Delray Beach Garlic Fest, Delray Beach

As the Delray Beach Garlic Fest proves, garlic is more than just the cornerstone to a great meal. It can also be a melee weapon. In the festival's Garlic Chef Stadium, seasoned chefs have one hour to prepare a unique three-course gourmet feast using garlic and a mystery ingredient in each course. They might also use the cloves to cleave any salivating fan who tries to sneak up and snatch a bite. Luckily, those fans can nurse their hunger at Gourmet Alley, which features samples of more than two dozen garlic-seasoned items, such as blackened mahi mahi, gator, and marinated vegetable paninis. Similarly spicing the air are live sets from Collective Soul, Amber Leigh, Andy Childs, and tributes to U2 and Bruce Springsteen.

A group of locals founded the Garlic Fest to help raise money for local organizations dedicated to promoting youth arts and education. Through the nonprofit organization Delray Beach Arts, Inc., the festival has raised more than $390,000 in charitable donations.