Garlic Festival

Bigger and better than ever, with over 300 stalls and two enormous marquees housing Island arts and crafts, the 23rd annual Garlic Festival dominated the Island's event diary during the weekend of the 18th and 19th August. Two stages demonstrated some of the best in local talent alongside household chart-topping names and there was enough garlic to fend off even the most contagious of ailments!

The weather may have had difficulty trying to decide what it wanted to do, but the same couldn't be said for the thousands of people who flocked to the garlic field in Newchurch to savour and support this now world famous event. Un-deterred by the intermittent showers of rain and gusts of wind which have come to characterise the so-called summer of 2007, the resilient festival-goers arrived well-prepared in their packamacs and wellies with fold-away umbrellas at the ready.

Surrounded by some of the Island's greatest indulgences

With its roots stretching all the way back to 1983, when it was initially staged to celebrate the Island's prolific garlic harvest whilst raising money for Newchurch's rapidly expanding village school, the Garlic Festival has gradually multiplied to become one of the largest events on the Island.

Tipped to have attracted up to 25,000 people through its gates, the festival was originally organised by Newchurch Parish Council Committee but is now in its second year under new management. The list of attractions has diversified to include top retro acts such as Mungo Jerry and Brotherhood of Man, a tantalising food marquee and an almost overwhelming range of stands this year representational of 60 Island businesses and providers, 66 arts and craft associations, 22 charities and 27 caterers. However, the general ethos has remained the same and last year saw well over £20,000 being raised for local good causes.

The magnitude of the Garlic Festival was this year accentuated by the presence of national media organisations BBC Gardeners World and Radio Solent. The Island's very own Isle of Wight Radio, who were one of the main sponsors of the event, could also be heard broadcasting live across the two days with former BBC Radio One and Two DJ Ed 'Stew-pot' Stewart on site to declare the festival officially open on the Saturday morning.

Strong aromas, strong breezes and strong intensions!

Throughout the day the crowds were kept entertained by arena acts which included the RSCPA dog agility and display team, Arabian Wights Belly Dancers and Amazon Falconry. The Road & Traffic Safety Team were present to create a dramatic re-enactment of a fatal road traffic incident, which issued spectators with a powerful and hard-hitting insight into the implications of speeding on Island roads.

Ryde Xtreme performers battled against the breeze to carryout an impressive array of fire-eating stunts with strong man John Evans also challenging the elements to defy his ability to perform some of the jaw-dropping maneuvers that have earned him an incredible 34 Guinness World Records. Suffice to say, John emerged triumphant and wowed viewers by parading around the arena balancing anything from 10 tyres, to 98 plastic milk crates, to a mini cooper car on top of his head!

Magician and puppeteer David Randini, reggae singer Derek Sandy and Martin Simpson 'The Fossil Man' made repeat performances on Stage II during the course of the weekend. Across the opposite end of the field, Garath Icke (son of David), and local bands Evolution and the Sharks warmed the crowds up around Stage I - in preparation for the main acts to take to the floor at 4pm on Saturday and Sunday afternoon respectively.

The magic of music inspired a simulation of summertime

Owing to a minor setback involving a bass guitar being accidentally locked in a car along with the accompanying set of keys, Mungo Jerry's performance was delayed for a short time whilst the AA were called out to retrieve the instrument. Determined to play witness to the 70's super group whose legendary hit "In the Summertime" topped the charts in over 20 countries; the crowds turned their back on the rain and danced amidst the bales of hay to the sounds of Little Noddy Holder who was there to cheer everyone on with his renditions of Slade's glam rock hits.

1970's British pop vocal group Brotherhood of Man stole the show on the somewhat brighter Sunday afternoon, bringing spectators to their feet with their 1976 Eurovision Song Contest winner "Save Your Kisses for Me" and delighting them with performances of many other memorable hits such as "United We Stand" and "Oh Boy (The Mood I'm In)."

Spoilt for choice!

If all of these highlights, plus fun fair, classic cars, archery, country pursuits, cricket, football, stilt walkers, jugglers, fire-eaters and circus performers weren't enough to keep the masses entertained, there was always the aroma of the fresh Island garlic bulbs to lure people into the Garlic Tent. From garlic beer to garlic ice cream, garlic seafood to garlic bread, sweetcorn and sausages, it is claimed that this species helps to prevent heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and improve the immune system; plus it tastes great!

New on the menu for this year was garlic popcorn and smoke-infused garlic coffee, the latter created by Rock Seven Coffee, of Newport. Directors Spike Walker and Julie Coyne have been working on the blend since they visited the festival as spectators last year.
It's no wonder that enthusiastic Islanders and visitors from the mainland, who had travelled over to be part of the event, could be seen cramming into the Garlic Tent and various other food outlets to sample the festival's namesake and to show their support for the Island's Garlic Farm - which very impressively has recently emerged as the best known producer in Britain.

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