Gilroy is known as the Garlic Capital of the World, and every summer the Gilroy Garlic Festival proves it. The 2027 festival runs Friday to Sunday, July 23 to 25, 2027, at the Hecker Pass Outdoor Events Center, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway, a separately gated event space next to Gilroy Gardens.
The basics
- Dates: Friday, July 23 to Sunday, July 25, 2027.
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
- Tickets: valid for one day only. Ticket details are still being finalized, so check gilroygarlicfestival.com as the festival gets closer.
- History: the festival has been run by community volunteers since 1979 and has raised millions of dollars for local schools, charities, and nonprofits.
What to expect
- Gourmet Alley, where volunteer cooks work flaming pans of garlicky calamari and other festival favorites.
- Garlic fries and plenty of other garlicky food, plus a wine tent.
- Live music, cooking demonstrations, and arts and crafts vendors.
Tips for festival day
- July in Gilroy is hot. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and water, and arrive early in the day when it is cooler.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The festival is outdoors and you will be on your feet.
- Make a weekend of it: Gilroy Gardens is right next door, and the Hecker Pass Highway wineries are on the same road.
Staying at Gilroy Inn
Gilroy Inn is on Leavesley Road right off Highway 101, about 12 minutes from the festival grounds and next door to Gilroy Premium Outlets. The hotel is 100% smoke-free, with free Wi-Fi and free on-site parking, and every room has a refrigerator and microwave. Festival weekend is one of the busiest of the year in Gilroy, so book early and book direct at gilroyinn.com.
Photo: Eugene Kim from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.