EXPIRED Got garlic? Go to Gilroy, July 27th–29th

If you’ve ever driven down Hwy. 101 south of the Bay area, you can’t help but notice a distinctive odor as you cruise by the agricultural town of Gilroy. That stinky smell has made the town millions of dollars, since Gilroy can rightfully claim to be the garlic capital of the world. Every year they put on an enormous food festival, where you can stuff yourself silly with everything from the most garlicky fries you’ve ever seen to bizarre concoctions such as garlic ice cream. In addition to live music and the Great Garlic Cook-off, this year’s festival will feature an Iron Chef–style competition between four Bay area chefs, followed by a demonstration by Andrea Froncillo of San Francisco’s famous garlic-inspired restaurant The Stinking Rose.

Deal: Admission tickets cost just $12 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 6-12. You can purchase tickets in advance online, but you’ll pay the same price at the gate. Bring along extra cash to buy food from the vendors. Parking is free.

Have you been to the festival before? What was the strangest dish made with garlic that you tried there? Share your stories by posting in the Comments section below.

When: The 29th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival will take place in Christmas Hill Park from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. (gates close at 6 p.m.) on July 27th, 28th and 29th, 2007. The Iron Chef–style competition starts at 9 a.m. and ends at high noon on Saturday, July 28th.

Why Go: Indulge your gluttony guilt-free, because the festival benefits community charities and non-profit organizations.

Why Not: If you prefer your tasty treats to be sweet rather than stinky, check out the Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival, happening August 3rd–5th in nearby Watsonville, a half-hour drive from Gilroy.

Critique: The traffic and parking situation for the Gilroy Garlic Festival can be horrendous. Be prepared for long waits as you exit Hwy. 101 and slowly crawl toward the festival parking lot. A free shuttle bus takes you from the lot to the festival gate.

Contact: Gilroy Garlic Festival, (408) 842-1625

Related Los Angeles Times links:
Indonesia: Stalking $600/lb., civit-approved coffee
New York: Tasty savings during restaurant week
Las Vegas: Alternative pool party for foodies

– Sara Benson, L.A. Times Travel Deal Detective

[Photo credit: Courtesy of Gilroy Garlic Festival]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 8:58 am by Sara Benson and is filed under Weekend Getaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.