This is your weekend update for public transit-accessible events for the weekend of July 30, 2011. Included are bus and rail access to events like the Gilroy Garlic Festival, Bank of the West women’s tennis at Stanford this weekend. In addition, we list VTA bus and Caltrain service to the San Jose Earthquakes match vs. DC United in Santa Clara Saturday night.
Note that the next blog update will have notes from our group meeting in San Jose on July 28.
Gilroy Garlic Festival
The 33rd annual Gilroy Garlic Festival takes place this weekend at Christmas Hill Park, 7050 Miller Ave., in Gilroy.
This year’s festival features a “Garlic Cook-Off” on a stage. It also features a Gourmet Alley where festival goers can see and taste how garlic is cooked. On July 30, there’s a concert from country music star Kip Moore, and an appearance from Angelo Sosa of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.”
Free secure bicycle parking is available on Miller Ave. at the levee.
Believe it or not, there are several transit options available to and from the festival area. For instance, from San Jose Diridon Station and downtown San Jose, catch VTA’s 68 bus line to the end of the line at the Gilroy Transit Center. VTA’s 68 bus line runs every 30 minutes on weekends.
Alternately, you can catch Monterey-Salinas Transit’s 55 express bus to Gilroy Transit Center. The bus also stops in Morgan Hill after leaving downtown San Jose. Buses typically leave at 9:05am and 2:05pm, reaching Gilroy about an hour later depending on traffic on Highway 101. Return buses to San Jose leave Gilroy at 11:25am, 4:16pm and 6:26pm, reaching San Jose Diridon Station about 1 hour later depending on traffic.
At the Gilroy Transit Center, transfer to VTA’s 18 bus line to Gilroy High School at W. 10th and Princevalle Streets.
Note that the 18 bus runs hourly, with the last bus leaving Gilroy High School for the Transit Center at 4:40pm.
Finally, walk about 3/4 mile along West 10th Street (which becomes Uvas Parkway at the curve) and make a left on Miller, where the Festival grounds are located.
Bank of the West Tennis Classic
The semifinals and finals of the Bank Of the West Tennis Classic are being held at Stanford University’s Taube Family Tennis Stadium. The stadium is located at 640 Campus Drive East, Stanford (Palo Alto):
Your best public transit options are at the Palo Alto Transit Center. Catch Caltrain or VTA’s 22, 522 Rapid or 35 bus lines to the Palo Alto Transit Center.
From the Transit Center, walk about 1/2 mile on Palm Drive past the main gates to Campus Drive. Make a left on Campus drive then walk another 1/4 mile to the Tennis Stadium.
San Jose Earthquakes Soccer
This Saturday evening at 7:30pm in Santa Clara, the San Jose Earthquakes host DC United in Major League Soccer action. We have a transit guide for San Jose Earthquakes soccer at Buck Shaw Stadium showing you Caltrain and VTA bus service to and from Earthquakes soccer.
Enjoy this weekend! Stay safe and sane also!
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users