44th NW Garlic Festival
Check back here for updates and information on the 44th NW Garlic Festival. In the meantime, explore this page to relive the excitement from last year’s festival.
🌿 Congratulations to the winner of the 43rd Annual NW Garlic Festival Poster Contest! 🎨🧄
“What’s for Dinner” done by Sherry Bosch of Seaview, WA
Highlights From the 43rd NW Garlic Festival
We had just over 2,200 people attend our festival this year! The sun was out and despite the overnight wind & rain, the community came out to enjoy all the festival had to offer on our sunny days, Saturday & Sunday.
This year we had 50 vendors and live music from the Peninsula Guitar Trio, Squeaky Wheels Bluegrass, Steve Frost, and the Ilwaco High School Jazz Band.
We held our annual poster contest for this year’s Garlic Festival and of the entries submitted, the winner was “What’s for Dinner” done by Sherry Bosch of Seaview, WA.
That art was presented as a silent auction item at our event and on Sunday the winner was announced…Nancy McAllister from the Pacific County South Pacific District Court.
Congrats to Sherry! And huge thanks to Nancy McAllister!
This collectible poster (signed & numbered) is available for sale at our Chamber office; open Tues-Fri 12-4pm. Stop by and grab your copy!!
Highlights From Past Festivals
Click here to see the 2024 – 42nd NW Garlic Festival highlights!
Don’t miss the Pom Pom Map!
At the festival entry tent, visitors are invited to find their home region on a large color coded map and then plop appropriately colored balls into containers to show just where the crowds hail from.
Entry to the festival is always free with ample street parking around Sheldon Park. Please do be mindful of the neighbors yards! Handicap parking is available close in. Signs will help direct you…if you have any questions during the festival, please head to the entry tent or look for someone with a Garlic Festival Crew badge.
Bringing Fido? Make sure all pets are leashed and please make use of baggie stations on the field.
Unruly four-legged guests will be asked to take their owners home 😉
No smoking on festival field, please…
Every September is the doorway to fall’s harvest and the beginning of holiday gift shopping…a crisp energy is in the air…it is a perfect time to savor all things garlic. Remember…it’s chic to reek!
After enjoying the festival, check out our villages and all OPACC members ~ Ocean Park, Klipsan Beach, Nahcotta, Surfside and Oysterville (as well as all of Pacific County) offer great food, lodging, shopping and incredible nature walks…and of course, there is the beach! Great to stroll, relax, beachcomb, and make sandcastles. We are a step away from the crowds on the north end of the peninsula, but we are filled with wonders to explore!
Just a Little Garlic Festival History
Although the festival has been produced by the Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce for the last many years, it started as a smaller celebration by Chefs Jimella Lucas and Nanci Main, then owners of the world-famous Ark Restaurant in Nahcotta, Washington. From that early beginning in 1982 the festival has grown to its present size. Sadly, Jimella Lucas has passed away but Chef Nancy Main still lives in Ocean Park and is a very busy community member. Many also know their names from the many delectable cookbooks they wrote that are sought after still 🙂
Note: OPACC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Political groups and political campaign activities are not allowed at OPACC events and meetings.