Garlic Festival 2008

Be prepared to have your appetite enhanced and your taste buds tingled as this year's Isle of Wight Garlic Festival gets set to breeze into town, tantalising the air around Newchurch with the unmistakable aroma of the pungent bulb.

The Garlic Festival will take place on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August at the Garlic Festival site in Newchurch. This years event promises to be the biggest ever with up to 20,000 people expected to attend. There will be a large and varied schedule of activities taking place from when the gates open at 10 in the morning until the day draws to a close at 6pm of an evening.

Famous faces line-up to feature in this most fragrant of Island events

At the heart of the festival is the world famous Isle of Wight Garlic, but the event also showcases the very best in Island produce. Over 300 stalls will sell food and a diverse range of arts and crafts inside larger-than-ever marquees.

Arrive hungry! You won't miss the delicious smell of the garlic; it flavours everything from hot crusty bread to moules, sweetcorn, prawns and lamb, to beer, ice cream, coffee and lots more! This year there will be many new items on the various menus.

The 'Bubblegum and Cheese' stage will feature Alvin Stardust performing a selection of his top twenty hits. The Beatles are booked too... well, the Apple Beatles who are as good as the real thing, capturing the look and sound of the fab four! Plus see Doctor and the Medics - the ultimate party band!

All headline acts will be supported by some of the top local bands, highlighting the Island's incredible ability to nurture some of the best in UK musical talent.

An awesome assortment of activity

The main arena will host some stunning and breathtaking entertainers who are sure to amaze and bemuse. These acts will include talented domestic and exotic animals, remarkable circus performers, stilt walkers and fire-eaters too. Over 100 entertainers help make The Garlic Festival a unique blend of food, music, showbiz and family fun.

Proving this really is the show for everyone the children's stage will feature puppet shows, magic and the Islands expert fossil man.

There will be a huge beer tent, cricket with the E.C.B, football, The Army, vintage and classic vehicles, tractors, buses and a major fun fair featuring rides making their first visit to the Island.

As always a well-known celebrity will open the festival and Isle of Wight Radio will broadcast live from the event. BBC TV's Gardeners World will also be present, along with some other familiar faces too. Whilst supporting local producers and traders, The Garlic Festival also helps raise money for many Island charities and good causes, including many Island sports teams.

For directions to the Garlic Festival site and for further information on the event; please refer to the official Isle of Wight Garlic Festival website.

Admission Prices: Adults £7.50 Children (5 -15 years) £4.00 Tickets are bought at the gate on the day. Parking is free. Dogs allowed as long as on a lead, well behaved & cleared up after.

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