The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival

In 1983, to celebrate the Isle of Wight garlic harvest and as a fund raising vehicle for our rapidly expanding village school (pupil numbers appeared to increase in direct proportion to the quantity of garlic produced!), we started the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival.

On August 19th and 20th the tiny village of Newchurch hosted the 2006 Garlic Festival. Since it first started in 1983, this has grown to become one of the largest events on the island each year, second only to Cowes Week.

Attended by 25,000 people each year, it has been an astounding success largely due to its curious mixture of late sixties pop festival ambiance, country fair and garlic cuisine coupled with a dedicated team of volunteers from the village that run it with a professional organiser.

Holiday cottage accommodation is also available at the Garlic farm all year round. For more details visit www.mersleyfarm.co.uk or call 01983 865378.