Garlic Festival Site (seasonal)

Round about August each year, a field near Sandown transforms into the Isle of Wight's most pungent celebration. The annual Garlic Festival brings together food stalls, cooking demonstrations, and enough alliums to ward off vampires for miles around.

What started as a quirky local gathering has grown into a proper weekend event, though it keeps that village fete charm. You'll find everything from garlic ice cream (surprisingly good) to roasted bulbs the size of tennis balls. Live music fills the gaps between the cooking shows, and there's usually a decent selection of local ales to wash down all that garlic bread.

Families do well here - kids get a kick out of the more unusual garlic creations, though you might want to pack some mints for the journey home. The festival typically runs over a weekend in late summer, with entry fees that won't break the bank.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Cheverton Copse or Ninham Country Holidays, it's an easy hop over. The location varies slightly year on year, so check locally when you arrive. Fair warning though - book accommodation well ahead if you're planning a trip specifically for festival weekend. Half the island seems to descend on this thing, and the whiff of roasted garlic carries for miles.