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All things musical and garlical

What is it about garlic, the pungent bulb that makes people build an entire festival around it? The third annual Garlic and Music Festival, a family fun, community harvest event with a terrific line-up of music, is brought to you by the Pender Harbou

What is it about garlic, the pungent bulb that makes people build an entire festival around it?

The third annual Garlic and Music Festival, a family fun, community harvest event with a terrific line-up of music, is brought to you by the Pender Harbour Lions Club and runs Aug. 11 and 12 in Lions Park.

Garlic Festival organizers Niki Verzuh (Smith) and Neale Smith are hooked on both garlic and music.

"It's a great combination," Smith said, and he describes this year's music attractions under the direction of Pender's own Joel Fafard who will be performing.

Headliners are Roy Forbes, the distinctive singer with the raspy voice who once sung under the name of Bim, The Breakmen ("they sound like The Band, honestly," says Smith) and John Reischman and the Pine Siskins.

Local talent also headlines, including Joe Stanton and the Precious Littles, Métis singer and songwriter Janet Panic, the award-winning string band music of the Rakish Angles, Dr. Fun and the Painkillers, Back Porch Reunion, Bits of String and Cat in the Middle, who are known to really belt it out.

"The music festival aspect has really stepped up this year," Smith said.

It was Niki who started it all, he said of his wife. She explains that in the small town in the Kootenays where her father grew garlic, what started as an end of the season potluck dinner turned into a huge $1,000 event that moved to the town of New Denver and brought in crowds of visitors.

As this article was being written, the granddaddy of all garlic festivals, the week-long festival in Gilroy, Calif., was underway with upwards of a quarter million people arriving for the music, food and vendors.

The local festival goal is to create a place for families to spend the day, as at an old-fashioned country fair. It supports local farmers and lets customers choose from many varieties of garlic - there are 150 recorded - and from a choice of seasoned foods that will have the entire crowd wafting the aroma. Also included are pony rides for the kids from Malaspina Ranch and a silent auction. Funds raised go towards the local Lions Club that donates to many groups: student bursaries, the local clinic, various societies and the Elves Club. In this case the funds will go towards maintaining the 10-hectare Lions Club Park with its campground and sports fields for the use of the community and tourists.

"It's a jewel," Smith said. "But the playground needs work - it's old - and the hall needs maintaining."

Tickets are at the gate and cost $7 for adults, kids under 12 free. Bring your drink coolers and your lawn chairs, if you like. If you're driving from Gibsons, you'll find Lions Park just off Highway 101 past the Madeira Park turnoff. If you see the golf course on your left, you've gone too far.

Last year 2,000 people visited, and organizers hope for more this year.

Parking can be an issue - volunteers will be directing parking both on the grounds and in an overflow area. They hope to provide a shuttle car from the marina to the park as they did last year.

More volunteers are definitely needed in return for free entry and a meal. If interested in volunteering, contact nealesmith@dccnet.com or phone 604-883-3693. See the music line up listed at www.penderharbourgarlicfestival.ca.