Like every other festival event, the Vankleek Hill Lions Garlic Festival was suspended during the pandemic. But with the relaxtion of public health restrictions now on public gatherings, the festival is back and is now the Lions Garlic Farmers Market.

On a sunny Sunday over the September 10 weekend, more than 500 lovers of garlic passed in and out of the outdoor rink at Miner Park as they browsed among the eight stalls set up with displays of fresh wild and cultivated garlic, and bottles and jars of special cooking oils and other items with a garlic base.

“Everything garlic, everything made with garlic,” said Stuart Wood, one of the Lions members officiating during the event and one of the original founders of the garlic-flavoured addition to Vankleek Hill’s summer festival season.

“We were really busy during the morning,” he said. “The patrons were all very happy, and the vendors all want to come back next year. Hats off to all the growers because they had some incredible products.”