EASTON, PA – October 2, 2023 – For two decades garlic lovers have been coming to downtown Easton to eat, drink, and stink at Easton Garlic Fest. And this year it will stink on for its 20^th anniversary event!

The free admission celebration takes place in Centre Square on Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8 from 10 am – 6 pm both days, rain or shine. This year’s Headline Chef is Abe Lopez, Executive Chef of Stoke Coal Fire Pizza in downtown Easton.

Highlights include:

• Vendors – More than 100 vendors, including lots of garlicky food, fresh garlic vendors, merchandise and crafters, prepared foods, packaged foods, and service See the full vendor list here: https://www.eastongarlicfest.com/vendors
• Stinkin’ Culinary Stage in Centre Square, presented by People First Federal Credit Union, will have four chef cook offs:
  • Mystery Basket Cook-off #1 – Saturday at 1 pm – Chef Harrison Lemus of La Cocina del Abuelo in Allentown and Head Chef Marbin Castroramos of 3rd & Ferry Fish Market in Easton are engaging in a garlic-filled smackdown in this judged Each chef will receive an identical mystery basket filled with fresh, local ingredients chosen by EGF Headline Chef Abe Lopez. They will have 30 minutes to create a garlicky meal using only those ingredients.
  • Mystery Basket Cook-off #2– Saturday at 3 pm – In this competition three chefs will compete with a completely different set of mystery ingredients chosen by Headline Chef Lopez. Cheer on Jeff Wagaman, Chef at Brick Tavern Inn, Esteban Morales, Dining Services Director at Fountain View at Logan Square, and Tahir Baldwin, Executive Chef at Pearly Bakers Ale House.
  • 3 Mayors Cook-off – Sunday at 1 pm – Three mayors will face off in a garlic throw down of epic proportions. Each will bring along a local chef to battle it out in a judged cooking competition. Easton Mayor Sal Panto, Jr. with EGF Headline Chef Abe Lopez of Stoke Coal Fire Pizza; Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk with Armando Rodriguez-Caro from La Frikitona food truck; and Phillipsburg Mayor Todd Tersigni with Chef Ortiz from Pizza Village.
  • Chef’s Choice Cook-off – Sunday at 3 pm – EGF Headline Chef/Executive Chef Abe Lopez of Stoke Coal Fire Pizza takes on Executive Chef and Owner Shawn Doyle of The Savory Grille in a garlic head-to-head battle between two of the top chefs in the Lehigh Valley.

• Two stages of free live music – The Sizzlin’ HOT Latin Music Stage at Northampton & 2^nd Streets, and the rockin’ Main Stage at 3rd & Ferry Streets. For the schedule of bands visit: https://www.eastongarlicfest.com/music
• Sizzlin’ HOT Latin Quarter – Located on Northampton Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Streets, it features Hispanic and Latino food vendors and a stage with live music and a Tango performance on Saturday at 1 pm, and Mariachi band performance on Sunday at noon.
• Big Stinkin’ Wheel of Cheese Booth – $10 (cash only) – It starts with a wheel of melted Reggiano Parmesan cheese in which Vicidomini gourmet lemon linguini is swirled. It is then topped with your choice of garlic pesto or creamy garlic Cheese wheel and pasta are provided by sponsor Vicidomini USA.
• Pungent Plaza sponsored by Valley Business Systems features two ticketed tasting events beginning at noon each Tickets are available for purchase beginning at 11:30 am and are cash only.
  • Gastric Garlic People’s Choice Contest – $12
    • Noon – 2:30 pm on Saturday; located in the Pungent Plaza
    • 400 people will sample and judge the best garlic dish created by chefs from local Participants determine which chef will take home the coveted garlic bulb winner’s plaque.
  • Dangerous Desserts People’s Choice Contest – $12
    • Noon – 2:30 pm on Sunday; located in the Pungent Plaza
    • Be one of 200 people to sample and judge the best garlic dessert created by chefs from local restaurants. Participants determine which chef creates the best dish.
  • Stinkin’ Beer Tent sponsored by The Alfero Company and hosted by 3^rd & Ferry Fish Market – featuring a selection of draft and canned beer, cocktails, sangria, and also garlic Bloody Marys.
  • Little Stinkers’ Row – N. 3rd & Church Streets – moon bounce, obstacle course and a trackless train, plus games of chance, and a face painter (activities are fee based). Free activities include a show by Balloons the Clown on Saturday at 12:30 pm on the Culinary Kids Stage, and the Ray Grins Comedy Juggling Show on the new permanent Centre Square stage by the fountain at 2 pm. On Sunday, the Easton Arts Academy Elementary Charter School 4^th & 5^th grade ensemble will perform also on the Center Square stage at 2 pm. Also, kids of all ages can make their own paper garlic hat for free to wear as they stroll around the festival. Starting at 11 am both days, kids can sign up for a chance to participate in the Culinary Kids Cooking Contest, which starts at 2 pm. Five names are selected to Other entertainment includes strolling performers throughout the entire festival like stilt walkers Grins & Grins, jugglers, Earl the Accordionist, and EGF mascot “Stinky” with the Wilson High School cheerleaders.

• Odoriferous Merchandise and Information booth sponsored Unity Bank – offering EGF t- shirts and hoodies, and a basket raffle.

For the complete event schedule visit: https://www.eastongarlicfest.com/music

In addition to the two downtown City of Easton Parking Garages, new this year are two additional surface-level parking lots. All parking is $10 per car, cash only. For parking information and driving directions, please visit: https://www.eastongarlicfest.com/directions

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Tracey Werner, Marketing Consultant
tracey@blabbermouthcommunications.com

 

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