Karaoke proves to be hit in debut at festival
Gilroy – Nestled on the west side of the Garlic Festival was a new entertainment tent pumping out everything from country hits to show tunes this weekend, but the musicians on stage weren’t professionals.
After one of the Garlic Queen Pageant contestants recommend more activities for the younger crowd, officials with the Garlic Festival Association decide to tap into the karaoke craze and have the festival’s own visitors entertain.
“We wanted to have the karaoke stage in a section of the park where it wouldn’t be overpowered by the big music stages,” Ryan Romero, the assistant chairman of entertainment, said. “We’ve seen an incredible turn out and a high quality of talent.”
Situated under a large tent with picnic tables for people to sit, listen to the music and enjoy their food, the karaoke stage kept visitors entertained all three days and Romero said everyone from children to senior citizens were rocking the mic.
“We’ve had the whole gamut come up,” he said. “Let’s just say we’ve had several real special performances and the karaoke stage is definitely coming back next year.”
Although they don’t have record label contracts or Billboard-topping singles, some of the performers were definitely not new to the scene.
“Oh we go and sing at bars like once a week,” Nancy White said.
Hailing from San Francisco, White and her husband came down to the festival and found themselves on stage after enjoying their marinated mushrooms and watching the other performers.
“Some of us have talent and some of us don’t, but in the big picture it’s just a good time all around,” she said. “You just get up there and have fun.”
Romero said the most entertaining time of the day was in the afternoon, when people had loosened up and gotten more comfortable in front of the crowd.
“First thing in the morning people were kind of timid, but as they … got more comfortable with the idea,” he said. “It’s just a good place for people to come take a break before they go out to walk around and eat again.”
It was Garlic Princess Elissa Archuleta’s idea and she was pleased to see the gusty performers taking the stage Sunday morning.
“It’s been very busy around here and it’s just good for people our age to have some fun things to do,” the 20-year-old Gilroy resident said.
By Christine Tognetti Special to the Dispatch
