A maximum of 3,000 visitors will be allowed at the festival per day, compared to the previous average of 30,000 per day. Tickets to the event must be purchased ahead of time, as they will not be available at the gate.
Food booths will offer signature garlic dishes, such as garlic fries, garlic scampi, pepper steak sandwiches, garlic kettle corn, garlic ice cream, and more. There will also be live entertainment and arts and crafts for everyone.
The Epoch Times contacted the association to ask whether the attendance cap would be indefinite but received no reply by publication time.
In 1978, he read in a newspaper about a small town in France that claimed to be the “Garlic Capital of the World.” Melone believed Gilroy’s production could rival that, so he took up the challenge. Garlic was not viewed as a mainstream or gourmet ingredient at the time, so many doubted his idea’s success. However, he managed to persuade other farmers to support the cause and celebrate their hometown crop.
In 1979, the first Gilroy Garlic Festival was held. It featured a head chef and food booths that came to be known as “Gourmet Alley.” The successful event attracted more than 15,000 visitors and generated $19,000 for the local community.
Now that it is resuming, visitors can carry on the local tradition and enjoy what the community has to offer.
