All atmospheric signs point to picture perfect weather for the
29th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival this weekend, forecasters
say.
By Perry Shirley
Gilroy – All atmospheric signs point to picture perfect weather for the 29th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival this weekend, forecasters say.
According to National Weather Service forecaster Diana Henderson in Monterey, balmy but not strenuous temperatures in the low 90s are expected Saturday and Sunday, similar to the weather the area has enjoyed all week.
The skies will be slightly overcast in the morning, a blessing for organizers who can set up shop coolly, festival President Judy Lazarus said. But they will clear up and the blue sky will emerge come midday, making way for a slight increase in winds in the evening.
This is welcome news to organizers who did not want to see last year’s extreme weather disturb things again. Temperatures reached a torrid high of 114 degrees July 21, 2006 and remained higher than 100 the week before the festival. As a result, attendance wavered to a 90,280 people – only 70 percent of the previous year’s total of 129,644. Even though temperatures dropped during the festival itself to the low 80s and some rain drops fell, Festival Executive Director Brian Bowe said it’s likely many were scared away from making plans to attend.
There will 15 shade canopies, a large tent and two misting tents. Bowe said an ice vendor will supply merchants with three large trailer loads of ice to keep beverages cool and some vendors will have personal misters for sale.
