Gilroy Garlic Festival
Encyclopedia
The Gilroy Garlic Festival is one of the largest food festival
s in the United States
, held annually in Gilroy, California
on the last full weekend in July at Christmas Hill Park. The 2010 Garlic Festival was held from July 24-26, 2010.
and garlic french fries
. Attendees also enjoy three stages full of musical entertainment, a Great Garlic
Cook-off
, celebrity cooking demonstrations, a garlic braiding workshop, a children's area, arts and crafts, and many interactive displays. A Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen is also crowned yearly, chosen by a panel of five judges, based on her personal interview, talent, garlic speech and evening gown. Her court is also chosen, for the purpose of representing Gilroy at various festivities and "having a garlicy good time with fellow lovers of the pungent bulb." The 2009 Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen was Jessica Brewka. Over 4000 volunteers from more than 150 non-profit groups make the festival possible, and over three million people have reportedly come to the festival since it began.
, raising a total of about seven and a half million dollars for assorted causes. Individual groups and charities also run booths at the festival, raising additional funds for their causes. The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association is a non-profit organization intended to support non-profit groups and projects in Gilroy.
Food festival
A food festival is a festival, usually held annually, that uses food, often produce, as its central theme. "These festivals have always been a means of uniting communities through celebrations of harvests and giving thanks for a plentiful growing season...
s in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, held annually in Gilroy, California
Gilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
on the last full weekend in July at Christmas Hill Park. The 2010 Garlic Festival was held from July 24-26, 2010.
Past festivals
The 31st festival ran from July 24 to July 26, 2009. 108,526 people attended, sampling such diverse creations as garlic flavored ice creamIce cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
and garlic french fries
French fries
French fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are...
. Attendees also enjoy three stages full of musical entertainment, a Great Garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
Cook-off
Cook-off
A cook-off is a cooking competition where the contestants each prepare dishes for judging either by a select group of judges or by the general public...
, celebrity cooking demonstrations, a garlic braiding workshop, a children's area, arts and crafts, and many interactive displays. A Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen is also crowned yearly, chosen by a panel of five judges, based on her personal interview, talent, garlic speech and evening gown. Her court is also chosen, for the purpose of representing Gilroy at various festivities and "having a garlicy good time with fellow lovers of the pungent bulb." The 2009 Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen was Jessica Brewka. Over 4000 volunteers from more than 150 non-profit groups make the festival possible, and over three million people have reportedly come to the festival since it began.
History and purpose
The festival was founded in 1979 by Dr. Rudy Melone, Don Christopher, and Val Filice, and has been a fundraiser for local charitiesCharitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
, raising a total of about seven and a half million dollars for assorted causes. Individual groups and charities also run booths at the festival, raising additional funds for their causes. The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association is a non-profit organization intended to support non-profit groups and projects in Gilroy.
Sources
- Gilroy Garlic Festival. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
- The Gilroy Garlic Festival, 2005.
- Garlic festival tidbits, 2006.
- The Origin of the Gilroy Garlic Festival, 2007.