Music and garlic mix quite sweetly at the 15th annual South Cariboo Garlic Festival coming up this weekend in Lac La Hache.
And there will likely be tears as children and adults alike participate in garlic peeling contests on Saturday. And there will be tasty treats as well as three cooks square off at noon on Sunday for the Master Garlic Chef Cook-off.
Special guests for this family event include mascots Billy Barker from Barkerville and the garlic festival’s own mascot Garlina.
Saturday, Aug. 23:
11 a.m. - Candace Copely has compiled a lot of work over the years and is set to release her second album The Buffalo. Floating between the strokes and plucks of her acoustic in The Buffalo, Candace’s voice reflects a sense of turmoil at some points; at other times, a decisive strength leads listeners on her journey through lives lived and loves lost.
“The Buffalo was a song that came quick and furious....like it needed to get out of me. I had two little ones (Eliza Beth being the extremely difficult one) and their father was about to leave me alone with them for two weeks while he went up to Pink Mountain to hunt for buffalo. This song was all my fears put into words.”
- 12 noon Garlic peeling and eating contest 14 and under.
- 1 p.m. garlic peeling and eating contest for adults.
- 2 p.m. Point Blank is on stage with local musicians Shayne Cowie and Pete Thorne. Their unique style of music will take you on a trip back in time with acoustic versions of songs from bands like ZZ Top, Steve Earl, John Cougar and Cat Stevens.
Playing a variety of different guitars, including his own handcrafted blues box guitars, Pete brings his over 30 years of musical experience while Shane puts his own passion into those songs from the past.
- 3 p.m. Elvis Rocks with Steve Elliott tribute artist.
Sunday Aug. 24:
- 9 a.m. Church service
- 9:45 a.. Elvis Gospel
- 11 a.m. Amber Bowen is on stage. Bowen grew up in 100 Mile House, with a love for the outdoors, animals and music. She learned to play guitar as an adult and started performing around the Cariboo. After settling in Williams Lake, she continued to perform at cafes and coffee shops and putting pen to paper to create her own songs.
With the influence of artists like Sarah Harmer, Candace Copley and Sarah Slean, she developed a collection of songs to share. These songs led her to Quesnel, BC, home of Wesley Gregg and FBR Recording. The two worked on recording the songs into a self titled demo album. Amber has now moved to Quesnel where she and Wesley got married and continue to write and record Folk-Rock songs that they hope to share with communities around the province.
- 12 noon Master Garlic Chef Cook-off. There were a number of fabulous recipe entries from Canada and the U.S. this year and the three finalists will be participating in the cook-off.
Emma Bautista of Forest Grove will be cooking Smokin’ Garlic Pork.
Brett Human of Kamloops will be cooking Roasted Garlic and Wild Mushroom Risotto Balls.
Gina Myhill-Jones of 108 Mile Ranch will be cooking Dragon’s Breath Garlic Mushu.
- 2 p.m. Matt Duffus from Penticton will be on stage getting the kids involved in the music which includes acoustic folk, pop, blues, country, lively listening music, and songs from the 20s to today, and originals.
There will also be all kinds of vendors on site selling food and products made from garlic including garlic ice cream.