It’s finally August folks, and that means all things garlic in Hutchinson. There are a lot of events going on this month, so I’m here to give you some insight on what’s happening! But, be sure to buy a pack of gum because you’ll be leaving these events with garlic breath!

To kick off Garlic Month, Clay Coyote is hosting an event called Coyote After Dark: Garlic Moon, in honor of the garlic festivities. The Gallery will stay open late on Wednesday, August 9th from 5 – 8pm and you can try your hand at throwing a pot, talk to the potters and see what they are working on, and enjoy complimentary garlicky beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Artist Geoff Welles of Abstract Machina will be here showing and selling his nature vs. machine inspired artwork. This is a free and fun event for all. You can RSVP and get updates for this event on our Facebook page.   

Did you know that garlic is said to ward off evil spirits and to keep away vampires? The psychological term for the fear of garlic is alliumphobia.

The biggest event of the month comes on August 12: The Minnesota Garlic Festival. Running from 10am – 6pm, it’s located at the McLeod County Fairgrounds at 840 Century Ave. SW. Adult admission is $5 with kids 12 and under being free. Parking is $1 per vehicle. No pets are allowed. Rain or shine, the Garlic Fest is on!  This event is huge with all the vendors and sources of entertainment available. There will be kid stations, kite flying, chef demos, garlic growing competitions, speakers, a parade, and plenty of opportunities to try all the different garlicky gourmet treats. Check out the Minnesota Garlic Festival website for all the stinky details.

Garlic’s pungent smell and flavor is due to a chemical reaction that occurs when garlic cells are broken. Minced garlic has the most intense flavor due to the amount of breakage during cutting.

There’s an exciting project you can be a part of at the Clay Coyote from August 25 – 27. Help our wonderful Clay Coyote team in building a pizza oven. Over the span of three days, watch the team in action and if you’d like to help, send an email to [email protected] and we’ll find you a job! Then, come back in September to enjoy complimentary, homemade pizza from the new oven.

Garlic is said to be one of the healthiest foods on Earth. It is low in calories and high in nutrients. It has many health properties such as lowering cholesterol, reducing blood pressure, helps fight off colds and flus, and is even believed to ward off heart disease and cancers.

August is full of garlicky events that you’ll be sure to want to mark on your calendar. They’ll be fun, fragrant, and for the whole family!