After years of heartbreak and chaos, the legendary Gilroy Garlic Festival has clawed its way back from the brink of extinction, proving that not even tragedy and a global pandemic can keep California’s most pungent celebration down.

This year’s festival looks nothing like its former glory days, with attendance slashed from a whopping 100,000 to a mere 3,000 daily visitors. But hey, small and mighty is the new vibe, right?

A Festival Reborn

The journey to this year’s festival has been a rollercoaster of epic proportions. Remember the horrific 2019 shooting? Then COVID decided to crash the party? And let’s not forget 2022, when organizers basically threw in the towel? Well, 2025 is different, baby.

Livestream Dreams

Can’t snag a ticket? No worries. The festival is offering a full livestream experience that’ll bring all the garlicky goodness straight to your screen. Pro tip: The “Stinkin’ Locals” band at 5:15 pm is definitely worth tuning in for.

Location, Location, Location

Forgot about Christmas Hill Park. This year, the festival has relocated to Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, downsizing but definitely not losing its flavor. Limited tickets are still floating around - if you’re quick and lucky, you might just score your garlicky golden ticket.

Welcome back, Gilroy Garlic Festival. We missed your stinky, delicious soul.