The Gilroy Garlic Festival is a food festival in the United States, initially held annually from 1979 After its cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a drive-through festival was held on July 23–25, July 30–31, and August 1, 2021. In April 2022, the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association announced the indefinite suspension of the traditional large-format festival, stating that it would instead host smaller individual events. In May 2022, the festival was canceled indefinitely.

An annual three-day event, the Gilroy Garlic Festival was one of the country's best-known food festivals, drawing visitors from across the nation. Located about southeast of San Jose, Gilroy is home to about 60,000 people, and the city is a major producer of garlic.

2019 shooting

On July 28, 2019, a mass shooting occurred at the 41st edition of the festival.

COVID-19 pandemic and cancellation

The festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while 2021 saw a drive-thru festival. although they are held by two unrelated organizers.

2025 revival

On March 28, 2025, the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association announced the Garlic Festival would return July 25-27, 2025. The 2025 festival was held at Gilroy Gardens. Attendance was limited to 3,000 per day, compared to past festivals that had 100,000 attendees.

The Garlic Festival was featured by Huell Howser in Road Trip Episode 124.

See also

  • Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
  • Garlic ice cream

References

Sources

  • Gilroy Garlic Festival. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  • The Gilroy Garlic Festival, 2005.
  • Garlic festival tidbits, 2006.
  • The Origin of the Gilroy Garlic Festival, 2007.