Jeanette McCrea, key organizer of the 2011 South Cariboo Garlic Festival, says this year’s festival just north of Lac la Hache on Aug. 27-28 is progressing full steam ahead.
To date, she adds, 51 booths have been booked, which is 25 more than there were at this time last year. Last year, the festival had 41 booths in total.
“It has been busy. This year, we will require a layout for the booths, and there won’t be any in the vicinity of the stage.”
McCrea says the website at www.garlicfestival.ca is sitting at 97,893 hits from January to the end of May, which is up 4,000 from last year.
The busy organizer says she is just waiting for the signage with this year’s dates to be finished and they will be put up on the site to notify passers-by of the dates and times of the fair.
“Traffic control is all set and in place for the highway access. We have some great sponsors again this year and the list is growing.”
She adds the entertainment lineup is completed thanks to co-ordinator Doug Steven from Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School.
Folks can check out the sponsors and the entertainment lineup on the website, McCrea notes.
”The weather has been cool and wet so far this spring, but the Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a warm end to August in our area. That is perfect news and I am going to hold them to it.”
She says they drilled a well on the property this year and the water test should be done in the next few weeks. They went 67 feet down and got 50 gallons per minute with a natural rock filter.
“This will be good news for our food vendors and the vendor camping area. For those vendors wishing to camp again this year, just drop me an e-mail of your intention. There is lots of room.”
The festival’s mascot Garlina has been busy booking appearances to promote the festival. People can watch her on the Midday (CFJC) on June 17 and July 22.