Gearing Up for the
2016 Gilroy Garlic Festival
Fire in the Hole!
F
or the last 11+ months, dozens of volunteer committees
have been planning and preparing to host the 38th
annual Gilroy Garlic Festival on July 29, 30 and 31. Up
to 100,000 visitors are expected for the event, which has
gained notoriety around the world
as summer’s ultimate food festival.
As usual, Festival highlights will include great garlicky
food from Gourmet Alley, live entertainment on three stages,
cooking contests and demonstrations, the Rotary Club Wine
Pavilion, family fun in the Children’s Area, and 100 Arts and
Crafts booths. And you can bet visitors will still be queuing
up for the free garlic ice cream!
Although you will still be able to find all of your Festival
favorites, there are also some exciting new things happening
for 2016.
And continuing the tradition of introducing some of country
music’s hottest new acts at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, 95.3 Hot
Country KRTY has an amazing lineup planned for Saturday, July
30 on the Amphitheater Stage. Performers will include Brooke
Eden (“Daddy’s Money”), Drew Baldridge (“Dance With Ya”),
and The Lost Bandoleros (“Where Do You Go?”).
WANNA PLAY WITH FIRE?
This year, the Festival is hosting a Flame-Up Contest that you
can enter from the Garlic Festival Facebook page. If you’re
selected as the winner, you’ll get to work with the Pyro Chefs on
Gourmet Alley and do your own flame-up on Friday morning!
Contestants must be at least 18 years of age. Winner also
receives four admission tickets, combo plate coupons, and a
VIP shuttle to and from the Festival. Visit the Festival Facebook
page to enter: fb.com/garlicfestival.
WHAT’S APP AT THE 2016 FESTIVAL?
Before you head out to Christmas Hill Park, be sure to
download the FREE Gilroy Garlic Festival App from the Apple
Store or Google Play. This snazzy redesigned app provides
a complete guide to the Festival, including event schedules,
ticket info, and an interactive map.
Champions for Charity is a brand-new event scheduled for
Friday on the Cook-Off Stage. Teams of local first responder
heroes (firefighters, police officers, and EMTs) will compete in
a three-round cooking challenge to win $3,000 for the charity
of their choice. Come out and cheer for our hometown
heroes! This exciting competition will take place on Friday,
July 29 on the Great Garlic Cook-Off Stage.
Also new for 2016, the Gilroy Garli-Que Challenge is really
two BBQ contests rolled into one great weekend. On Saturday,
July 30, seasoned professional competitors will face off in the
Gilroy Garli-Que BBQ Challenge, officially sanctioned by the
Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). Guests will be able to
purchase “tasting plates” to sample some of the best BBQ ribs,
chicken, pork, and more. Sunday, July 31 will be the Gilroy
Garli-Que Backyard BBQ Rib Challenge, open to amateur
grillers and local residents who want to show off their very
best garlicky rib recipes.
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
GARLIC GOODBYES
In 2016, we’ll also be honoring some long-time Festival stal-
warts who will be scaling back their duties after this year. Gene
Sakahara and Sam Bozzo, who have delighted Festival audiences
for 25 years with their unique blend of cooking and comedy (all
accented with plenty of garlic, of course!), will be making their
final appearance together as “SakaBozzo” on the Cook-Off Stage
on Friday morning, July 29. And Gerry Foisy, who has been the
face of the Festival as “Mr. Garlic” for 29 years, will be hanging
up his signature bulb costume and cowboy hat after this year.
SPECIAL SAVINGS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS
On Friday, July 29, local residents can purchase up to two
$15 General Admission tickets or $10 Child/Senior Admission
tickets at the gate. That’s a $5 savings per ticket! You must
present a valid photo ID with a local address in Gilroy, Morgan
Hill, San Martin, Hollister, San Juan Bautista or Aromas.
Maximum of two tickets per ID. Locals’ ticket is valid on Friday
only. Residents can also purchase a 3-day non-transferable
Locals’ Pass at the gate on Friday for $30.
For more details or to purchase advance tickets online, go to
gilroygarlicfestival.com. Hope to see you there!
JULY / AUGUST 2016
gmhtoday.com