As you approach the town, you
will begin to understand the lure of the city. For anyone who loves garlic,
this is the place to be. It simply smells good!
Gilroy is best known for its Garlic Festival. This year it is being held from July 26, 2013 to July 28, 2013. The festival celebrates garlic in all its glory and
shares some unique uses. I am not fond of the ice cream but will trample anyone
in my way to the garlic fries.
The festival is more than
just the garlic. This year, the festival is celebrating its 35th
year with their 2013 Great Gilroy Garlic Festival Recipe Contest and Cook-off. The
website has the recipes from the winners in 2012. They look absolutely yummy.
Kids are more than welcomed
at the festival and they have gone out of their way to include them. They have
crafts to spur the imagination and music just for them. There is music for the
grown-ups too with three separate venues guaranteed to appeal to everyone.
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| Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maveric2003/934043066/ |
Of course, there is the
Gourmet Alley with many food choices and cooking sessions for those who want to
learn. I haven’t had the pleasure of the demonstrations but it is on my to-do
list.
So where is Gilroy? The festival is held at 7050 Miller Avenue, Gilroy, CA 95020. Gilroy
is in the Central Valley, right off the US 101. It’s about a half hour north of Salinas. Salinas
is not only known for being the “Salad Bowl of the World” but also the birthplace
and childhood home of author, John Steinbeck. It’s about 4 hours north of Los Angeles and a little more than an hour south of San Francisco.
Oh, and if you miss the
festival, don’t worry, there are plenty of shops that have garlic products. If
you’re looking for an adventure, drive north another 4 hours to Corning, California and visit the Olive Pit to get some olives to go with
your garlic.
Fun! I remember the Garlic Festival when you could actually get into town on the same day of the festival. Now it's impossible. Like the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival in Oct. I'm about 45 minutes north of Corning. There also is Lucero Gourmet Olive Oil. They have events all through the year- coming up next month is their Spring Bloom. Yummy.
ReplyDeleteAnn, you're making me hungry!
I'm making me hungry too.
DeleteI didn't realize there were other Garlic Festivals. Here in Virginia, Rebec Vineyards in Amherst hosts the annual event in October.
ReplyDeleteRepaying your visit from A to Z.
No garlic festivals in upstate NY.
ReplyDeleteCame by from Tales Of the Reborn Crafter
http://talesofthereborncrafter.blogspot.com/
Gilroy was my backyard while growing up. And you can smell the garlic for miles when the festival is in town. Such an amazing annual event...I should have guessed this one would make your G post:)
ReplyDeleteWe love Gilroy any time of the year. Now I have to think of a reason to head north.
DeleteOhmygod, there's a garlic festival? How have I never heard of this before? Sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteHappy A through Z posting!
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
I love garlic, I had my first portion of garlic fries the other day they are addictive!
ReplyDeleteI have heard of it. We met some folks from Gilroy who talked about it... the odd thing was they said the demand for garlic is more than Gilroy can provide so they have to import garlic too! ???
ReplyDelete