The 36th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival takes place this weekend at Christmas Hill Park, 7050 Miller Ave., in Gilroy.
This year’s festival features three up and coming country music artists playing at the main stage on Saturday. This is in addition to the multitude of garlic and garlic-based cooking available at the festival this weekend.
Free secure bicycle parking is available on Miller Ave. at the levee (Uvas Parkway). Make sure to bring your own lock.
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 typically 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 San Jose Diridon Station at 9:15am and 2:05pm, reaching Gilroy about an hour later depending on traffic on Highway 101. Return buses to San Jose leave Gilroy Caltrain Station at 11:15am and 4:16pm, 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. On weekends, the 18 bus runs hourly, with the last bus leaving Gilroy High School for the Transit Center at 4:35pm Saturday, and 4:40pm Sunday.
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 and entrance are located.
Make sure to allow at least 30 minutes extra time to and from Gilroy on the buses, as crowds enter and leave the Garlic Festival this weekend.
Enjoy the Gilroy Garlic Festival this weekend and stay safe!
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users