There are plenty of reasons to head upstate in the fall, but eating your way through a field of garlic probably isn’t one you’ve considered yet.
A revitalized village center full of vintage shops, a 19th-century lighthouse you can actually sleep in, and a two-hour drive straight up the Thruway—Saugerties has quietly built the kind of reputation most upstate towns spend decades chasing.
USA Today even named Saugerties one of the “Northeast’s Best Small Towns” in 2024, and every September it becomes the unlikely garlic capital of the region when thousands of visitors descend on the annual Hudson Valley Garlic Festival.
Returning September 26 and 27, 2026, the two-day festival will bring together garlic growers, local vendors, live music, cooking demonstrations, and just about every garlicky food you can imagine. Think: garlic ice cream, garlic-infused sauces, roasted garlic, and enough of the “stinky rose” to send your vampire friends running.
Now in its 36th year, the festival has earned its title as the largest garlic festival in the Northeast, making this one very niche—and very delicious—reason to leave the city for the weekend.
Here’s everything you need to know before you make the trip.
Roots (or, well, bulbs) dating back to 1989
The festival’s backstory is arguably as charming as the town hosting it. It got its start in 1989 when Pat Reppert of Shale Hill Farm and Herb Gardens organized a small event to promote her herb business and New York State-grown garlic.
With little more than a newsletter, a newspaper article, and word of mouth, the festival quickly became much bigger than expected.
By 1991, Reppert was receiving more than 1,500 calls from people trying to get tickets, prompting the Saugerties Kiwanis Club to take over and move the festival to Cantine Field.
More than three decades later, the festival is still going strong, peaking at over 50,000 attendees in past years—proving that people will travel surprisingly far for a good clove.
What to expect at the 2026 Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Forget the standard street fair staples—the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival leans fully into its theme. Visitors can expect a full-blown sensory overload featuring:
- Garlic-Inspired Food Galore: You’ll find the classics like delicious garlic knots, but the real draw is the weirder stuff: garlic ice cream, garlic lemonade, and garlic-infused sweets
- 40+ Food Vendors & 100+ Businesses: The sprawling Garlic Marketplace offers an incredible assortment of locally made foods, specialty ingredients, handcrafted products, and imaginative garlic creations
- Entertainment & Education: Catch live music performances, sit in on chef cooking demos, and listen to lectures on garlic growing and health benefits
- Family Activities: It’s an all-ages event featuring a dedicated children’s area with crafts and projects run by local organizations
Details, dates, and how to get there
The festival lands on Saturday, September 26 (10 am to 6 pm) and Sunday, September 27, 2026 (10 am to 5 pm).
Advance tickets are a steal at $10 for adults and $8 for seniors (65+). Keep in mind that online sales end at 5 pm on September 25, so lock yours in early! Admission at the gate bumps up to $15, and children under 12 get in free.
The commute from NYC is almost suspiciously easy:
- By Train: Take Amtrak from Moynihan Train Hall to Rhinecliff (the closest station to Saugerties), then grab a 30-minute taxi or rideshare across the river to the festival grounds
- By Car: Drive north on the NYS Thruway (I-87) for roughly two hours. Take Exit 20 and head east to the Village of Saugerties and Cantine Field, where parking is available on-site
Everything else Saugerties has to offer
Since the trip up is this painless, it’s worth turning the garlic run into a full outing rather than a straight there-and-back.
A few ways to fill the time after you’ve had your fill of garlic:
- Wander Opus 40: Explore a massive, awe-inspiring six-acre stone labyrinth built by hand over nearly four decades by sculptor Harvey Fite
- Walk out to the Saugerties Lighthouse: A 19th-century lighthouse perched at the edge of the Hudson. The trail provides a wonderful driftwood-laden walk along the sandy shores, and the lighthouse itself doubles as a tiny B&B
- Browse downtown Saugerties: Stroll through the village center where antique shops, vintage stores (like Pop Vintage Antiques or Chambers Vintage), and indie boutiques make for an easy afternoon treasure hunt
- Get outside: Hit the Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, which offers 161 acres of dramatic views, hiking trails, and gorgeous Hudson Valley scenery when you need a break from the crowds