When and where: The 2013 35th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28, at Christmas Hill Park, located in the center of town where Miller Avenue meets Uvas Creek. Gates close at 6 p.m.
Tickets: General admission is $17. Tickets for senior citizens 60 and older and children 6 to 12 are $8. Children younger than 6 get in free. Discounted admission tickets ($15 for adults; $6 for children and seniors) as well as discounted tickets for a Gourmet Alley Combo Plate ($10 with online admission ticket), can be purchased in advance at www.gilroygarlicfestival.com. Friday, July 29 is Locals Day. Local residents can purchase up to two tickets per person at the gate for $12 with a valid ID. Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Martin, Hollister, San Juan Bautista or Aromas residents qualify.
Where am I?: There are two sides to Christmas Hill Park – the Ranch side north of Miller Avenue, which dissects the park, and the Park side. Miller Avenue is closed for the three-day festival. The park is mostly turf and some compact dirt and asphalt walkways. There are natural shade trees and many shade tents with tables, benches and hay bales.
To get there: Follow the large signs directing motorists to the free parking lots that open at 9 a.m. near the park. Shuttle buses will transport guests to and from the festival. Handicapped parking and transportation is available. If you’re local enough to know better, drive city streets to Miller Avenue, park and walk half a mile.
Caltrain: The Festival will charter Caltrain to operate one train Saturday, July 27 and one train Sunday, July 28 round-trip from the San Jose Diridon Caltrain Station to the Gilroy Caltrain Station, non-stop. Tickets for are available only through tickets.gilroygarlicfestival.com.
Restrooms: Unisex bathrooms are located around the perimeter of the park. It’s never a bad idea to carry hand sanitizer, as you’ll likely be eating all day.
First aid: Volunteers from the American Red Cross will be on hand to deal with minor injuries. Emergency services are located on the park side between the children’s area and administration. In addition, paramedics on bikes will roam the festival grounds.
Pets: Pets are not allowed.
For the kids: The Children’s Area under the tree-shaded Mulberry West section of the park offers games, stories and rides. Don’t forget to grab your treasure hunt map and solve clues to find treasures.
Leave it at home: Alcohol of any kind is prohibited. You should not bring any bottles, glass or cans, coolers – large or small, Frisbees and water projecting devices, pocket knives and weapons of any kind are all banned too.
