The Gilroy Garlic Festival returns on Friday, and tickets are already sold out. Organizers increased the daily attendance cap from 3,000 to 4,000 people. They say this year is about building on last year’s success while returning to the festival’s roots. “It’s a lot of work, and it’s absolutely a labor of love. None of us would be here if we didn’t love the festival,” Entertainment Chair Lauren Mantani said. The garlic is ready, the merchandise is stocked and vendors are prepared to welcome thousands of visitors this weekend. This is just the second year the festival has been held at the Hector Nishiyama Park Outdoor Event Center. The event was canceled from 2020 through 2024, first after the deadly 2019 mass shooting and then because of the COVID pandemic. This year, 4,000 tickets were made available each day, Friday through Sunday, and they sold out. “Every year we will try to increase the attendance. We’ve sold out again, second year in a row, so it does say that the demand is there. So, because the demand is there, we have the capability to increase that attendance and we will absolutely,” Garlic Festival President Alex Misa said. Mantani has been part of the Gilroy Garlic Festival her entire life. She says this year’s event is focused on bringing back the traditions people remember. “It’s different in a lot of ways, but so much of it is the same and that’s what has us so excited,” she said. From garlic ice cream to live music, to chef demonstrations, Gourmet Alley is expected to be one of the biggest draws again this year, known for its signature recipes and its towering flames. Last year marked the festival’s return. This year, volunteers say they’re welcoming people back with even more confidence. “This time last year we were a little nervous, anticipating what it was gonna be like and the vibe was incredible and we brought that energy going into this year,” Mantani said. ...read more read less