Garlic beer, competitions, entertainment and more on show at Koonya Garlic Festival

Lovers of garlic will delight as the state’s festival celebrating the bulbous plant returns – with organisers preparing for their biggest event yet. DETAILS >

Lesley Fraser. Nikki Davis-Jones

LOVERS of garlic will delight as the state’s festival celebrating the bulbous plant returns – with organisers preparing for their biggest event yet.

More than 3500 people are expected to descend on the Koonya Garlic Festival on Saturday.

Festival organiser Nikki Manley said this year, more than 70 stallholders had signed up to secure their spot at the event.

The festival will have plenty on offer, with a range of competitions and entertainment on offer including four local music acts and a raffle with $4000 worth of prizes.

Ms Manley said the festival put Koonya (15 minutes west of Eaglehawk Neck), and Tassie, on show.

Lesley Fraser is a garlic grower and volunteer co-ordinator of the Koonya Garlic Festival. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It highlights not just Koonya, but the Tasmanian Peninsula – and we have a group of lovely people who donate hundreds and hundreds of hours to put this together,” she said.

Those with an adventurous palette can also find a garlic stout, and hungry stomachs will find dishes with plenty of garlic on the menu.

Hobart garlic grower and festival volunteer, Lesley Fraser, said she was inspired to grow garlic after visiting the festival six years ago.

“I went and I thought ‘I could enter mine in this’,” she said.

She will enter her crops into several competitions including the plaited garlic category.

Ms Fraser said for budding growers, the hard work was worth the result.

“It is exciting when you dig it up and see the beautiful bulbs coming out. Just have a little patch, put a few in and you’ll be hooked.”