Cleveland Garlic Festival Brings the Stink (and the Fun) Back to Shaker Square

Prepare your tastebuds and your breath: The Cleveland Garlic Festival returns to Shaker Square with garlicky eats, chef battles, and foodie fun.

If you love garlic enough to brave what it does to your breath for 48 hours, August in Cleveland brings your moment: the Cleveland Garlic Festival is back at Shaker Square for its 17th glorious, garlic-laden year. Every clove, fry, and vampire joke on site fuels vital support for local farms through North Union Farmers Market.

What’s Happening at the Stinkiest Spot in Town

This is not your average food festival. The scene at Shaker Square transforms into a garlicky playground — think urban county fair colliding with a chef’s fever dream.

Dates: August 29 & 30
Hours: Saturday noon–8 p.m.; Sunday noon–6 p.m.
Location: Shaker Square, Cleveland
Tickets: Presale discounts online; gate sales available too

Expect non-stop garlic action: food vendors, competitions, live music, family activities… and enough wonderful stink to carry you through Labor Day.

Garlic in Every Bite (Literally)

The food lineup is a garlic-lover’s fantasy. Don't be surprised to find:

Garlic fries crispy and piled high
Garlic shrimp swimming in flavor
Garlic ice cream (yes, really)

Prefer classic eats? Score everything from lobster rolls to pierogi, hot dogs, and baked goods from names like:

Cousins Maine Lobster
Piccolo Authentic Italian
Frankie Lynn Hotdog
Rooster Kitchen
La Campagna, Zanzibar, The Pierogi Lady, and many more

There’s also hand-made pasta, artisan cheese, fermented goods, sweets, lemonade — all with or without that characteristic punch.

Bring Home Local Garlic (Not Just a Souvenir)

Serious about your garlic? The festival’s farmers offer dozens of local varieties for:

Cooking (softneck, hardneck, wild…)
Roasting
Even planting in your own backyard

Home cooks, gardeners, and the mildly obsessed: you’ll want to come armed with questions and extra tote bags.

Chef Battles & Food Entrepreneur Showdowns

Saturday gets competitive with the Garlic Grill-Off — top local chefs grill, roast, and infuse their way to garlic glory (and your applause). Stick around to watch culinary talent working with Northeast Ohio’s favorite stinking rose.

On Sunday, catch the Les Dames d’Escoffier CLE Pitch Competition, spotlighting rising food and drink women entrepreneurs. Cheer on local visionaries making waves in Cleveland's food scene.

Music, Family Fun, and Vibes

It’s not all about food (okay, mostly, but you get the idea). The event packs in:

Live music acts all weekend
Activities and games for kids
Room to stroll, snack, and take in the sweet summer atmosphere

If you’re looking for a true Cleveland festival vibe with a little something for literally everyone (even the garlic-averse), Garlic Fest is your jam.

Why the Festival Matters (Yes, Beyond Garlic Breath)

Your ticket isn’t just a pass to endless garlicky goodness — it directly supports North Union Farmers Market. That means stronger farm-to-table connections, fresher vegetables at your local market, and a healthier food community for Cleveland.

It’s community, flavor, and maybe the most uniquely Cleveland celebration around.

So bring your breath mints, rally your foodie crew, and get ready for Northeast Ohio’s most fragrant weekend. See you at Shaker Square!