Garlic Town, USA Returns Labor Day Weekend to Downtown Bennington, Vermont

Originally Published by the Bennington Banner (May 29, 2023

— Ahhhhhh ... the sweet smell of garlic is returning to Bennington.

Garlic Town, USA will once again take over downtown Bennington on Saturday, Sept. 2. Formerly known as the award-winning Garlic Fest, Garlic Town celebrates all things garlic, Vermont and community. The event is produced by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

“We are excited to bring this regional event to downtown once again,” remarked Matt Harrington, the executive director of the chamber, on Monday in a release. “We will have all the elements that the crowds have come to love with a few tricks and surprises up our sleeves we think the attendees are going to love this year. As the Garlic Committee begins to plan the event and details get solidified we will inform the public.”

Bennington has become renowned for its annual garlic events held every year on Labor Day weekend — recognized as one of the top 10 garlic festivals in the world by Reuters, featured in Yankee Magazine, awarded Vermont’s Time-Honored Top 10 Fall Event and has been consecutively the Bennington Banner and Manchester Journals Reader’s Choice for Best Event in the Region.

Last year’s event saw over 7,500 visitors and residents stroll around downtown Bennington with garlic and food vendors, sidewalk sales, tractor rides and more.

The producers plan to mobilize a similar effort working with over 120 vendors, food trucks, craft producers, bands, kids activities and more.

“It is not missed on us that Camelot Villages, the former location of the Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival or Garlic Fest, has recently been sold and that might have many of our long-time customers and patrons curious about this year,” Harrington said.