President’s Message
Speaking for over 4,000 community volunteers who make this premier food festival possible, we are enthusiastically looking forward to this 35th Anniversary of the Gilroy Garlic Festival. As President, I can proudly say that we have given away over 9.7 million dollars to local non-profit organizations during the past 34 years, which includes funding major improvements in the community.
As we continually strive to make each year better and more exciting than ever before, we have some big plans to commemorate this 35th year. The addition of over 20 full grown trees will provide additional shade to the Ranch side of the park, and major renovations to the Mulberry picnic grounds will greatly improve the Children’s area. We are introducing a new dish, “Zesty Garlic Fried Calamari,” created by one of the master chefs of Gourmet Alley. There are new educational cooking events being shown each day on the Gourmet Alley Demonstration Stage. The Cook-off Stage has added two new cooking competitions to their Friday line-up. The “Garlic Bowl” will premier with executive chefs from U.C. Berkeley, San Jose State and Fresno State all competing for a $5,000 scholarship for their school. The aroma of BBQ garlic ribs will be enticing visitors to the Cook-off area throughout the day, with the new BBQ competition that will be judged and the winner announced later Friday afternoon. Throughout this three day festival our commitment to partner with local growers and provide top quality, local sustainable foods will continue.
Technology based improvements are being implemented to make your Festival experience better than ever before, as both our ticket booths and Gourmet Alley will be credit card friendly.
Three stages of continuous music, a variety of offerings from over 60 food vendors, Gourmet Alley’s culinary garlic delights, a Children’s area and Teen Zone, and over 90 artisans with handcrafted wares is sure to make this 35th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival one you will never forget. Please join us, along with our newest “Herbie Bobblehead” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 26, 27 and 28, 2013 for a celebration of 35 summers of food and fun.
Dennis Harrigan D.V.M.
President Gilroy Garlic Festival 2013
