The small Central Valley town of Gilroy has grown from a rural agricultural community to a suburb of nearby San Jose. It boasts one of the areas largest outlet malls, and several world-class golf courses.
But the thing Gilroy is best known for is the garlic. You can smell it within a 10-mile radius of town, see it growing along the highway, and even have it on your Big Mac at the local McDonald’s. Without question, Gilroy is the Garlic Capital of the World.
To celebrate the region’s top product, local community groups set out on a little fundraising venture more than 25 years ago, and thus was born the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Hoping to attract a few hundred locals in 1978, the first year drew over 15,000. Today the festival is known world-wide, and last year attracted over 125,000 garlic enthusiasts.
The real winner amongst all the garlic cloves is this great community. The more than 4,000 volunteers generate revenues for over 150 local charities. Over the years, more than $4 million has been given back to the community, and they’re not done yet.
Held the last full weekend in July, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is one of American’s premier food festivals. In addition to Gourmet Alley and everything garlic you can imagine, guests can enjoy live entertainment and participate in a variety of contests and cook-offs.
If you ever have a chance to visit the Gilroy Garlic Festival, by all means do it. Because the festival is such a big draw, avoid the crowds by arriving early. Beware the sun. The weather can be cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon, so bring layers of clothes and wear plenty of sunscreen.
General admission to the Gilroy Garlic Festival is $10 per person, seniors over 60 and children 6-12 are $5, under 6 are free. If you’re going, $2 discount coupons are available at local Raley’s, Nob Hill and Bel Air markets. Parking is free.
The 2003 Gilroy Garlic Festival will be held July 25-27. For more information, visit the event website at http://www.GilroyGarlicFestival.com.
Recommended Reading
The Garlic Lovers Cookbook
Garlic Lover's Greatest Hits: 20 Years of Prize-Winning Recipes from the Gilroy Garlic Festival
Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive Guide for Organic Gardeners and Small Farmers
More from West Coast Travel . . .Subscribe to our newsletter, join the community forum, and see more of our site!
Newsletter | Discussion Forum | Site Map | Travel Shop | Contact Host
