The 22nd Annual Hills Garlic Festival was held Sunday, September 7, at Centennial Park in New Denver, BC. The event brought out over 6000 people who came to shop, eat, and enjoy the wonderful entertainment.160 vendors sold a huge variety of harvest bounty, crafts, and food.

What started as a small gathering of friends who decided to have a garlic-theme pot luck supper in the park grew quickly to a community event drawing local garlic growers and garlic lovers to the Hills Community park. By 2003, the Garlic Festival had outgrown its home and was moved to Centennial Park in New Denver.

The Garlic Festival is a local community fundraiser put on by local volunteers through the Hills Recreation Society (a non-profit society). Over the years it has become one of the highlights of the Hills/ New Denver/ Silverton community and has raised money to provide recreation facilities and services for the area including basketball/tennis courts, yoga classes, children's recreation programs, and local cross-country ski trails.