If you love local art, fresh-from-the-farm flavors, and the unmistakable aroma of garlic, there’s a festival happening in York this Labor Day weekend that belongs on your Maine Faves list.
The annual Garlic & Art Festival at Ocean Fire Pottery returns Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local artists, makers, and growers will come together for two days celebrating creativity, community, and the harvest season.
And yes, there will be plenty of garlic!
Garlic Lovers, This One’s for You
The festival will feature seven different varieties of garlic available to taste and purchase, giving visitors a chance to discover just how different one bulb can be from the next.
Whether you’re stocking the kitchen for fall cooking, searching for locally grown ingredients, or simply consider garlic its own food group, you’ll want to make room in your pantry.
And then there’s the fresh garlic popcorn. We’re intrigued.
Shop Local Art & Handmade Goods
Garlic may get top billing, but this weekend is just as much about celebrating Maine’s talented artists and makers.
Visitors can browse a diverse collection of locally made goods, including pottery, jewelry, wood crafts, paintings, mosaic art, textiles, candles, local sea salt, and fresh flowers.
It’s a great opportunity to meet the people behind the work, pick up something unique for your home, or get an early start on holiday shopping while supporting local artists and small businesses.
And, of course, you’ll want to check out the pottery created right there at Ocean Fire Pottery.
Come Hungry
Shopping and garlic tasting can work up an appetite, and the festival has that covered, too.
Along with the aforementioned garlic popcorn, visitors can dig into fresh wood-fired pizza while enjoying live music and the laid-back atmosphere of this annual York tradition.
Art, food, music, flowers, local makers, and lots and lots of garlic. It sounds like a pretty good way to spend a late-summer afternoon to us.
Make It Part of Your Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day weekend may signal that another Maine summer is winding down, but events like the Garlic & Art Festival give us plenty of reasons to look forward to the season ahead.
Grab some friends or bring the family, meet local makers and growers, taste a few varieties of garlic, enjoy some music, and see what you discover.
Garlic & Art Festival
📅 Saturday, September 5 & Sunday, September 6, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m.–4 p.m. both days
📍 Ocean Fire Pottery
23 Woodbridge Road, York, Maine
Keep Exploring York
There’s plenty more to explore around York, too. After browsing the artists and sampling the garlic at Ocean Fire Pottery, head toward York Village and York Harbor for a walk through one of Maine’s most picturesque coastal communities. You can stroll along Fisherman’s Walk, cross the historic Wiggly Bridge, explore the trails at Steedman Woods, or take in the views from Harbor Beach. You could also make your way toward Long Sands Beach for a walk along the ocean and a view of iconic Nubble Lighthouse. With so much nearby, the Garlic & Art Festival makes a great starting point for an entire day in York.
If you’re spending Labor Day weekend in Southern Maine, add this one to the itinerary, and maybe bring a little extra room in the car for pottery, artwork, flowers, and a few bulbs of garlic.
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