A nine-year anniversary usually calls for pottery and willow — but, perhaps this year you skip the tradition and get some delicious garlic instead.

Yes, the Goats and Garlic Festival returns to the Simple Goodness Sisters Soda Shop in Wilkeson for its ninth year on Sunday, Aug. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is what it says on the tin: a celebration of garlic and the chance to play with some baby goats (and even other cute animals).

If you’re not familiar with garlic beyond what you get at the store, there’s a whole world for you to explore.

In the U.S., most people are used to buying what is known as softneck garlic, because this garlic can be stored the longest and is easiest to grow in places like California, where the most garlic is grown.

But it’s hardneck garlic that grows best in the PNW; considered a specialty item that commands higher prices and has way less competition.

What’s the difference? Venise Cunningham, co-founder and owner of the Soda Shop, said that hardneck garlic has a much stronger flavor than the widely-available softneck.

And hardneck garlic is just an umbrella variety for numerous sub-classes, like Rocamble, German White, Purple Stripe, and Porcelain garlic.

Serving numerous varieties this year will be Enumcalw Farms, Feral Daughter Farm, and Monkey Motion Farm.

And if you want to learn more about garlic, Cunningham will be hosting information talks at 11:30 a.m. an 1 p.m. to learn about how to grow your own appetizing allium sativum.

The Puget Sound Goat Rescue will also be attending with their goats for everyone to interact with, and Green Apple Alpacas will be bringing their cute long-necked friends as well.

Numerous other vendors will be at the event as well, including The Tinsel Fairy, Ranch and Rifle (selling spices), the Fantello Farmstead Creamery, Find your Joy Fiber Art, Never Ending Threads (vintage clothes/jewelry), Grace’s Bangles, and Bees in the Burbs.

Live music will be provided by acoustic country musician Kage Dallas.

Finally — food. So much food, and so much garlic.

The Simple Goodness Sisters will be serving a garlic cheese hotdogs; garlic pretzels with, yes, the garlic cheese sauce; garlic parmesan popcorn; and a garlic beer, which Venise pointed out that you should order that early, as it sold out last year.

Venise Cunningham started growing garlic since 2013 after leaning how well hardneck garlic grew in the PNW. She started the Goats and Garlic Festival after realizing how popular the crop was. Submitted photo