Gilroy Garlic Festival mascot, 2010
The Gilroy Garlic Festival is one of the largest food festivals 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.[1]
[edit] 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 cream[2] 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.
[edit] 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 charities, 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.
| Images from the Gilroy Garlic Festival |
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Unusual garlic food varieties (2006)
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More garlic food choices (2006)
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Garlic themed T-shirts (2006)
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Visitors enjoy free samples of garlic ice cream (2007)
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Sources
[edit] External links
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