After 30 years as a volunteer for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, Morgan Hill resident Steve Padilla has nothing but praise for his fellow volunteers and South County residents who have made the festival a world-renowned marquis event.
Padilla, 65, started volunteering for the festival in 1984, worked his way up the ranks just as he did in his career as a firefighter. In his first few years, he picked up garbage and poured wine. At last weekend’s 36th Garlic Fest, Padilla served as a member of the advisory committee, which acts as the glue that holds all the different moving parts of the three-day festival together, he explained during a break on festival grounds at Christmas Hill Park July 27.
He has been involved in the management aspect of the festival since 2000, once serving on the board of directors, said the retired San Jose Fire Captain. Garlic keeps him busy year-round, he said, as he and other volunteers are already planning next year’s festival.
Padilla has lived in Morgan Hill since 1977, where he raised three daughters and has six granddaughters. For the last five years, he has also volunteered for Morgan Hill’s annual Fourth of July Freedom Fest. His brother Manny Padilla convinced him to join that effort.
Steve said he was initially inclined to volunteer for the Garlic Fest 30 years ago through word-of-mouth buzz about how unique and generous the festival is.
The vigorous involvement of the South County community—from the 4,000 volunteers to the more than 80,000 attendees—is what keeps Padilla volunteering at the Garlic Fest today.
“There’s a waiting list to volunteer” for the Garlic Fest, Padilla exclaimed. The local enthusiasm is highlighted at nighttime during every Garlic Fest, as local homes and businesses surrounding the festival grounds liven up with parties and unofficial festivities.
Over the past 36 years, the Garlic Fest has raised more than $10 million for area nonprofits and organizations, according to festival organizers. The 2014 festival raised more than $1.7 million in revenue.
As a member of the festival’s advisory committee, the biggest part of Padilla’s job is to act as a “liaison” between festival organizers and the hundreds of food and merchandise vendors, ensuring everything meets health, safety and fire codes. That includes providing the vendors with “everything they need” as far as water, electricity hook-ups and supplies.
“One thing about this festival is they really cater to their vendors,” Padilla said.
Throughout this past weekend, he was also seen helping with sponsor hospitality behind the festival’s Cook-Off stage, and directing patrons through the waiting area for shuttles to off-site parking lots.
“It’s addictive, when you see the involvement of the people,” Padilla said. “I just kept wanting to get more involved, and help give more money back to the community.”
