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Established in 1979, this three-day summertime celebration at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy requires the work of 4,000 community volunteers, whose efforts have returned millions of dollars to various local charities. Each year, the Gilroy Garlic Festival provides its profits to many local non-profit organizations.
The festival site is at Christmas Hill Park at 7050 Miller Drive in Gilroy. The festival is held during the last full weekend in July every year, 10:00am to 7:00pm. Gates will close at 6:00pm.
Festival activity is annually chronicled by a worldwide media audience via the Food Network.
Please be advised that we are publishing this guide as a public service to help Festival workers and attendees beat the massive gridlock expected to take place in the Gilroy area during the Festival. We are NOT affiliated with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in any way whatsoever. More information on VTA routes, schedules, maps, and fares can be found by visiting their web site or by calling their customer service number at (408)321-2300. Compliments or complaints about VTA services can be made at the same web site and phone number respectively.
Using VTA's 68 and 18 Bus Lines To the Festival
Originating at the Gilroy Caltrain Station/Transit Center, VTA's 18 Community Bus line is the closest bus line to the Gilroy Garlic Festival. From all points north of Gilroy, connect to the 18 Community Bus line line at the Gilroy Transit Center from VTA's 68 bus line from San Jose, Morgan Hill, or San Martin. Ride the 18 Community Bus a short distance to W. 10 & Princevale Street (the first stop serving Gilroy High School). From there, make a left back on W. 10th Street and walk about 1/2 mile to Miller Avenue. (During your walk, W. 10th Street becomes Uvas Parkway after curving to the right.) Make a left on Miller Avenue and walk another 1/2 mile to the Gilroy Garlic Festival entrance.
The 18 Community Bus runs every 30-45 minutes weekdays, and hourly on weekends. On Friday, the last bus back to the Gilroy Caltrain Station/Transit Center leaves Princevale & W. 10th Street at 7:02pm. On weekends, the last bus back to the Gilroy Caltrain Station/Transit Center leaves Princevale & W. 10th Street at 4:40pm.
Make sure to buy an adult, youth, or senior/disabled day pass when you first board the 68 bus line to avoid paying multiple times for each bus ride. The day passes are good for all local and limited-stop VTA bus lines and light rail for one calendar day.
We hope you beat the gridlock on VTA's bus lines to and from the Festival. If you see any issues with the guide, please let us know.
Again, the Silicon Valley Transit Users is publishing this guide as a public service to help Festival workers and attendees beat the massive gridlock expected to take place in the Gilroy area during the Festival. We are NOT affiliated with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in any way whatsoever. More information on VTA routes, schedules, maps, and fares can be found by visiting their web site or by calling their customer service number at (408)321-2300. Compliments or complaints about VTA services can be made at the same web site and phone number respectively.
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