know and love,” Harrington says.

“We were certainly hoping for a better situation to develop over these past months. I know how difficult this year has been for all of our vendors and community members as nearly all events have had to cancel or postpone, and I am deeply sorry that we have to be one of them. This decision does not come lightly to our board knowing the impact it has on all of Bennington and the chamber. However, we know that this is the safest and most responsible decision for everyone given the circumstances,” Brian Maggiotto, the President of the Chamber's Board of Directors, commented.

“We want to thank our staff, our loyal Garlicfest captains, volunteers and vendors, and of course the community for your patience throughout the past few months. The staff, captains, and volunteers will certainly miss seeing all of your smiling faces this year.”

Prior to this announcement, Garlicfest Captains, previous Garlicfest volunteers as well as over 130 already registered vendors were notified of the postponement.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber looks forward to hosting the 25th Annual Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival next year on September 4-5th of Labor Day Weekend from 10am-5pm at Camelot Village.

For more information visit: www.LoveGarlic.com