Right on cue, my mouth starts watering for garlic every year around the middle of July. I want the tasty stuff on barbecue, with noodles and even in ice cream. By the time the Gilroy Garlic Festival happens at the end of the month, I’m ready to go. I coat myself in sunscreen, throw on my biggest hat, check to be sure I have the breath mints in my bag and take a big appetite.
Food at the Gilroy Garlic Festival
I’ve been going to the Garlic Festival since 2022 and I still look forward to it every year. Even though my Fancy Foodie friend turns up her snooty nose every time I say it, the thing I like best there is the food. Fancy Foodie friend is more of a SAVOR the Central Coast or Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival type of gal and this is more like upscale carnival food loaded with garlic.
Everything tastes great, with lots of variety and interesting dishes like fried garlic alligator. Everything from noodles to fried potatoes is cooked with – you guessed it – garlic. When it all gets to be too much and you need a break before digging into the garlic poboy sandwich, frozen/or fresh fruit is a great palate-cleanser. But my favorite change of taste are the handmade, chocolate-covered strawberries.
5 Favorite Dishes to Try
Free Garlic Ice Cream: It’s not likely to become your next favorite dessert, but the price is right, you get bragging rights and you can take a funny pic to post on social media.
Garlic Fries with Crab: Fries with garlic aioli, topped with fresh shredded crab are simply yummy. The portion is so huge you’ll need a friend to help you eat them
Garlic Mushrooms: Stuffed with bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, They’re the perfect bite size starter.
Garlic Beef Satay: This is my favorite beef dish because it’s easy to eat and packed with flavor.
Garlic Noodles: Angel hair pasta served in garlic olive oil and oregano. It’s the way garlic was intended to complement pasta.
What I Like About the Gilroy Garlic Festival
I rate the Gilroy Garlic Festival 3 out of 4 stars for the fresh food, atmosphere and art vendors.Even though the festival itself is big, it has a small town feel, with local schools and charities participating.
Besides the food vendors, you can watch cooking demonstrations and discussions about food and garlic. In 2014, special guests included Carla Hall from ABC tv’s ” The Chew.” The “Pyro Chefs” also put on a great show cooking over huge flames.
If you have kids with you, they’ll enjoy the Children’s Area, where they can play and participate in craft projects.
You’ll also find a great selection of arts and craft creations from local artisans. Each participant is selected by a panel of local artists, keeping quality high.
Dislikes About the Gilroy Garlic Festival
Heat: Late July is often the hottest weekend of summer, when temperatures can top 100°F. If you’re not prepared, the heat can be so unbearable you’ll be tempted to wear your garlic ice cream instead of eat it.
Traffic: It takes a long time to get there. Expect a 20 minute or longer drive through town to get to the parking lot. By the time you reach the festival on the parking shuttle, patience can be wearing on you, especially if you’re hungry.
Drinks: Wine is available, but nonalcoholic drink options can be a bit lackluster. Soft drinks are poured ahead of time and quickly get watered down with melting ice. You’re better off to stick to water or frozen lemonade.
10 Simple Tips for Enjoying the Gilroy Garlic Festival
Avoid the Crowds: The park is large, but over 100,000 people attend every year. Go on Friday when it’s less crowded and getting there is easier.
Buy your Admission Tickets online: Buying your tickets for admission online can save you time and money. Also available online only are discount tickets for a Gourmet Alley Combo Plate, which can save you money and if you’re overwhelmed on what to eat, this plate gives a good sample of some of the best dishes.
Bring Cash: Most food vendors and merchants have credit card machine, but they prefer cash. ATMS are available at the gate, but using them comes with a hefty service charge.
Dress Cool: Of course you’ll take plenty of sunscreen and wear sun-blocking clothing.
Timing: Plan to spend half a day. Getting to the festival takes some time, there’s plenty of entertainment to see and so much food to try, you don’t want to miss anything
Seek Shade: The food should be the only thing cooking and not you. Get some goodies ind a shady spot to eat them, under a gazebo tent or beneath the trees in the meadow.
Park Smart: After you park, pay attention what lot you’re in before getting on the shuttle.
Share: Portions are large and if you eat all of everything, you’ll be stuffed in no time.
Leave the Furry Critters at Home: Dogs and other animals are prohibited from being brought into the park, except service dogs. There is no kennel services and it’s against the law to leave animals in a vehicle. So leave your furry best friend at home.
Dealing With the Aftermath: After one sniff, your friends and neighbors will have no problem figuring out where you’ve been. In fact, they might even smell you coming. Among the tips we’ve seen to get rid of that awful breath: eat an apple or drink a small glass of milk. Green tea, parsley and spinach may also help.
The Basics
When: Last weekend of July
Where: Christmas Hill Park, 7050 Miller Ave. Gilroy, CA
Buy tickets ahead of time at their website and get a small discount – or buy them at the gate on the way in.
The festival website also has information about how to get there. A GPS or online mapping service, it won’t show you the street closures, so you’re better off to just follow the signs from the freeway.