The Gilroy Garlic Festival is set to take place this weekend at South County Grove in Gilroy Gardens, marking its return six years after the tragic 2019 shooting.

Originally launched in 1979, the festival’s comeback has led to the indefinite suspension of the California Garlic Festival in Stockton, which had emerged during Gilroy’s absence.

Celebrating the locally grown garlic bulb, the event will run from Friday to Sunday (July 25–27). Daily attendance is capped at 3,000 people, and only those with tickets purchased online in advance will be admitted — no tickets will be sold at the gate.

Previously hosted at Christmas Hill Park, the festival was relocated to South County Grove in May. It is a separately ticketed event and not included with admission to the main Gilroy Gardens amusement park, which offers rides, water attractions, and nature exhibits.

In 2019, the Gilroy Garlic Festival was the scene of a mass shooting that killed four people, including the shooter, and left 17 others injured. The event was then canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A scaled-down drive-thru version took place in 2021, but the festival was called off indefinitely the following year due to rising insurance costs and financial challenges.

The festival includes food, live music, dancing, crafts, cooking demos, and more. It’s organized by the nonprofit Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, which raises funds for local schools and charities while promoting Gilroy as “The Garlic Capital of the World.”

Festival spokesperson Cindy Fellows said the team is thrilled to bring the event back.

“We’re very excited the Gilroy Garlic Festival is returning this year. It means a lot to reunite the community and support local nonprofits,” she said.

Christopher Ranch is the main sponsor for the 2025 edition. Fellows explained that lower insurance costs, along with partnerships with the City of Gilroy and Gilroy Gardens, helped make the revival possible. The goal is to turn the festival back into an annual tradition.

Dan Harney, chairman of the board at Gilroy Gardens, said the amusement park is proud to collaborate with such an iconic culinary event.

“Both the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association and Gilroy Gardens aim to work hand in hand with local organizations, nonprofits, and businesses to highlight and strengthen the Gilroy community,” Harney said.

Further details are available at gilroygarlicfestival.com.