BBC Bake Off Star Jane Beedle and Valentine Warner are just 2 of the big names appearing at this year’s Garlic Festival, to be held on 19th-20th August.
Jane will be baking in the festival theatre kitchen and promises some of her TV showstoppers – as well as demonstrating some simple savoury dishes. Valentine will be signing copies of his bestselling book, ‘What to Eat Next’ and will also cook 2 fish recipes, with the fresh from the boat fish coming from Captain Stan’s at Bembridge.
On stage this year are chart-toppers Marmalade, whose top 10 hits include Reflections and Oh Bla Dee oh Bla-Da! The Sunday headliner is The Quo Experience, as part of a nationwide tour, this band are considered THE Quo tribute by the Official Status Quo fan club. They were invited to the Island after festival Chairman David Holmes, a personal friend of the late Rick Parfitt, was called upon to repatriate Rick from Spain last Christmas and carry out his funeral wishes in Woking. Both bands are supported by some excellent local Rock, Pop and Punk bands, and the Island’s very own Derek Sandy.
The Garlic show arena will this year feature The Vander Brothers – for the first time ever on the Island – with their Quad Wheel. They share the arena with an array of talented animals, including falconry, Wight Wizards dogs. On Saturday the festival welcomes Extreme Bike Battle and Sunday Bob Hogg with his sheepdogs, duck and geese. Also back by popular demand is TITAN, the robot.
Visitors can expect a wonderful arts and crafts marquees, dozens of food stalls – selling everything from local breads, meats, cheeses, honey and everything else you can imagine. The variety of hot food on offer continues to be the focal point and of course garlic remains the theme, both to eat there or to take home.
As ever, thousands of people are expected to attend, locals and summer visitors.
