When and where: The 2007 Gilroy Garlic Festival runs from 10am
to 7pm, Friday, July 27 through Sunday, July 29, at Christmas Hill
Park, located in the center of town where Miller Avenue meets Uvas
Creek. Gates close at 6pm.
When and where: The 2007 Gilroy Garlic Festival runs from 10am to 7pm, Friday, July 27 through Sunday, July 29, at Christmas Hill Park, located in the center of town where Miller Avenue meets Uvas Creek. Gates close at 6pm.
Tickets: General Admission is $12. Tickets for senior citizens 60 and older, and children 6 to 12 are $6. Tickets are available online. Visit www.gilroygarlicfestival.com to get tickets in advance, or buy them at the festival.
Cocktail conversation: This is the 29th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. More than 4,000 volunteers power the inner workings – collecting trash, putting up shade tents and parking cars, to name just a few of the jobs. All the volunteers are paid an “hourly wage” that goes to the charity or charities 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 during 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. Handicap 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 or so. Or better yet, ride a bicycle along the beautiful Uvas Creek levee and cruise into the best, tastiest summer festival around.
Refreshments: Water is available and beer gardens and wine tents are located throughout the festival grounds.
Restrooms: Unisex bathrooms (OK, they’re port-a-potties) are located around the perimeter of the park.
Hot Souvenir: Again it looks as if Herbie, the 8-inch bobblehead, will be a hit.
This year he’s sporting white sneakers, red jogging shorts, a blue tank top, and has a towel draped over his shoulder.
The new look is a far cry from the past two years, in which Herbie donned a barbecue apron and a chef’s jacket. “He’s our little health-conscious Herbie,” said Karen Scorsur, head of the festival’s retail committee this year and the person who chose Herbie’s outfit.
Only 2,750 dolls will be sold. This year the price increased from $12 to $13.
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, just south of Gourmet Alley. In addition, paramedics on bikes will roam the festival grounds.
Pets: Don’t bring them. The festival at one time featured a kennel, but that has been discontinued, so there’s no where to stash Fido, and you sure don’t want to leave your adorable family pet in a vehicle.
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 garden or wine tents, a hat or visor, sunscreen, money, (remember, the festival is for charity) and don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes. A camera might be a good idea to capture images such as Mr. Garlic or the Garlic Queen roaming the grounds.
Security: Plenty of Gilroy police officers will patrol the grounds, particularly Saturday and Sunday afternoon near the amphitheater before and after the ever-popular rock ‘n’ roll band Shaboom plays. Some officers will be on horseback at peak times. Security personnel will man the gates with electronic wands and parole officers will be looking for violators.
Arts and crafts: About 100 artisans selling everything from pottery to garlic to art, will be split between the Ranch and Park sides.
