Glorie
Senior Cook
Hubby and I have a trip planned to CA for the Gilroy Garlic Festival. It's our first time going. Has anyone else here ever been and can give us any tips? 
CA - Gilroy ... Garlic Festival
- Thread starter Glorie
- Start date
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Boy, you're planning ahead. The festival isn't until the last part of July this year. I've never been, but I'm sure you'll get some feedback from DCers.
PieSusan
Washing Up
The closer you get, the stronger the smell. It can be hard to take. I have had friends who went.
HMGgal
Senior Cook
1: Bring lots of breath mints, or make sure everyone in your party has had garlic.
2: Garlic ice cream. I wouldn't try it if you paid me money. Well, maybe a lot of money...
3: It can be hot and crowded. Bring along a mister, lots of water, and put yourself in your happy bubble.
4: Make sure you hit the outlet stores because retail therapy is one of the finer things in life.
2: Garlic ice cream. I wouldn't try it if you paid me money. Well, maybe a lot of money...
3: It can be hot and crowded. Bring along a mister, lots of water, and put yourself in your happy bubble.
4: Make sure you hit the outlet stores because retail therapy is one of the finer things in life.
Michelemarie
Executive Chef
I'm jealous! Have fun!
OP
OP
Glorie
Senior Cook
I take it you're not too thrilled with garlic? Or is it the festival that you've had bad experiences with? I'd like to know
Russellkhan
Senior Cook
My household went down for it once. Traffic was bad getting there and once we got there we were all a bit disappointed. The food was nothing special, heavy on the garlic, but other than that, just fair food. There was a band, not especially good. Overall, we left feeling like we could have gone to the local flea market and had a better time.
Sorry to be a downer, but I recommend doing something else.
Sorry to be a downer, but I recommend doing something else.
DramaQueen
Head Chef
PieSusan is right about the smell. You'll know you're getting close when the entire freeway smells of garlic for miles before you get there. This is a very interesting festival. It gets hot in Gilroy in July so dress accordingly.
If you want to see something incredible click on Look At This. These are locateda at Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park. Google for more info.
One of the main reasons we took a side trip to Gilroy on our way north was because that's where one of the LeCreuset Factory Outlets is located. The section marked "seconds" has great bargains on LeCreuset and I defy you to find the flaws. We never could
If you want to see something incredible click on Look At This. These are locateda at Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park. Google for more info.
One of the main reasons we took a side trip to Gilroy on our way north was because that's where one of the LeCreuset Factory Outlets is located. The section marked "seconds" has great bargains on LeCreuset and I defy you to find the flaws. We never could
quicksilver
Washing Up
Yes, but would you have said that about Woodstock?
Traffic, food -what food?, STINK! You wouldn't have made it to the music! LOL! It's all a matter of perspective.
DramaQueen
Head Chef
If it's such a "nothing" festival, why is is so crowded and why was the traffic so bad? I agree that it's a matter of perspective. As for heavy on the garlic, well, it's a garlic festival. Heck it's worth a trip just to see those trees and the LeC factory outlet.
quicksilver
Washing Up
L O L ! ! ! But then I did say it was on my "bucket list" the other day in one of these threads, on my way to Mendocino. About 200 miles.
HMGgal
Senior Cook
Oh I LOOOOOVE garlic! Every time I go to see the SF Giants play at ATT Park, I get the garlic fries. But they do serve garlic ice cream at the festival--ewwww, but that's just my personal taste.
My town hosts the big Pumpkin Festival every year and there are people that really enjoy the hokey fun to be had at fairs (and I'm in that camp) and some not so much (my husband never goes). I drive through Gilroy all the time to get the I-5 to see my daughter and granddaughter and it smells like garlic, but it's not noxious or anything.
As for my "happy bubble" comment, I'm just not terribly fond of big crowds and I have to make an effort to relax about it; I'm the same way at Disneyland. Hey, I'm assuming you aren't coming all the way down here just for the festival. If you aren't having a good time, you can bug out and do something else, even if you have lodging close to the fair.
I love taking my grandkids to Gilroy Gardens. I don't know if you will have little ones with you, but that's a great place, too.
Go! Enjoy...I have gone several times, and will go again. It's about 5 hours from here, and worth every mile. I first went when moving my ex to Watsonville, and have since gone when buying a new massage table, putting up a sweat lodge for my ex, visiting the John Steinbeck Museum in Salinas for the traveling Smithsonian Woody Guthrie display (featuring Country Joe McDonald playing his music), and moving my ex back to Ojai from Watsonville. Keep an open mind and an open mouth. Remember that there is NO such thing as too much garlic, and sample the garlic everything, including the garlic ice cream...yum...do not worry about breath mints, it will come out your through your pores. Have fun!
DramaQueen
Head Chef
You are tooo funny.
But you forgot to mention the one reason in the world to go to Gilroy - The LeCreuset Factory Outlet. Did you miss that? Oh, and while you're in Gilroy, be sure to see the garlic festival. 
snack_pack85
Washing Up
I am also looking forward to going this year. I drove through it accidently a few years ago and it looked like a lot of fun!
The Gilroy Garlic Festival is on my Bucket List, as is the Hatch Chile Festival. The fun thing about attending functions like that is the interesting people you meet.
I used to attend Scouting on the Mall in Washington, D.C. when my boys were in scouting. The things I learned from people I met there, still impact my life today. I say, go and have a good time, and expect to meet some interesting folks while you're there.
I used to attend Scouting on the Mall in Washington, D.C. when my boys were in scouting. The things I learned from people I met there, still impact my life today. I say, go and have a good time, and expect to meet some interesting folks while you're there.
claire909
Washing Up
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2009
- Messages
- 45
well, i have never been a great fan of the fetival. I never found food that I'd go back again for but then I also get frustrated with the long lines and usually take off part way through the day.
GuaranteedGF
Cook
Garlic Festival Travels
I've only seen the special on Food Network about the festival, but I do plan to enter the cooking competition - so how knows - hubby and I might be there too. Hubby would only be there to hold Lucky while I cook - Hubby is not a foodie!! Of course Lucky will be happy to be there - he's my service dog and he loves garlic!!
Stacy
NY, NY
Hubby and I have a trip planned to CA for the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
I've only seen the special on Food Network about the festival, but I do plan to enter the cooking competition - so how knows - hubby and I might be there too. Hubby would only be there to hold Lucky while I cook - Hubby is not a foodie!! Of course Lucky will be happy to be there - he's my service dog and he loves garlic!!
Stacy
NY, NY
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