Minnesota Garlic Festival stinks

Do you love garlic? No, I mean do you really love garlic? Would you drive for miles to spend an entire day eating garlic soup, garlic sausage, and garlic pasta? Does the idea of garlic ice cream make you drool instead of cringe? If so, then you need to be in Hutchinson on Saturday for the town's annual Garlic Festival.

The daylong tribute to the "stinking rose" runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson (about 90 minutes west of Minneapolis). Local farmers will have bushels of the stuff for sale, vendors will be selling garlic-laden dishes (including the famous ice cream from Cedar Summit Creamery), and chefs from Restaurant Alma, Lucia's, Common Roots, and many more will offer demos and recipes throughout the day. You'll also find plenty of entertainment, kids' activities, and a wine tasting ($5) showcasing local wineries from 2 to 6 p.m.

If the drive seems a bit daunting, for 10 bucks you can ride in style on a tour bus from the Mill City Farmers Market, which leaves at 9 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m. But you might have to keep the windows open on the ride home.