Yar! Northwest GARRRRlic Festival, a pirate’s bounty for 44 years
Published 12:52 pm Sunday, September 20, 2026
Ereena Zmitrovich “grew a thousand and-a-half pounds of garlic and needed to sell it,” she said.
That’s why Zmitrovich was on site at a garlic festival on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Zmitrovich is the owner of Zmit Haven Farm based in Battle Ground, Washington. It was her first time vending at the festival. The 44th annual garlic festival took place at The Roy E. Sheldon Park in the heart of Ocean Park, officially named the “Northwest GARRRRlic Festival,” emphasizing this year’s pirate theme.
Marilyn Van Sickle, office administrator of the Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce and Suzanne Luttrell, board member and past president, said they — along with members of their team — had been working on the event for the past six months.
Last year they counted about 5,000 attendees. This year they estimated there would be scores more. when Luttrell estimated, “With the weather being what it is and everyone is having such a great time I’d say our goal is about 6,000 people,” said Luttrell at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18. “We’re clicking and checking,” she said, as visitors filed into the park filled with mostly garlic-centric vendors, a stage, live music, food and other interactive activities aimed at having fun, such as a station where people could make giant bubbles.
Van Sickle said they had 14 new vendors this year adding to the 55 they had last year. “Each year we’ve grown our festival. … A lot have come from our own vendors referring us to new vendors,” she said. “Everyone seems to be very happy and they want to come back. It’s a great festival. We love our vendors and they love this festival.”
A few changes were made this year based on feedback. Plus, a decision was made to incorporate the pirate theme this year. “Normally, we have live music both days,” said Luttrell, but “we’ve gotten feedback in the past that we don’t have enough kid-focused activities.” To solve that situation, she said, “there’s a lot of pirate gifts and decorations coming out tomorrow.”
Luttrell said the festival is made up of food, garlic, gifts and collectibles. “We also love to have our nonprofits here so they get exposure to their programs and resources.”
Eager attendees parked on residential side streets and along sidewalks all around the festival. Luttrell is grateful for the community support for a festival that brings so much happiness to the community. “The neighborhood and our neighbors are so good and so patient.”
One hurdle of the festival is the popularity itself. “You know one of our challenges is being in the middle of our community,” said Luttrell. “If we got even 20 more vendors we’d have to move. It’s a good problem to have.”