The Island's biggest, and most pungent, summer show, takes place this weekend.

The Garlic Festival is back, on Saturday and Sunday, in its usual setting just outside Newchurch.

Head there for the very best food and entertainment, to suit all tastes and ages, featuring everything from garlic scones to Paddington Bear.

The huge garlic and food marquees will have cooking demonstrations from top TV chef Valentine Warner and award-winning IW chef Robert Thompson, in a new theatre kitchen.

With arena entertainment, live music on the main stage, a huge beer tent and hundreds of straw bales, people will be able to relax and soak up the atmosphere.

At the heart of the festival is, of course, garlic, produced on the IW by the Garlic Farm.

You don’t have to like garlic, but you'll find that traders and producers have cleverly included it in some of their fudge, ice cream, popcorn, biscuits, scones, sweetcorn and mushrooms and pretty much everything else, including the beer.

If you are in search of the ultimate Bloody Mary, you will be pleased to hear that the Garlic Farm has teamed up with The Tomato Stall and IW Distillery to create a fresh, sweet, spicy drink.

The weekend programme includes cookery demonstrations, presentations and talks, and this year there is a special guest all the way from Tasmania. Janice Sutton is one of the founding organisers of The Koonya Garlic Festival and is a garlic expert.

BBC TV chef Valentine Warner will demonstrate his new recipes on Saturday, and sign his latest book. On Sunday, IW chef Robert Thompson will showcase his skills.

On the main stage on Saturday are ABBA tribute act, Abba-Chique and The Jersey Guys, featuring the Four Seasons' sing-along favourites.

On Sunday the scrumpy and western stars The Wurzels will appear, no doubt performing their number one hits Combine Harvester and I Am A Cider Drinker.

These acts will be supported by local artists, including Luna Tear, The Baggywrinkles, X-Directory and 5 Fifty Fives. Wandering musicians and buskers complete the musical line-up.

In the arena, the Extreme Bike Battle will wow the crowds throughout the weekend. The UK's best riders from FMX, BMX and MTB go head-to-head in an epic stunt battle, to find out who is king on two wheels.

New for 2018 is The Hogg Show. Tom Hogg will premiere his new talented pig show — find out what he has taught his clever pigs to do.

Paddington Bear will appear on Saturday, and Titan the unforgettable robot will entertain on Sunday.

The IW Garrison is back, part of the 501st Legion, the largest Star Wars costuming group in the world.

Additionally there will be Longdown Mobile Farm, the IW Model Engineering Society's railway, falconry and dog displays, children's attractions, various animals, a giant funfair and the Garlic Games.

Add to this free arts and crafts sessions, a unicorn party, Punch and Judy, and the Randini Magic Show.

Tickets are available online at www.garlicfestival.co.uk or on the gate.

The Garlic Festival is open daily from 10am to 6pm.