OROVILLE – There’s lots to do in the North County before the kids head back to school as the Okanogan River Garlic Festival, Chesaw’s Hot August Nights and the Highland Stitchers Quilt Show all vie for people’s attention.
The Okanogan River Garlic Festival, now in its 13th year will be held both Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24 and 25 at Tonasket’s History Park. The Garlic Festival starts at noon on Friday and goes to 8 p.m. On Saturday it starts at 9 a.m. and goes to 4 p.m.
The event promises “live entertainment, fabulous foods, fresh produce, homemade goods and many vendors.” There’s also a live auction at 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. New this year there will be ice cold beer and wine from Esther Bricques Winery and Alpine Brewery of Oroville.
“We’re up to 45 vendors now, so we’re having to cap it. I think 18 of them are first-timers, which is great.
We’ll have some new vendors on Saturday – vendors can either come for one or both days. So if you’re really serious about doing some craft show shopping, you need to come both days,” said River Jones, director of the Tonasket CCC.
“Some new things include hand painted cross-cut saws, more jewelry than I anticipated and a lot of food. And of course, we’ll have lots of garlic and lots of produce. There’s really something for everybody,” adds Jones.
Also, the festival will have someone from the Okanogan Wildlife League doing a live raptor demonstration, and they will have dancing Friday night beginning at 5:45.
“Celebrate the Harvest, Savor the Pungent Bulb,” is the motto of the festival which is sponsored by the Community Cultural Center (509) 486-1328.
Chesaw’s Hot August Nights is Saturday, Aug. 25 and features a car and tractor show, live music, a beer garden, flea market and swap meet, as well as a barbecue. People are asked to decorate their lawn mower, ATV or golf cart and show it off. There’s no vendor fee for those that would like to set up a table or a booth. Registration is at 11 a.m., for more information call (509) 485-2174 or see Chesaw Tavern on Facebook.
The First Annual Quilt Show is this Saturday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Molson Grange in Molson. The event is sponsored by the Highland Stitchers.
The event will have a fabric swap, items for sale, vendors offering sewing and quilting items and local quilt makers with their quilts on display. There will also be door prizes drawn every half hour. There’s food featuring pulled pork sandwiches and cole slaw starting at 11 p.m.
For more information email molsonhighlandstitchers@gmail.com or call Vicky Didenhover at (509) 485-3020.
