STINKIN’ VOLUNTEERS!

Volunteerism is very important to the Garlic Fest / Garlic Town U.S.A. history. We absolutely couldn’t host this festival without your help! Whether you’re a seasoned veteran volunteer, or new in town and want to make some friends, we’d love to have you help us out!  All volunteers attend a training and kick-off party on the Thursday night before the event. More details will be emailed to you after you fill our your sign-up form below. Please reach out to Luis@swvtchamber.com if you have any questions.

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

WHY VOLUNTEER?

  • You’re giving back to the community, and helping the Chamber be able to continue to serve it’s members and region!

  • You’ll receive a famous stinkin’ volunteer tie dye t-shirt to rock during your shift!

  • Free admission to the festival after before/after your shift

  • Free lunch during festival day

  • Invitation to our festival kick-off night and volunteer thank you party (free food and drinks!)

  • It’s fun, rewarding, and stinkin’ awesome!

Once you’ve filled out the application, find a job and shift below. 

When you select one (or a couple of shifts) this is your shift.  You can cancel your shift if you need to, but just know once you sign up for a shift, you have actually signed up for the shift. Don’t worry, we will remind you as you get closer to that date and shift.

There will also be a Volunteer Training Night for your specific shift and job (you will have a captain training you) which will be announced soon and more details sent to your email. This is required for all volunteers and will also be where you pick up your tie-dye tee if you don’t have one already!

PLEASE DO NOT SELECT MULTIPLE JOBS AND SHIFTS THAT OVERLAP IN TIME, however you can sign up for multiple days and shifts that don’t overlap if you love helping that stinkin’ much!

Garlic Town, USA Volunteer Roles & Descriptions

    • Needs to be comfortable using mobile device and Eventbrite app to scan attendee electronic tickets

    • Needs to be comfortable swiping and processing credit card payments for attendees

    • Needs to be comfortable with handling cash payments and change

    • Needs to assist attendees who may be having issues purchasing tickets on their phone

    • Providing wristbands to attendees after successful ticket sale or check in of pre-sales

    • 'Roamer' volunteers will be stationed on outskirts of festival area (shuttle drop off, near road closures, etc for walking attendees)

    • Will need to attend at least one training night prior to festival

    • Welcome to use personal phone or festival provided ticket scanner device

    • Receives a free mobile charger when using personal cell phone

    • Will be logged into private Eventbrite account prior to scanning by captain

    • Reports to ticket captains

    • Helps us keep our event as green as possible!

    • Will monitor recycling stations and collect compost/trash/recycling into provided barrels from attendees

    • May require lifting of full bags to transport to rolloff dumpster at outside lot

    • Location: within festival area at sorting station(s)

    • Will require physical lifting, tent and table setup, loading and unloading of chamber equipment from storage to festival sites

    • Fencing crew will install rebar and posts to attaching temporary orange fencing along clove perimeters

    • Setting up signage throughout cloves

    • Setting up supplies for ticket sales, merch tent, info table

    • Post festival cleanup

    • Free team lunches!

    • Will walk festival fence perimeters and keep eyes on gates and any entry points for any emergencies, fence hoppers, security issues, etc

    • Needs to be vigilant, comfortable being on feet for the duration of shift

    • Walkie talkie provided and communication with local police department and Sheriff will be available; will have active shooter and other emergency prep beforehand

    • Will relieve vendors as necessary and booth sit for bathroom breaks, etc

    • Not required to take payments for vendors or make sales, only letting customers know they will be back shortly

    • Will distribute waters to vendors and volunteers throughout day at both cloves

    • May help distribute vendor bags at beginning of festival day

    • Will communicate to chamber staff if vendor needs assistance from them

    • Location: within festival area, shares tent with guest services volunteers

    • Needs to be comfortable on feet for shift and detail oriented to ensure cleanliness of attendee areas and overall stinkin’ good time!

    • Cleans and wipes down dining tables and seating areas multiple times throughout Clove

    • Monitors and restocks porta potties and hand washing stations when low on supplies

    • May need to make or assist in supply runs outside of festival area if necessary

    • Communicates via walkie talkie or relays info to area captain or chamber staff on any issues needing attention within clove areas

    • Assists with vendor support volunteers if necessary and fills in for other stations during bathroom breaks, etc

    • Monitoring that all attendees have a wristband before entry into festival clove

    • Needs to monitor attendees and stop any alcohol from leaving/entering festival area

    • May need to direct attendees to ticket sales or info tent

    • Needs to be comfortable standing for duration of shift

    • Reports to Gate Captain

    • Will assist attendees and travelers with any local or event questions they may have to avoid crowding at ticket lines

    • Knowledge of the Bennington area and local businesses and restaurants needed

    • Handouts, travel guides and other info will be provided for you at the table

    • Garlic Town event experience helpful

    • May need to briefly relieve other volunteers or vendors at certain times

    • Location: in front of festival lot at 113 Depot Street

  • "Enjoyed working with other volunteers who were friendly, hard working and had a sense of humor throughout!"

    Former Volunteer

  • "It was phenomenal. A lot of care goes into prep, communication and celebrating after the fact."

    Former Volunteer

  • "The event could not be possible without volunteers."

    Former Volunteer

Three people on a stage at a city event, with two women and one man, holding a framed document and smiling. The backdrop has a banner welcoming to Garlic Town USA, with musical instruments and plants visible on stage.
Group of people smiling at a fall festival, some wearing colorful tie-dye shirts, standing in front of a decorated stage with a band playing, pumpkins, hay bales, and fall plants, with tents and trees in the background.
A group of seven people wearing colorful tie-dye shirts with their arms around each other, standing in front of a stage with musicians playing instruments. The stage has a banner reading 'Welcome to Garlic Town USA,' and there are plants and pumpkins
Group of five people standing together in front of a stage at a festival, with a band playing in the background under a banner that says 'Welcome to Garlic Town USA'.
Three people having a conversation outdoors at an event, with tents in the background. One person is wearing a mask and glasses, another in a green t-shirt with a radio clipped to shorts, and the third person is wearing a colorful tie-dye shirt, a re
Children and adults making crafts at a table during an outdoor event.
Woman wearing white shorts, a tie-dye T-shirt with vibrant colors, and a chef hat, standing next to a sign that reads 'EXIT ONLY' with a left arrow at an outdoor event or marketplace.
Smiling elderly man and woman dressed in vintage attire sitting at a table under a tent at an outdoor event, surrounded by other people and booths.
A smiling older woman wearing a colorful tie-dye t-shirt and black apron, standing at a table outdoors, handing a food container to someone, with a tie-dye shirted woman in the background and a tent overhead.
People shopping at an outdoor farmers market stall with various products on display, including jars, bags of snacks, and a digital payment device, under a blue canopy.
At an outdoor event, a man in a red event staff shirt hands a green gift bag to a man in a tie-dye t-shirt. Two other men in colorful tie-dye shirts watch. A man in the background looks on, with tents and trees in the distance.
Four volunteers wearing colorful tie-dye shirts and black aprons standing behind a table at an outdoor event, talking to a man with a backpack, under a canopy tent.
A woman with white hair, sunglasses, and a tie-dye T-shirt, smiling and holding newspapers, standing near an 'EXIT ONLY' sign at an outdoor event or market under a red canopy. There are other people and pumpkins in the background.
Two women smiling and posing together at an outdoor event, holding drinks, with others and tents visible in the background.
Two smiling people, a woman and a man, standing under a tent at a recycling event. They are wearing colorful tie-dye shirts and black aprons, with the woman holding a piece of paper and a glove. Recycling bins and garbage bags are visible behind them