Garlic Festival grows on

It has been an unusual time for the Kozroots Community Empowerment Project group, as it has for many event organizers, and with that comes the need to take time and confirm the necessary steps are in place to carry out the 6th annual Eastern Ontario Garlic Festival, which has now been pivoted to a farmers’ market format.

“We pivoted to demonstrate that access to garlic is an essential food service that the consumer needs and wants. We have worked with the City of Cornwall and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) to get all the required logistics in place to bring the event to life during these times that we are all living through.” explained Brenda Norman, lead event organizer. “Advocating for garlic growers who normally have a dozen festivals to attend in a season was essential in having this event approved by the EOHU.” 

The organizers, along with their partners The Eastern Ontario Agri-food Network and Bonville Garden, are happy to invite patrons who need to replenish their garlic stock for the season, to join vendors on Sunday, September 27^th, 2020 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at Lamoureux Park, around the Band Shell and along the Waterfront Trail.

The setting will be a collection of vendors displaying a variety of garlic and specialty products and artisans, including Cornwall’s very own Bee Real Holistic Health. As always non-profit groups will be showcased, and this year Maison Baldwin House and Food for Thought will be present. Both groups will be selling masks for $10 and visitors are encouraged to support their efforts in keeping people safe and free of hunger. Organizers will also be collecting non perishable food items for the Agape Centre Food Bank on location.

A five-dollar donation per person will be collected at the entrance. Donations will support Food for Thought and allow the group to serve another 75,000 meals, as they have done since the onset of the pandemic, to those in need across the Ottawa Valley and Seaway Valley.

There will be no prepared food or drink for sale on site, however local restaurants are serving up garlic inspired menus for your enjoyment. Check out Schnitzels, Truffles, ESCA, and the Spicy Pearl just up the street.

Due to Covid -19 Protocols only 25 people will be permitted entrance at a time into the secured area. Patrons must be attending to purchase garlic, and/or other products. Event organizers would appreciate notice of your plans to attend by choosing ‘going’ on the Facebook event, The Eastern Ontario Garlic Market. Those that have indicated ‘going’ will be given priority to enter the event.

Patrons will be required to provide contact information at the entrance, and must wear a mask in the secured area. The entrance to the event can be accessed from the Cornwall Civic Complex parking lot, along the east path. There is plenty of parking, however there are no washroom facilities for the public on site. Visitors are encouraged to make purchases quickly and not to gather, to ensure all patrons have a chance to enter the event.

Visit event page

Play it safe!

We all have a part to play in combating the spread of COVID-19. Residents are encouraged to wear masks in indoor public spaces and practice frequent hand washing and physical distancing. For the latest guidelines and restrictions related to COVID-19, please visit the Eastern Ontario Health Unit website.

Keep exploring!

Looking for other fun things to do in Cornwall? Check out the Explore section of our website for other fun-filled activities to keep you busy. Better yet, consider extending your stay with a night at one of our great accommodations!