Hot-rod lovers gearing up for summer car shows should pencil in
the Garlic City Fun Run.
Staff Report
Gilroy – Hot-rod lovers gearing up for summer car shows should pencil in the Garlic City Fun Run.
The ninth annual event, scheduled for July 14, is expected to attract hundreds of eye-popping cars to downtown Monterey Street and will offer a few ticklers for the city’s famed Garlic Festival, which follows two weeks later.
“This is going to be showing off our new streets and our new sidewalks,” said Steve Ashford, a downtown business owner and one of the event organizers. “This is definitely an event you’re not going to want to miss.”
A slew of more than 300 classic cars, jeeps, so-called “rock crawlers” and other vehicles will have more space to maneuver this year, thanks to a downtown remodeling that eliminated a winding median along Monterey Street. Sprawling new sidewalks offer plenty of room for vendors to lay out booths and visitors to camp out in chairs.
Police are adding to the car display by rolling out a 1960s paddy wagon, and the fire department will park an antique pumper in front of Happy Dog Pizza. Live music begins at 3pm.
This year’s event features Garlic Festival traditions old and new. The flaming Garlic Bulb will again be lit at the Fun Run this year before relocating to Christmas Hill Park for the weekend festival at the end of July. Visitors can also sample garlic fries, the newest addition to menu at Gourmet Alley, the massive food operation that feeds tens of thousands of festival-goers over a three-day weekend. Other goodies will be available, including Thai food, corn, hamburgers and tri-tip sandwiches.
