The 2009 Gilroy Garlic Festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 7
p.m. Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26, at Christmas Hill
Park.
When and where: The 2009 Gilroy Garlic Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26, 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 $12. Tickets for senior citizens 60 and older and children 6 to 12 are $6. Children younger than 6 get in free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.gilroygarlicfestival.com.
Cocktail conversation: This is the festival’s 31th year. More than 4,000 volunteers power the inner workings – picking up trash, putting up shade tents and parking cars. All the volunteers are paid an “hourly wage” that goes to the charity they have agreed to work for.
Geography: 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.
If you’re driving: Follow the large signs directing motorists to the parking lots located 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.
If you’re biking: The beautiful Uvas Levee trail is a great way to come, though there are many other options for you to choose. Once at the festival, you can park your bike at the bike lot, near the intersection of Miller Avenue and Yorktown Drive – about a one-minute walk from the festival entrance. There will be three people on duty watching the bikes and you will need a ticket or password (and think of something better than 1234, please) to retrieve your bike.
Refreshments: Free water is available and three beer gardens and one wine tent are located throughout the grounds.
Restrooms: Unisex bathrooms (OK, they’re port-a-potties) are located around the perimeter of the park.
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: Don’t bring your pet. The festival at one time featured a kennel, but that’s been discontinued, so there’s nowhere to stash Fido.
Short on cash: ATM’s will be set up near the Amphitheater, in the middle of the park near Gourmet Alley and on the Ranch side near Garlic Avenue.
What to bring: Your driver’s license for the beer gardens or wine tents, a hat or visor, sunscreen, money (remember, this is for charity) and don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes. A camera might be a good idea to capture images of your day.
Security: Plenty of Gilroy police officers will roam the grounds, particularly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons near the amphitheater. Some officers will be on horseback at peak times. Security personnel will man the gates with electronic wands and parole officers will be on hand.
Arts and crafts: One hundred artisans selling everything from pottery to garlic to art, will offer their wares. Booths will be split between the Ranch and Park sides.
