Just steps outside of Lafayette’s campus lie historical buildings, local businesses and, this past weekend, garlic.

After a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic, the Easton Garlic Fest returned for its 18th year last weekend, on Oct. 2 and 3. Easton locals and Lafayette students alike strolled around Centre Square in celebration of garlic and support of Easton businesses. The festival blocked off main streets to make room for over 90 business stands, two stages of live music and four cooking competitions.

Almost all of the stands included some level of garlic-flavored cuisine, such as garlic vinegar, garlic sauces, garlic fries, garlic pesto, pickled garlic and even garlic ice cream.

Many Lafayette students lent a hand to Easton local businesses and their garlic-inspired stands. Members from the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity volunteered at a garlic knot stand headed by Antonio’s Pizzeria. The stand also worked in partnership with the Easton Main Street Initiative, an organization that helps fund and preserve the local businesses of downtown Easton. 

Maya Nylund ‘23, a student volunteer, noted the stand’s popularity. As she ran garlic knots from the pizzeria to the stand, she saw firsthand the number of knots being sold. 

“It was a great success,” Nylund said. “Every time I came back, there would be a new tray that had been emptied.”

Over the two-day festival, the stand earned over $2,000 in profit from garlic knot sales and sold approximately 270 dozen knots. 

Other stands included food and drinks from nearby restaurants such as Sette Luna, Mesa Modern Mexican, Stoke Coal Fired Pizza and The Bayou.

“Easton is a big foodie town in general and I love that food is something everyone can bond over,” Nylund said. “It’s a great way to support small businesses.”

Similar to Garlic Fest, Easton’s annual Bacon Fest, which spotlights all things bacon, will be held downtown on Nov. 6 and 7.

Photos by Caroline Burns ’22