Grafton
I’m not sure, but I’d say the town is off to a good start with its annual Grafton Gargantuan Garlic Gathering (try saying that out loud), which is taking place this Saturday, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at the lot where the new library is set to be built, 2 Library Road. Admission is free.
“Grafton can become the new garlic capital of the world, or the area actually,” said Deb Clough, director of the Grafton Public Library.
This will be the second year of the Friends of Grafton Library festival. Clough said the idea came about when the nonprofit organization was brainstorming ideas for events.
“Then somebody said something about garlic and the next thing you know we were having a garlic festival,” Clough recalled. The group immediately took to the idea.
After last year’s event, volunteers planted garlic in gardens on the new library plot. They will plant it again after this year’s gathering.
“It’s the time of the year to actually plant garlic,” Clough said. “We hope to double it this year.”
Garlic specialties this year include a potato garlic soup and garlic brittle. There’s also apple crisp, but Clough clarified that it will not contain garlic. There also will be garlic-free cider pressing. Skip Gorman will provide live music.
Something else that makes this festival stand out? The Dracula costume contest, which is open to people of all ages.
“It’s not as much a fundraising event as it is a fun event,” Clough said. “It’s pretty cool. It’s pretty funky.”
In an orchard full of (very enjoyable) fall and apple festivals, the garlic festival stands out.
Here are other fairs and festivals taking place this weekend.
Craft and Vendor Fair in Orford:
Apple Festival in Springfield, Vt.:
Grange Rummage and Bake Sale in Dorchester:
Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off in Claremont:
Fall Foliage Festival in East Haverhill:
Harvest Weekend in Woodstock:
“Anything Apple” Harvest Fest in Tunbridge:
Mini Maker Faire in Randolph:
Grange Rummage and Bake Sale in Dorchester:
Cedar Circle Farm Pumpkin Festival in Thetford: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin picking, live music, cider pressing, crafts, storytelling, local food concessions and more. Rain or shine. No pets. $10-$15. Cedar Circle Farm, 225 Pavillion Road. 802-785-4737.
Harvest Weekend in Woodstock: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A variety of 19th-century harvest activities and family-oriented programs, including cider pressing, apple preserving, grain threshing, ice-cream making, a barn dance and more. $4-$15. Billings Farm & Museum, 69 Old River Road. 802-457-2355.
Fall Festival at the Farmers and Artisans’ Market in Canaan:10 a.m.-3 p.m. The market celebrates fall with pumpkin bowling, apple tic-tac-toe, a poster contest, pony rides and live music, along with locally grown vegetables, dairy, meats, baked goods and more. On the common, intersection of routes 4 and 118. 603-523-4943.
Editor’s note: For more information about the garlic gathering, call 603-523-7865. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
