Gilroy Garlic Festival Begins 38th Year Under Sunny Skies

GILROY, CA - “Summer’s ultimate food fair” began Friday in Gilroy, as the festival known around the world proffers some garlic-loving pungency to the delight of thousands.

The 38th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival runs through Sunday. The quirky festival that put first Gilroy on a world stage in the late 1970's features every type of garlicky food imaginable, Gourmet Alley flame-ups guaranteed to singe arm hair if you get too close, live entertainment, cooking competitions, and the novel ice cream you'll be asked about if you go: "Did you try the Garlic Ice Cream?"

Seasonal temperatures in the high 80's with light winds are expected for Gilroy, so the weather should be great.

On Friday, officials say teams of local first responders including police officers, firefighters and EMTs will compete in the first-ever “Champions for Charity” cooking contest on the Great Garlic Cook-Off Stage.

The winning team will earn $3,000 for the charity of its choice.

Friday will also mark the final appearance of SakaBozzo, the cooking-and-comedy duo of Gene Sakahara and Sam Bozzo, both past Festival presidents who have entertained audiences at the Cook-Off Stage for 25 years.

For the first time ever, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is hosting the “Gilroy Garli-Que BBQ Challenge,” which combines an officially sanctioned Kansas City Barbeque Society contest on Saturday with a Backyard BBQ Ribs Challenge for amateurs on Sunday, according to officials.

On Saturday, officials say amateur chefs from around the country will compete for the coveted garlic crown in the Great Garlic Cook-Off, one of the nation’s most prestigious cooking contests.

On Sunday at noon, four professional chefs will do battle in the iron chef-style Garlic Showdown.

Officials say this year visitors can take Caltrain to the Gilroy Garlic Festival on Saturday, July 30, or Sunday, July 31.

Round-trip tickets must be purchased online in advance for the special event “Garlic Train,” which departs from the San Jose Diridon Station at 10:00 am.

The Garlic Train ticket includes a shuttle bus from the downtown Gilroy train station as well as admission to the Festival. The return train departs from Gilroy at 5:00 pm.

Riders from as far north as San Francisco can use regular weekend peninsula Caltrain service to connect with the Garlic Train in San Jose; peninsula tickets must be purchased separately from Caltrain.

The2016 Gilroy Garlic Festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 29-31, at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy.

Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors 60+ and children ages 6-12. Children under age 6 are admitted free. Parking is $10 per vehicle and includes shuttle buses to and from the Festival entrance.

Gates close at 6:00 pm.

Tickets are available online at www.gilroygarlicfestival.com and at participating Raley’s, Bel Air, and Nob Hill Foods stores.

-all images via Bill Strange Photography