Sudbury Garlic Festival attracts large crowds

Free parking spaces were rare, and large crowds mingled shoulder to shoulder as the smell from 150 pounds of garlic permeated the air.

Unlike last year's Canadian Garlic Festival, which was met by a strong downpour, the sun was bright and the weather was warm when the gates opened at 11 a.m.

Stefura said organizers expected more than 3,000 people to show up and try a variety of foods, such as sauerkraut, pierogies, flatbread pizzas and salads infused with generous amounts of garlic.

Vendors from across Ontario also carried some more unusual fare, such as cookies, fudge and ice with generous helpings of garlic inside.

“That's a grabber,” Stefura said. “People are interested in something unusual.”

The day featured a wide variety of entertainment, that ranged from musical performers to traditional Ukrainian dancers.
The family-friendly event also featured a bouncy castle and a number of craft projects for children.

After 23 years, when people ask Stefura why she and the festival's other early founders settled on garlic, her answer is simple.

“I think the question is why not?” she said.