Northwest Garlic Festival – Ocean Park Area

Plans are moving into place for this year’s 41st NW Garlic Festival!
Expect plenty of wonderous things to happen as our theme this year is
the Magic of Garlic!
We already have a magician lined up to amaze you both days of the festival 🙂
Expect the same friendly atmosphere as last year, many of the same and anticipated vendors plus new and equally fantastic ones. And as always, great music to enjoy while nibbling.
The Port of Peninsula is the place to be on September 16 & 17!
After the festival, make sure to wander through the villages of the north end…the 2023 Ocean Park Area Getaway brochure will be available at the festival and on our website for reference.

Bird’s eye view of Willapa Bay and the Port of Peninsula, home of the 41st NW Garlic Festival!

An Overview of the 40th NW Garlic Festival

The 40th NW Garlic Festival had a New Flavor…But it was Still Garlic!
Last year’s festival had a bit of a different flavor…it was still garlic, but with
a hint of fall, a touch of the holidays and the tang of ocean air. The 2022 festival exceeded all expectations! Our vendors were thrilled, visitors to the event excited and our volunteers…well, happily exhausted 🙂 Moving the festival to September, adding a harvest (think fresh garlic) theme and opening the door to shopping for holiday gifts and dining/cooking worked!

Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to produce this well loved event and thrilled to have it at the Port of Peninsula. Please consider volunteering as one of the Garlic Festival Crew in 2023. You don’t have to be a chamber member to help and remember…many hands make light work…plus, it’s fun to boot!
Set a reminder to check in with the Chamber (opchamber@opwa.com or 360-665-4448) around May of 2023. We would love to add you to the Garlic Crew 🙂

2022 NW Garlic Festival Poster
Sue Svendsen’s dynamic and fun artwork captured the 2022 festival attendees. Her art was chosen for the 40th NW Garlic Festival poster and the limited edition run of 100 had only 15 posters left at the close of the festival. If you are interested in purchasing a poster, please give the Ocean Park Area Chamber a call, 360-665-4448. Cost is $20 ~ cash or check. A portion of the proceeds has been donated to FOOPS ~ Friends of Ocean Park Elementary.

41st NW Garlic Festival Vendor Information and Registration

Click below to print

Code of Conduct

Vendor Information

Vendor Registration

**41st NW Garlic Festival Poster Contest Information…theme is the magic of garlic…**

Click below to print

Poster Entry Form

Poster Rules

We will be posting all the 2023 vendors well before the September festival!

Bay City Sausage
www.facebook.com/baycitysausage/

Also attending in 2022 – Appelo Archives Center & Logging Museum
Last minute 2022 cancel (crew shortage) – Olivers Gourmet Co.

Music from 2022
For contact information on the musicians playing at the 2022 NW Garlic Festival contact Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce ~ 360-665-4448. We already know several will be back in 2023!

Our music line-up from the 4oth NW Garlic Festival ~ 2022

This was so much fun in 2022 that we are expanding the concept! We are adding more pom-poms and larger containers…now everyone can really “see” where visitors to the festival came from 🙂

At the festival entry, visitors were invited to find their home region on a
large color coded map and then plop appropriately colored balls into containers to show just
where the crowds hail from.

Entry to the festival is always free with ample parking available across Sandridge Road, a short stroll from the field. Handicap parking is available close in. Signs will help direct you…if you have any questions during the festival, please head to the entry tent or look for someone with a Garlic Festival Crew badge.

Bringing Fido? Make sure all pets are leashed and please make use of the baggie station on the field.
Unruly four-legged guests will be asked to take their owners home 😉
No smoking on festival field, please…

Pacific County Fire District #1 is on site both days with information about their annual Toys for Peninsula Kids program and to provide aid if needed. The Port of Peninsula is the venue host and the Ocean Park Area Chamber produces the event. It was the first time out with the new date and wonderful new options
have been discovered which we will build on for next year. September is the doorway to fall’s harvest and
the beginning of holiday gift shopping…a crisp energy is in the air…it is a perfect time to savor
all things garlic. Remember…it’s chic to reek ~ at the 41st NW Garlic Festival in 2023 🙂

After enjoying the festival, check out our villages and all OPACC members ~ Ocean Park, Klipsan Beach, Nahcotta, Surfside and Oysterville (as well as all of Pacific County) offer great food, lodging, shopping and incredible nature walks…and of course, there is the beach! Great to stroll, relax, beachcomb, and make sandcastles. We are a step away from the crowds on the north end of the peninsula, but we are filled with wonders to explore!

Just a Little Garlic Festival History

Although the festival has been produced by the Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce for the last many years, it started as a smaller celebration by Chefs Jimella Lucas and Nanci Main, then owners of the world-famous Ark Restaurant in Nahcotta, Washington. From that early beginning in 1982 the festival has grown to its present size. Sadly, Jimella Lucas has passed away but Chef Nancy Main still lives in Ocean Park and is a very busy community member. Many also know their names from the many delectable cookbooks they wrote that are sought after still 🙂

Note: OPACC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Political groups and political campaign activities are not allowed at OPACC events and meetings.