TONASKET – Tonasket’s Garlic Festival is back on schedule after having to cancel last year’s event due to wildfires.

The 17th Annual Garlic Festival takes Friday and Saturday, August 26-27 with live music and a host of family-fun events over two days, drawing garlic vendors from near and far.

Hosted at History Park on the Okanogan River, Friday’s events feature garlic classes by local growers from 2-4 p.m., including growing, braiding and cooking this delightful bulb.

Speaking of cooking, local chef Michael ‘Buffalo’ Mazzetti will be serving a ‘Garlic BBQ’ with assorted grilled veggies, coleslaw and cold watermelon available for $7.50 from 4-7 p.m. Friday, along with other food vendors on site. A beer/wine garden will be open from 2-8 p.m., and homemade lemonade will be available for purchase.

Family activities from 4-6 p.m. Friday include a dessert walk, face painting, a dunk tank, gunny sack races, a hula hoop contest, water balloon toss and a pie eating contest with prizes.

Besides live music changing up the stage every hour and a half both days, the North County’s own ‘North Half’ will perform from 6-8 p.m. Friday.

Other activities include a raptor presentation and belly dancers.

Saturday’s schedule begins with the garlic classes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the beer/wine garden open from noon to 6 p.m. and the family activities from 4-6 p.m.

Vendors will be onsite both days with locally made soaps, candles, pine baskets, jewelry, garlic, farm fresh food and more.

“Garlic growers have told us this is a fabulous growing season for garlic,” said Jean Pfeifer.

All events are free to the public, sponsored by the Community Cultural Center.

“The CCC is glad to put on this event each year,” said Pfeifer. “Last year we were sad to have cancelled the fair due to the fires. We were successful to solicit cash donations and items to give away, and so a poster with all the names of sponsoring businesses will be displayed at the CCC booth at the festival this year.”