Garlic Fest moving to John Prince

Lake Worth is about to stink. But that’s a good thing.

The 18th annual Garlic Fest, a three-day festival about all things garlic, is moving to John Prince Park, just west of Lake Worth on Palm Beach County-owned land for the first time after spending the past 17 years in downtown Delray Beach. The festival will be held Feb. 10-12 on the 726acre site.

Delray’s loss is definitely Lake Worth’s gain. The festival, which usually draws thousands of people each year, is a great economic opportunity for the city, particularly downtown merchants on Lake and Lucerne avenues who’ll tend to profit most.

“It’s a great benefit,” said City Commissioner Andy Amoroso, who runs a novelty shop on Lake Avenue. “The festival is close enough Kevin D. Thompson where we’re hoping if we market the city, people will want to come back and patronize our downtown.”

Amoroso said Garlic Fest organizers have reached out to merchants and neighbors, agreeing to have shuttle services running from the festival to the city.

There will also be volunteers on those shuttles touting why city officials believe downtown is a great place to spend time. The Neighborhood Association Presidents Council will set up its Front Porch in a prime location, offering taste testing samples and data about the city.

“We’re trying to focus on some of the new businesses,” NAPC Secretary Mary Lindsey said at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

The city is also working on a five minute Lake Worth promotional video, City Manager Michael Bornstein said.Having Garlic Fest practically land in the city’s lap represents a vote of confidence for Lake Worth, he noted.

“We have a great central location for such a high profile and beloved festival,” Bornstein said. “It’s good exposure for us.”

The festival, billed as the “Best Stinkin’ Party in South Florida,” has always done huge business in Delray. It probably would have stayed there had organizers not run into a few roadblocks with city officials.

There’s a rule in Delray that says only one major event a month is allowed in the downtown area.

Garlic Fest was planned for the same month as the Delray Beach Open tennis tournament. Lake Worth got a gift — a potentially lucrative one.

Now it’s up to the city, known for getting in its own way at times, to make the most of it.