Today I want to post one more reminder about this week’s return of the Webster Garlic Festival, which will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Webster Recreation Center. But in addition to revisiting all of the fun, family-friendly activities happening at the festival, I want to especially highlight the real purpose behind the event: to support our veterans and active military.
There will be several opportunities at the festival to do that. Included in the more than 100 vendors who will be displaying their products and offering samples and demonstrations will be tables set up by the Blue Star Mothers and Wreaths Across America.
The Blue Star Mothers are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. One of their biggest ongoing projects is sending care packages to our locally deployed servicemen and women across the globe.
At the Mothers’ “Stars For Our Heroes” booth, families will be able to write a message on a wooden star, which will then be included in November’s care package shipment.
Wreaths Across America is an organization whose mission is to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the country. Webster joined that effort last December when, on National Wreath Day, more than 300 volunteers gathered at Webster Union Cemetery to lay more than 650 wreaths. Organizers hope to expand to more cemeteries this year.
At the Wreaths Across America booth, community members can choose an “Adopt a Hero” ornament from the Christmas tree and sponsor a wreath in honor of a particular veteran. Sponsorship costs just $17, with $5 of each sponsorship donated to the Blue Star Mothers to help fill and ship their care packages.
And this is going to be really cool: 100-year old Ann Greene-Wier will be giving a presentation at the festival, talking about her first husband, who died in the Battle of Bulge during WWII, and her second husband, a WWII B-17 fighter pilot who was shot down over Holland, captured and spent almost three years in a German POW camp. Ann will share a diary that was kept during the prisoners’ time there.
Ann will give her presentation on Saturday, September 9 at 11 a.m and Sunday, September 10 at 11 a.m.
And now details about the other fun stuff:
This year’s Webster Garlic Fest will be held Saturday Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. It promises to be the biggest one yet. Organizers report that almost 100 vendors, food vendors and food trucks, wineries and distilleries will be there, offering a wide variety of treats from clams, garlic shrimp and lobster tails from Ontario Seafood, to barbecue from Mission BBQ and fresh pasta from M.O. Pasta. (To see a whole list of vendors, visit webstergarlicfest.com.)
Plus, there will be free demonstrations, lots of family activities, informational displays from local agencies, and wine and whiskey tastings. So even if you’re not a huge fan of garlic, there will be plenty of vendors and activities for the entire family.
Admission is just $5, with ages 12 and under free, and will be sold at the door. Find out more on the Webster Garlic Fest Facebook page, or visit the website here.
All proceeds from the Webster Garlic Fest will benefit Wreaths Across America in Webster, and the Blue Star Mothers of Rochester, to build care packages for our locally deployed servicemen and women.
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(posted 9/5/2023)
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