Festival can be good place to meet, have fun
Gilroy – Garlic is not known for being an aphrodisiac. But throw in a dash of heat, a couple of rain rooms, and some bales of hay and you might have the recipe for romance at the Garlic Festival.
Sounds like the perfect combination.
But as Marvin Gaye’s classic “Let’s Get It On” blasted from the Gazebo stage Sunday, and only one couple was up dancing, one had to wonder: Can a festival where garlic is the main attraction bring out a crowd that wants to pucker up?
“Back in high school this was the place to come to meet girls,” said Gilroy resident Danny Russo. “Usually it just takes a glance – and a lot of beer,” he said smiling. “But my cruising days are over.”
Russo has been off the market for the past decade, but could offer singletons some tips: Check out the dance areas and the beer gardens.
Apparently, things haven’t changed much in 10 years.
Cooling off in the shade by the Amphitheater Stage is where Jayde McNaughtten and Forest Cord could be found snuggling.
“It’s a good party atmosphere,” McNaughtten said, holding onto Cord’s arm.
While the couple has only been together six weeks, they are no strangers to festivals. They met while attending a medieval times fair.
“I saw her, she saw me …” Cord said reddening.
They’ve been together ever since, with Cord commuting from Eureka and McNaughtten from Sacramento to unite at the Garlic Festival.
On the dance floor, Lupe Rodriguez and Manuel Hernandez proved that couples rule the festival when Shaboom plays. They twirled and twisted in the heat, resting only when the band did.
The fifty-somethings revealed the secret to love at the festival: “We both drink the same beer,” Hernandez explained laughing.
Hernandez has attended the Garlic Festival since it started and explained that it’s a lot harder to meet people now.
“People are not as friendly as they used to be,” he said. “Years ago it used to be people from Gilroy and Watsonville areas, it used to be closer knit.”
But for the past four years he hasn’t needed to look too far to find a dance partner when Rodriguez is around.
Other couples are less visible – choosing a more behind the scenes approach to their romance.
Cecile and Mike Mantecon were found volunteering at the Information booth.
The husband and wife team from Gilroy volunteered together for the first time at the Garlic Festival this year.
“I didn’t have to beg him (to volunteer),” Mantecon said as her hubby stocked the booth with water. “He said he hasn’t worked this hard in a while.”
Mantecon explained that a lot of couples volunteer at the festival – though most do not appear together.
“A lot of the men choose to work over at Gourmet Alley – with the fire and flame ups,” she said.
While about 120,000 people flock to Gilroy for the Garlic Festival, Mantecon didn’t feel it was the place to meet someone.
“It’s too hot – too sweaty,” she said.
However, not even temperatures in the mid-90s could keep the singletons away.
The higher the temperature seemed to correlate with less clothing. Men walked around sans T-Shirts and some women opted for the bikini top approach.
Sylvia Navarro brought her friend Cesya Marciel to the festival where both were on the prowl.
Three years ago at Garlic Festival Navarro met someone and the couple dated for six months. She was open to a repeat scenario this year.
“We’re just here for the weather, the beer, the boys,” the 23–year–old said. “Oh, and the garlic.”
