Gilroy is a city in North California located 150 km south of San Francisco. It is well known for its garlic crop and has even been nicknamed the “Garlic Capital of the Nation and World”. Gilroy hosts the annual Girloy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlic-flavored foods, including unique delicacies such as garlic ice cream.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival was founded in 1979 by Val Filice, Don Christopher and Rudy Melone as a fundraiser for local charities. Ever since its inception over three decades ago, the festival has been striving to raise funds for non-profit groups and projects in Gilroy. The event is run by volunteers from over 150 non-profit groups and charities.
The founders of the festival wanted to share extraordinary garlic food with visitors from all over the country and abroad. That’s why the heart of the festival is Gourmet Alley with its “pyro chefs”, where attendees can enjoy various delicacies that include scampi, calamari, sandwiches, garlic fries, garlic bread, stuffed mushrooms, and more. There are special combo plates for those who can’t choose and want to sample a little bit of everything. Besides, some vendors offer garlic-free foods.
Of course, the Gilroy Garlic Festival isn’t all about food. Its program features plenty of entertainment for visitors of all ages. There are three stages of musical entertainment, strolling musicians, cooking demonstrations and cook-offs, exciting workshops, an arts and crafts market, special activities for children (face painting, wax hands, bubble fun, bouncy castles), interactive displays, and more.
One of the festival’s main highlights is the crowning of the Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen. The Queen is chosen by a panel of five judges, based on her talent, interview, evening gown and garlic speech.
