Festival goers wearing garlic hats enjoy garlic ice cream at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Gilroy.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival kicks off on Friday and runs until Sunday at the Hecker Pass Outdoor Events Center in Gilroy.
Founded in 1979, the garlic festival has been a staple in California culinary culture, helping to showcase and celebrate the beloved cooking ingredient.
In 2017, Guinness World Records certified the festival as the world’s largest garlic festival.
“The Gilroy Garlic Festival has always been a celebration of both garlic and our local community,” Alex Misa, president of the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, said.
In recent years, the festival has faced major challenges. In 2019, three people were killed in a mass shooting and the following year the festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the festival has faced financial strains and was temporarily shuttered for a couple years before returning in 2025.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association is a nonprofit organization that has awarded more than $12 million to community schools and service groups, and the entire festival is hosted by volunteers.
Attendees should make sure to bring a breath mint this year as the festival offers a wide assortment of garlic entrees. At this year’s festival, people can enjoy garlic calamari, garlic scampi, pasta con pesto, pepper steak sandwiches, garlic bread, garlic fries and gourmet all combo plates at the gourmet alley.
For those brave enough, there’s also the festival’s famous garlic ice cream.
Alongside the food there will also be live entertainment and cooking demonstrations. Guests can also make garlic braids and see a garlic topping demonstration.
General admission is $35 and parking is $25.
For tickets and more information on the Gilroy Garlic Festival, people can visit gilroygarlicfestival.com.
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