Today, for the 25th time, Gilroy will welcome garlic lovers from
around the world to its annual Garlic Festival.
Today, for the 25th time, Gilroy will welcome garlic lovers from around the world to its annual Garlic Festival. We hope you’re among the more than 100,000 visitors who will flock to the annual stinking rose celebration, and that you enjoy the food, fun and friendly faces Gilroy proudly displays the last full weekend of every July.
As you park your car, pass through the gates, buy your program, shop the vendor booths, visit the children’s area, eat garlic-laced delights, dance to the music and, yes, even as you toss your trash or visit a portable toilet, remember: None of it would be possible without the dedicated and amazing efforts of the 4,000 or so volunteers who put the festival together each year.
It’s quite incredible to realize that the world-class food festival is organized each year by a paid staff of only three people. Everyone else volunteers to direct traffic in the parking lot, peddle programs, sell pepper steak sandwiches, cook calamari, gather trash, put up booths, tear down booths, man information desks, book entertainment, run the Miss Garlic Festival pageant – and the list goes on … and on.
The genius of the festival – and one reason that so many people are willing to help each year – is that it gives back to the community. Each year, disbursements are made from festival proceeds to the community organization of each volunteer’s choice, based on the number of hours worked.
That means volunteers help Gilroy and the Garlic Festival that made it famous – and at the same time help their kids’ sports team, or their church, an arts group, or perhaps a favorite charity.
So, c’mon down to the silver anniversary Gilroy Garlic Festival. Thousands of volunteers have worked hard – many of them all year – to make it a garlic-lover’s paradise. You don’t want to miss the bash.
And as you’re enjoying the entertaining and tasty results of the volunteers’ labors, take a moment to appreciate all their hard work. The Garlic Festival wouldn’t happen without them.
