Gilroy Garlic Festival to return six years after mass shooting

GILROY — The Gilroy Garlic Festival is returning six years after a mass shooting brought the annual tradition to an abrupt end.

On Friday afternoon, the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association announced that the event will take place July 25-27 at Gilroy Gardens.

“We are grateful for the continued support of the Gilroy community, city of Gilroy, Gilroy Gardens, and our dedicated partners who have helped make this return possible,” the association said.

The festival will be a limited-capacity experience, welcoming up to 3,000 guests with presold tickets per day, according to the association.

“Guests can expect signature garlic dishes, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and the cherished traditions that have long made this event a community favorite,” the association said, adding that additional event details, including ticketing and programming, will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The festival was last held in 2019. On July 28 of that year, a gunman wounded 17 people and killed three — Stephen Romero, 6, of San Jose; Keyla Salazar, 13, of San Jose; and Trevor Irby, 25, of Santa Cruz.

Previously, the Gilroy Garlic Festival enjoyed international acclaim, evolving from a humble luncheon in 1978 to an event with an attendance of around 100,000 for nearly 40 years.

The festival also served as a key source of funding for the city’s nonprofits and local organizations.

Efforts to bring back the festival began as early as 2020, but they were hindered by the pandemic. In 2021, the association attempted a smaller iteration at Gilroy Gardens, but the insurance liability climbed from $6 million to $10 million after the shooting. At that rate, the association could not afford for anyone to insure the festival.

Staff writer Luis Melecio-Zambrano contributed to this report. Check back for updates.