GILROY
– The Gilroy Garlic Festival Children’s Area is a place for kids
to express creativity through arts and crafts, expend energy in the
bounce houses and feast on hot dogs and cotton candy.
GILROY – The Gilroy Garlic Festival Children’s Area is a place for kids to express creativity through arts and crafts, expend energy in the bounce houses and feast on hot dogs and cotton candy.
Located in a shaded area along the creek on the park side of Christmas Hill Park, it’s the place where parents rest on hay bales while the children take advantage of attractions.
All of the old favorites will be back, including the Home Depot, the wax hands booth, hermit crabs and more.
This year a new display is sure to draw festivalgoers of all ages.
Jesse Salcedo, a contractor from Woodside, is donating a 16-foot diameter tepee to stand in the Children’s Area. Salcedo might also bring a 12-foot and 7-foot tepee for display.
“My job is to make it available to the public. I’m the vehicle for their dreams,” Salcedo said.
He hopes to bring an artist to decorate the 12-foot tepee and tell its story, which traditionally reflects the owner’s history.
“There is something mystical about tepees. When you see a tepee, your imagination opens up, you start wondering, dreaming,” he said. “It’s open to one’s curiosity and creativity.”
The structures range from $400 to $4,700, depending on size. But Salcedo doesn’t sell tepees for the money.
“The venture pays for itself. I’ll take losses. I donate tepees to schools for auction so they can make money. If I’m able to financially and the need is greater for a school to have it than for it to sit in my garage, by all means,” he said.
With 200 square feet of interior space and a fully decorated exterior, the 16-foot tepee is the perfect setting for this year’s storytelling. Various groups will entertain audiences throughout the weekend.
The Gilroy Public Library’s Children’s Program Librarian Linda Glawatz will share tales from around the world on Friday.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be great to do storytelling again,” she said.
The Wize Owl bookstore will take over the storytelling on Saturday.
“I think it’s wonderful. It’s a great festival for the community, so anything we can do to help,” Wize Owl Owner Michele Campbell said. “This is the first time they’ve had storytelling, and we’re excited to be a part of that,” Arts activities related to the stories will take place outside of the tepee.”
In an effort to improve the Children’s Area, committee members have added more shaded space and for the first time have adopted a theme.
“Take me out to the ball game” was inspired by the baseball jersey that president Janie Mardesich chose for the official festival T-shirt.
Children’s Area Committee Chairwoman Mary Ellen Bena has incorporated the theme into the entertainment and decorations. But she doesn’t want to spoil the surprise. Curious festival visitors will just have to visit to see for themselves.
“It’s geared more for family now. There is a lot more offered, and you could spend a lot of time there. What’s neat is a parent can enjoy it as much as a child, Bena said. “When the kids are happy, they are happy. I think it’s really important that the kids can still have a good time and not have to pay for every attraction.”
This year Bena has also introduced a caricature artist, frozen lemonade stand and 25th anniversary T-shirt.
In order to best take advantage of the Children’s Area, Bena suggests festivalgoers visit mid-afternoon when activity level is at its peak. Those who want to beat the crowd should visit on Friday. And don’t forget to say hello to Herbie the garlic bulb who will walk around throughout the weekend to greeting visitors.
Lori and RJ from the Kids WB20 will once again host the entertainment stage. Shows will begin from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the weekend.
“A child between 3 and 10 is the most frequent visitor – one who is taking advantage of everything. Their eyes just glow, and they’re having such a good time,” Bena said.
The children’s area averages 40,000 visitors each year. Although the area is enclosed on all sides, parents should never leave their children unattended in the area. There will also be diaper changing tables available.
