Cleveland Garlic Festival Returns to Shaker Square August 23 and 24

2024 Cleveland Garlic Festival Credit: Emanuel Wallace

Cleveland Garlic Festival, the event that Food & Wine called “the Smelliest Food Festival in America,” makes its annual return to Shaker Square on Saturday August 23 and Sunday August 24. All proceeds benefit North Union Farmers Market, a nonprofit that supports local farms and healthy food access through its network of 10 certified producer-only markets across Northeast Ohio.

“This is the Midwest’s ground zero for all things garlic—think urban county fair meets foodie paradise,” says Emma Visnic, Director of Marketing & Outreach for North Union Farmers Market. “The Cleveland Garlic Festival is as much about community as it is about food.”

Now in its 16th year, the weekend-long festival offers a variety of family friendly food, drink, entertainment and cooking demos. Expect plenty of garlic-themed treats like garlic fries, garlic ice cream, even garlic beer. Cleveland chefs will share some of their favorite garlic recipes through live cooking events. Garlic farmers will be on hand selling a dizzying variety of recently harvested garlic for cooking and planting.

New this year is a pitch competition by Les Dames d’Escoffier CLE, showcasing the next generation of women in food. And of course, the highly anticipated crowning of Miss Garlic 2025, Abby Holthouser.

“Whether you’re a garlic die-hard or just in it for the fries, there’s something for everyone,” say organizers.

Presale tickets are $9 and available online through August 22. Admission at the gate is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and kids aged 4–12. Kids under 4 are free.

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This article appears in Cleveland SCENE 7/30/25.