The Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival returns for its 13^th year on October 7 and 8 from 10am to 5pm at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds in Bethlehem. Visit garlic cooking demonstrations, stay for a live band performance, and learn how to grow garlic at the informative lectures. Many garlic dips, spreads, cheeses and oils will be available for purchase from diverse garlic specialty food vendors; most will be offering free samples to try before you buy. Stop by the produce stands for fresh garlic and a variety of other fall produce. When you’re hungry, venture over to the food court to try homemade roasted garlic sausage with peppers and onions, garlic chicken parmesan balls, garlic roast pork sandwiches, deep fried garlic and garlic ice cream.

Rides, games, a giant slide and knockerball will entertain children, along with free pumpkin decorating for the first 200 kids. Kids can also dig for “dinosaurs’ in the free dinosaur dig and keep what they find.

The cooking demos will feature Winvian Resort’s Executive Chef Chris Eddy teaching how to incorporate garlic into meals. The Garlic: History, Anatomy, Cultivation & Medicinal Value presentation will focus on the ins and outs of growing your own garlic. University of Connecticut Associate Professor Dorthea Di Cecco and garlic farmers Richard and Penny Sandora will also answer questions on how to raise your own gourmet garlic.

Live music performances will include the Al Fenton Big Band from 12:30 to 2:30pm on Saturday, and Boondocks Band from 12:30 to 1:30pm on Sunday.

The admission prices are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $1 for children under 12. No dogs are allowed at the fairgrounds.

For more information, call 203-266-7810, or visit Facebook.com/GarlicFestCT or GarlicFestCT.com. Location: Bethlehem Fairgrounds, entrance at 304 Main St North (Route 61), Bethlehem.