The Art Thing Collaborative Presents ‘Once Upon a Thyme’

by TAT Co-Executive Director Carly Proulx

This year Mohawk Valley Today (MVT) and The Art Thing (TAT) are collaborating to put a whole new enchantment on at the 2026 Mohawk Vally Garlic and Herb Festival, on September 12th in Little Falls.

Rewinding back to the 2025 Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival events!

Last year TAT created a life size storybook titled “Once Upon A Thyme” that was blank on the inside. With the help of the community’s imagination, Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival goers cooked up a magical Faerie Garlic tale for TAT to present to the Garlic King, Little Fall’s very own Mike Vittiglio.

At the same time, during last year’s MV Garlic and Herb Festival, Mohawk Valley Today invited you into their agriculture-themed MVT Instant Photo Booth complete with punny photo props. Each person who participated in the MVT Instant Photo Booth posed with their family and friends, and a few fun props, while MVT volunteers took their photo with a retro instant camera. The best part: MVT sent everyone home with their own keepsake instant photo!

Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival Collaboration with TAT & MVT

This year, both TAT & MVT are working together to have some fun and  once again transport you into the realm of the Fairy Garlic World. The “Once Upon a Thyme” tale that was spun by the community last year is now that tale is getting turned on its head. Words are scrambled, out of place, and in some spaces, there are only blank spots where words once were. Based on the characters, settings, and plots from the tale created last year,  TAT will once again be seeking the community’s help to craft a brand new spin on this year’s Faerie Garlic Tale.

This year, MVT will be once again offering festival goers the chance to create their Garlic Fest instant photo keepsake. However, this time a new set of whimsical props will be at the MVT Instant Photo Booth! The props will be plucked straight out of the storybook of the Faerie Garlic realm from last year’s Faerie Tale! Not only will you have a say in retelling the tale with TAT, but you’ll have the chance to step straight into the Faerie Garlic world at the MVT Instant photo booth. After you receive your garlicky instant photo you can pop right over to MVT’s neighbor TAT to get your official Faerie Garlic Frame.

Supporting local artists is always a top priority for TAT & MVT

One festival goer, artist Dakotah Dudgeon immortalized last year’s Community Faerie Garlic Tale in her illustrations, depicting each segment of the story. You’ll be able to see the fanciful and charming illustrations by the talented Dakotah that you helped create in person and on display at the TAT booth for this year’s Garlic Fest.

MVT and TAT are excited to see their community’s creativity come to life as they go M-A-D-L-I-B-S style in spinning an old tale into new, and helping folk celebrate Garlic Fest 26’ by capturing those fun, silly and magical moments with loved ones in the photo booth!