BY
BILL BRADLEY
"We've got so much happening at our festival, it's
unbelievable, no wonder thousands show up," said Linda Russell,
co-ordinator of this year's Original Canadian Garlic
Festival.
"What started as the Garlic Gala Dinner in 1991, has blossomed
into a fun-filled family day of entertainment and 15
garlic-laced finger foods celebrating garlic," she said.
The festival will take place this Sunday at the Ukrainian
Seniors' Centre on Notre Dame Ave., across from the Rainbow
Centre. Part of Notre Dame  from Elm St. north to St. Anne
Rd. will be closed off  for vendors' booths.
The fun will start at noon and continue to 5 pm. As always,
there will also be lots of food and entertainment.
"We have the Ukrainian Dance School from the Ukrainian
National Federation, the Irish Heritage Dancers, stepdancers
including the Madison Trio, dancers from the Chinese community
and performers from Benoit Martial Arts, always a popular
group," Russell said.
Greater Sudbury's Garlic Festival has been so successful, it
has spawned at least three other garlic festivals in Ontario.
Local garlic, including seed garlic to be planted this fall,
is available at the festival, said Russell.
"We're advocates for Canadian and especially Ontario grown
garlic. There is a farmer in the Valley called the Garlic Guy
who grows and sells garlic locally. I contribute some garlic
from my own garden so we have a variety of garlic available,"
she said.
"What is really popular is the seed garlic we have for
people to plant in their own gardens this fall. It is perfectly
hardy for our growing zone.
Garlic is good for you, says Russell, and that in itself is
worth a party.
 "Garlic has many medicinal properties. It thins your
blood, cleaning your blood system of impurities. Garlic also
helps those who suffer from indigestion, even heart problems.
Garlic gets rid of the baddies in your body-maybe that's why it
is claimed to ward off vampires!"
Crucial to the success of the festival is the volunteers who
tend to all the details.
"I have to thank our volunteers. They're average age is now
85.6 years. Our seniors are truly an inspiration. That's why we
at the Ukrainian Seniors' Centre can contribute so much to the
Greater Sudbury community. We even get out-of-town visitors
coming from southern Ontario so we can say we also contribute
to the local economy too," said Russell.
For more information, phone 673-7404.
