Unless you
’re planning on arriving to the Gilroy Garlic Festival by foot –
where you park your vehicle should be on your mind.
Unless you’re planning on arriving to the Gilroy Garlic Festival by foot – where you park your vehicle should be on your mind.
“This year, the parking will be for all practical purposes, the same,” said Gilroy Garlic Festival volunteer Bill Wenholz.
Sometime this summer, city officials will decide whether to approve plans for a 354-acre development project between Santa Teresa and Uvas Creek that will likely impact festival parking in the future.
Individuals arriving from the south will be directed towards the ‘green lot,’ located between Miller Avenue and Santa Teresa Boulevard. A second area, dubbed the ‘yellow lot,’ will be available further up the street from Ascension Solorsano Middle School off of Ballybunion Road.
“We are not charging for parking and we never have,” Wenholz said.
Shuttle buses start their engines as early as 7:30am to bring garlic enthusiasts to the grounds. There is no set schedule for their arrival and departure; the shuttle buses will run as much as they are needed, Wenholz explained.
For the first time, festival officials will be counting the number of cars at the festival. However, an estimated 50,000 cars are expected to flood the lots over the three-day event.
Parking volunteers will closely monitor the vehicles arriving and check to make sure no animals are being brought to the festival, Wenholz said.
Kristen Munson is a staff writer. Reach her at 847-7097 or at km*****@gi************.com.
