Frequently Asked Questions

The Gilroy Garlic Festival is held in an outdoor park that is mostly grass with concrete, asphalt, or paver walkways. There are natural shade trees and some shade structures with tables and benches. Prepare for lots of eating, walking, shopping, and maybe dancing!

Shirts and shoes are required at all times. We highly recommend that you:

• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Dress in layers. Mornings may be cool and foggy; afternoons are usually sunny and warm.
• Bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.).

It is the Gilroy Garlic Festival’s policy to provide a safe, family-friendly atmosphere for all Festival patrons and volunteers. The Gilroy Garlic Festival may refuse entry or admission to anyone wearing clothing or paraphernalia indicating or signifying membership in a gang, including a motorcycle club. This policy is applied equally to all patrons, regardless of their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability or medical condition.

Gilroy Garlic Festival rules prohibit bringing the following items on Festival grounds:

• Alcohol of any kind
• Bottles, glass and cans (except for empty reusable water bottles)
• Coolers – large or small (unless used for medications or breast milk; may be subject to search)
• Frisbees and water-projecting devices
• Pocket knives or weapons of any kind

To help ensure a safe and speedy entry process, only certain types of bags are permitted:

• Clear plastic bags, clear backpacks, clear purses, and clear fanny packs (no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″)
• Small clutches with a wrist strap or shoulder strap (no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″)
• 1-gallon clear plastic freezer bags
• Diaper bags (allowed if they are specifically used as a diaper bag and contain diapers)

Please note that all bags will be searched and opened during screening. Bags that don’t meet these guidelines will not be allowed inside the event.

A: Official Garlic Festival booths (including Gourmet Alley food booths, Wine Tent, Beer Garden, and Garlic Mercantile stores) will accept only credit cards, debit cards, or secure FastBar cashless payment wristbands. Cash will not be accepted at official Garlic Festival booths. Please note that FastBar wristbands will not be a payment option for purchases made with independent outside vendors. They determine their own payment methods.

About FastBar: This year the Gilroy Garlic Festival has partnered with FastBar. The FastBar wristband is a quick and secure cashless payment method that will be used at all Festival operated booths. Guests will have the option of linking their debit or credit card or can have a cash amount loaded on to the wristband.

To save time, guests can pre-register with FastBar. Pre-registration online speeds up the process. When you arrive at the Festival, you will be given a wristband that will then be linked and activated onsite. We encourage you to use this method. However, if you prefer to complete your FastBar registration when you arrive, you will need to visit the FastBar registration station.

PRE-REGISTER WITH FASTBAR

If you prefer to use cash to load your FastBar wristband, you will need to visit the FastBar registration station when you arrive. Guests 21 and over who plan to purchase alcoholic beverages will be required to complete an ID check at the same time you receive your wristband. Once age is verified, you will be given a separate wristband to identify you have met the age verification.

Guests who do not want to register with FastBar can pay directly with their debit or credit card at Garlic Festival operated booths. Guests who purchased a Combo Meal in advance will need to register with FastBar to redeem the meal purchase.

General Information:

• Once activated, the wristband eliminates the need to continually present a payment card. You simply tap your wristband for purchases.
• You can link multiple wristbands if using a debit or credit card.
• The wristband is free to the Festival guests. There is no minimum purchase requirements, and you will only be charged for the purchases you make.
• The wristband automatically closes out and deactivates at the end of the event. An electronic receipt detailing your purchases will be sent.
• If you need to remove your wristband prior to the end of the day, visit the FastBar registration, and they will remove and deactivate it for you.
• The wristband can not be used outside of the Festival.If your wristband is lost, go the FastBar registration immediately so they can deactivate the missing band and issue a new one.
• Guests who used cash to load their wristband can request a refund for the unused portion at the FastBar registration before the end of the day. Any cash balance not claimed by the end of the day will be donated to the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to support their charitable fundraising efforts.
• This new payment option is safe and secure. Your wristband does not contain credit card or personal information. Your credit card information is never stored.
• You can visit the website getfastbar.com for additional information. FastBar will have representatives on site to assist you, and Festival volunteers are always available to help.

Pets are not permitted at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are welcome. Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to perform work or tasks for a person with a disability. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and pets do not qualify.

Service animals must remain on a leash or harness and under their handler’s control at all times. If a service animal behaves aggressively or is not under control, the handler may be asked to remove the animal from the festival grounds.

Yes, you can bring one EMPTY, reusable water bottle which can be filled inside the festival.

No smoking or vaping is allowed at the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

The Gilroy Garlic Festival is committed to providing a safe environment for all our guests and associates. We have implemented several security procedures at the entrance gate which may result in slight delays while entering the park.

As a part of this process:

• Guests arriving at the park may be subject to metal detection.
• All bags, purses, backpacks, waist packs, etc. may be subject to search prior to entering.
• The Gilroy Garlic Festival does not tolerate guests who fight and/or harass other guests while on our property. People who engage in this behavior are subject to being ejected, risk being potentially banned from the event, and may be subject to arrest by local police.
• The Gilroy Garlic Festival may refuse entry or admission to anyone wearing clothing or paraphernalia indicating or signifying membership in a gang, including a motorcycle club. This policy is applied equally to all patrons, regardless of their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability or medical condition.
• Small coolers and ice chests are only allowed for medication or breast milk storage and may be subject to search.
• We encourage guests to leave any unnecessary items at home or secured in your vehicle.

These items are prohibited:

• Outside food or beverages (Exceptions can be made for any dietary need: medical, religious or personal choice to include food allergies and infant food/formula.)
• Glass, ceramic, or porcelain containers of any kind (with exception of infant food/formula)
• Weapons including but not limited to guns, knives, pepper spray, explosives or fireworks, glass breakers
• Marijuana, including marijuana-enriched products, or any illegal substance. Smoking and vaping are not allowed in park.
• Alcoholic beverages
• Horns, whistles, remote speakers or sound systems
• Drones, remote controlled toys, skateboards, scooters, bicycles, or shoes with wheels. Children’s ride-on toys must be equipped with handles for parents to control.
• Balls, bats, frisbees, kites, pool noodles, inflatable pool toys, squirt guns
• Folding chairs or tent-like structures, large umbrellas

Yes, blankets are allowed, but oversized blankets are not permitted. All blankets are subject to search at the entrance.