Bennington

Garlic Town USA Bennington VT Returns for 31st Festival This Saturday

Downtown Bennington hosts the 31st annual Garlic Town USA festival this Saturday, featuring over 120 vendors, food trucks, chef demonstrations, live music, and family activities expected to draw up to 8,000 visitors to the historic district.

Published

3 hours ago

September 3, 2026

Randy Breland, Managing Editor

Crowd gathered at Garlic Town USA festival in downtown Bennington, with food stalls and live music.

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Garlic Town USA Bennington VT Returns for 31st Festival This Saturday

Last updated: September 3, 2026

Downtown Bennington transforms into a bustling agricultural celebration this weekend for local families and visitors alike. The 31st annual Garlic Town, USA festival welcomes thousands to the historic downtown district on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Festivities run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. along Depot Street, Main Street, and North Street.

Why it matters here

The single-day event draws between 7,500 and 8,000 visitors into the downtown shopping district. Local businesses see a major financial boost. They generate between 0,000 and 0,000 in single-day downtown commerce. In addition, the gathering unites residents from Shaftsbury, Pownal, Manchester, and nearby towns. Together, they celebrate regional agriculture.

What can visitors expect at Garlic Town USA?

Garlic Town USA features over 120 curated vendors, live music, family activities, and regional food trucks across downtown Bennington. Visitors can sample more than 50 specialty garlic items throughout the day. In addition, attendees can watch cooking demonstrations and browse handmade crafts. Free shuttles link satellite parking lots directly to downtown streets.

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce produces the annual gathering. Chamber CEO Matt Harrington and Event Manager Mikaela Lewis lead the event team. Organizers expect between 120 and 130 vendors this year. These booths include local garlic growers, artisan food producers, and Vermont craft makers.

Furthermore, 20 to 25 food trucks will serve fresh meals all afternoon. Tastings are a highlight of the day. Therefore, guests can explore more than 50 different samples across festival grounds. Offerings range from traditional roasted bulbs to garlic-infused gelato and signature garlic ice cream.

Live music will echo from stages positioned throughout the downtown historic corridors. In addition, local establishments partner with festival organizers, including Ramunto’s and Pearl’s at Village Garage. They will serve craft beer, regional wine, and garlic cocktails. Meanwhile, families can enjoy tractor rides, wagon rides, street performers, and a town-wide scavenger hunt.

What makes this Bennington garlic festival unique?

This Bennington garlic festival stands out through its hands-on Demonstration Tent and agricultural education. Visitors learn practical skills directly from regional farmers and culinary experts throughout the afternoon. Furthermore, the festival partners with municipal groups to divert waste. As a result, the event delivers an educational and environmentally sustainable community experience.

Demonstration Captain Mikayla Fissette oversees an expanded culinary and educational schedule inside the demonstration tent. Scheduled workshops and presentations include:

Garlic Braiding: Michelle Scutt of Harmony Acres Garlic Farm teaches traditional braiding techniques.
Home and Garden Composting 101: Experts from the Bennington County Solid Waste Alliance share tips for backyard soil health.
Black Garlic Magic: Tony of Rolling Rock Farm reveals the secrets of fermenting and cooking black garlic.
Healthy Eating with Garlic: Dr. Jenn discusses the nutritional and wellness benefits of the aromatic bulb.
Specialty Tastings: Attendees sample unique treats, including garlic ice cream and infused gelato.

“After 31 years, Garlic Town is still growing, evolving, and bringing our talented community together, and that’s what makes this festival so special,” Lewis said. “From learning how to braid garlic from our farmers, sampling garlic-infused gelato, or even mastering home composting from our zero waste partners, our Demonstration Tent truly has something for everyone. It’s a fun, hands-on way for festivalgoers to learn, taste, and take a little garlic inspiration home with them.”

Lewis added, “This is the Labor Day weekend event you don’t want to miss.”

When did the Vermont garlic festival move downtown?

The Vermont garlic festival first started in Wilmington in 1995 under the name Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival. The celebration moved to Bennington in 2008 at Camelot Village. Later, in 2020, organizers adopted an open-air downtown model. Consequently, the team rebranded the gathering as Garlic Town, USA.

In its earlier years, the multi-day event at Camelot Village drew up to 16,000 attendees over two days. However, organizers shifted to a compact, single-day format centered along downtown streets in 2020. The state of Vermont also recognizes the gathering as an official Vermont Signature Event. Today, the festival keeps downtown sidewalks lively. Thus, it directs heavy foot traffic straight to local storefronts.

How do shuttles and parking work for events in Bennington VT?

Garlic Town organizers offer free satellite parking to minimize downtown congestion for major events in Bennington VT. Free shuttle buses run constantly between downtown and two primary park-and-ride lots. Therefore, these continuous shuttles make visiting easy for commuters arriving along Route 7 and Route 9. Riders reach the festival gates quickly.

Drivers can leave their vehicles at Grace Christian School, located at 104 Kocher Drive. In addition, guests can park at the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce lot at 100 Veterans Memorial Drive. Shuttles drop visitors right near the main entrance at 113 Depot Street.

Festival staff also manage zero-waste compost and recycling stations across the grounds. Because organizers prioritize sustainability, volunteers will assist attendees with sorting trash, recyclable items, and compostable food scraps. Finally, gates open Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. sharp.