Day 2 of the 36th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival was a little bit cooler, but a lot busier. Garlic lovers swarmed Christmas Hill Park Saturday, but the day still went off without a hitch.
Executive Director of the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association Brian Bowe said the day ran smoothly, making it enjoyable for visitors and volunteers alike.
“I had very few things that I had to deal with today so that’s always a good sign,” Bowe said. “If I’m not very busy it means things are going pretty well—there’s your barometer of how the day went.”
Hot spots: While it was cooler than opening day, temperatures still reached into the mid-90s and festivals goers sought relief anywhere they could. The Gilroy Rotary’s Wine Pavilion was packed with those enjoying South County wines—and the shade, too.
Visitors kept the volunteers at Gourmet Alley busy as they lined up to enjoy peppersteak sandwiches, pasta con pesto, Italian sausage sandwiches, garlic bread and more.
Country music fans gathered around the Vineyard Stage to watch acts like Brothers Osborne, Ryan Kinder and Haley & Michaels—who were all presented by KRTY—while the festival’s other stages drew large crowds, too.
Sweet treats: Smoothies, beer and garlic ice cream lines were constantly full as festival goers tried their best to beat the heat. The Christopher football team was even kind enough to offer garlic lovers a refreshing mist to walk through as they passed through the Ranch side of Christmas Hill Park.
Weather: It was a hot one though not as bad as the day before. Temps reached the mid-90s on Saturday and are expected to be around the same tomorrow.
Festival highlights: The morning kicked off with the Great Garlic Cook-Off, a competition that pits eight amateur chefs against one another for a $5,000 grand prize and the coveted garlic crown. The title went to Suzanne Clark from Phoenix for her mouthwatering Sarsaparilla Glazed Wild West Burgers and Southwest Sweet Potatoes—all infused with garlic, of course.
“You had fantastic a Great Garlic Cook-Off, excellent entertainment on the Vineyard stage—people loved the entertainment. It was a really good day,” Bowe said.
What to see tomorrow: Celebrity chef and co-host of ABC’s “The Chew” will emcee Sunday’s Garlic Showdown—an “Iron Chef”-style competition between professional chefs—at noon on the Cook-Off Stage. The winners will be announced at 2:15 p.m. and will be immediately followed by a demonstration from Hall herself.
Advice from the experts: Sunday is expected to be just as busy as Saturday, so arrive early to beat the crowds. The new blue parking lot, located on Day Road, provides another option for those visiting the fest and includes shuttles to and from Christmas Hill Park.
