I love cooking. The combination of the endless dishes out there and the various ways you can prepare them opens the door to amazing creativity. My wife and I also love to have our little ones cook with us. It is a great way to bond with your kids and spend time together, and it teaches them valuable skills as they get older. Understanding the basics, such as rolling pasta and making pesto, not only means they can make food for themselves and won’t be reliant on delivery and takeout as adults, but also that they’re learning how to follow directions. Adding a tablespoon, rather than a teaspoon, of a specific ingredient can often make or break a dish. Plus, kids want to spend time with their parents. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what they are doing, as long as they are doing it with you.

The 28th Annual Elephant Garlic Festival in North Plains takes place on August 7th, 8th, and 9th and is perfect for the whole family, especially garlic enthusiasts. The food vendors at this event offer incredibly delicious and unique offerings for visitors. But make sure to bring some mints, because garlic will be everywhere here. 

Some food vendors include garlic-heavy gyros from GettaGyro, garlic-seasoned tacos from Sue’s Steak Tacos, and even garlic ice cream from Mita Ice. Loughridge Farm will also be there, selling a wide variety of garlic so you can take a bagful or two back home with you.    

For those who want a snack but maybe need a break from garlic (unthinkable), you can also grab some Shaved Ice from Kona Ice or Frozen Yogurt from Cuppa Yo. 

This festival is also showcasing more than just magnificent garlic. A highlight of the Annual Garlic Festival is its parade on August 8th. This hometown parade has a ton of participants, including the color guard, police officers, and floats. There will also be grand marshals, horses, and farm equipment, which add to the authenticity of this festival. The parade ends at the Annual Garlic Festival, where all the festivities will take place. 

Following the parade, there will be a very cool car show celebrating the history of the automobile. There will be some very fun cars to check out there. 

On Saturday, August 8th, they are hosting the Fire Station 17 event from 10:30am to 1:00pm. Kids will get to check out a fire engine, take part in a firefighter challenge, and so much more. 

Inside the Jessie Mays Community Center, the Friends of the North Plains Library will host a book sale throughout the weekend, too. 

There will also be artisan vendors worth checking out. These handcrafted treasures will make a great souvenir while supporting local artisans. And yes, not all, but many of these gems will be garlic-centered. Some of which will include jars of habanero pickled garlic, parmesan garlic popcorn, and sauces. I have a feeling that a good portion of the art and jewelry there will be garlic-focused as well. 

The festival location is at Jessie Mays Community Park, 30975 NW Hillcrest Street, North Plains, OR 97133. Preferred parking is $5 and is located at 29905 NW West Union Rd, North Plains, OR. 

There will also be a shuttle running every 10-15 minutes to and from the preferred parking lot. The hours for the shuttle are: Friday 8/8: 12:00PM – 8:30PM; Saturday 8/9: 9:30AM – 8:30PM; and Sunday 8/10: 9:30AM – 3:30PM.  

A small act of rebellion with cooking, and I don’t think I am alone, is to add significantly more garlic than what the recipe calls for. If a recipe calls for 2 cloves of garlic, then I might as well quadruple that amount. Garlic enhances recipes and brings a classic flavor profile to the dish. 

Unfortunately, the one downside to this royal bulky bulb is peeling it. Regardless of how many YouTube videos I watch of some influencer telling me the new-age way to peel garlic seamlessly, it doesn’t work as well for me. Is that ragebait? Maybe. But it’s probably just me. 

But despite peeling garlic being a daunting endeavor, I love the stuff. It is a wonderful ingredient that can be prepared in a million different ways and incorporated into so many dishes. 

So, make sure to check out the Annual Elephant Garlic Festival and bring some of that goodness back home with you. And let me know your trick to peeling this stuff.