The festival is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors this year.
The festival elects a queen and her court each year, but the second year, in 1980, the queen refused to wear her crown of garlic bulbs, causing a minor scandal. Queen Olivia Echeverria now wears a more traditional crown, but she's an unabashed lover of garlic.
"It's embarrassing how many jars of chopped garlic I have in my fridge as well as the fresh stuff," she said.
The festival has become a major food event where every dish reeks of garlic. The proceeds go toward a wide range of community groups. Over its 35 years, the festival has given back over $9.7 million to sports teams, scout troops, hospitals and food banks. It takes 4,000 volunteers to make it happen.
Carla Hall, co-host of ABC's "The Chew," will host Sunday's garlic showdown.
