SNEAK PEEK: Gilroy Today Chronicles Garlic Festival History

Gilroy Patch got a sneak peek at some of the articles in Gilroy Today’s upcoming summer issue. Look for the full-color, quarterly magazine around town in June, and visit them on the web if you just can’t wait!

This week, we’ll be bringing you teasers of some upcoming content, courtesy of editors J. Chris Mickartz and Larry J. Mickartz.

Garlic Festival 2011

Thirty-three years and going strong…

 Those who attended the first Garlic Festival 33 years ago could not have imagined it today. In the past 32 years the Festival has hosted over 3.7 million visitors. Gourmet Alley has served 396 tons of beef, 126 tons of pasta, 75 tons of scampi, 56 tons of calamari and 76 tons of garlic! On top of all this, nearly $9 million has been distributed to local charities!

The Garlic Festival has done something else for the community of Gilroy. The volunteer spirit combined with the “can do” attitude has set the stage for a community that has a remarkable record of getting things done. The willingness to work on projects or issues that make for a better community has become part of the fabric that is Gilroy.

 The 2011 Gilroy Garlic Festival is scheduled for July 29, 30, 31 — always the last full weekend in July.