Garlic Festival Moves from Stockton to Gilroy
The Garlic Festival, which was held in Stockton for the past two years, is moving closer to Gilroy this Labor Day weekend. This change has left many people in Stockton surprised and disappointed.
Surprise Move
The festival organizers decided to move back in April but didn’t tell anyone why. This Labor Day, the fairgrounds in Stockton are empty, leaving locals wondering what happened.
Local Reactions
Many Stockton residents are sad about the move. One garlic fan said, “It’s not close for me anymore. We all love garlic. It’s used in everything.” Local businesses are also feeling the loss, as the festival brought in a lot of money.
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Why the Move?
Tony, one of the festival organizers, said that people in Stockton didn’t seem as excited about the festival as those further south. He compared it to Stockton’s asparagus festival, which is very popular.
The organizers hope that moving closer to Gilroy, a town known for its garlic, will bring back more visitors. Last year, only 5,000 people came to the festival in Stockton.
Money Matters
The festival’s CEO said that high prices for tickets, food, and entertainment made it hard for many people to attend. The county lost $2 million in garlic-related money because of this.
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Looking Ahead
There’s talk of having smaller garlic events in Stockton throughout the year. This could help local businesses and keep the garlic spirit alive in the city.
In the end, while Stockton is losing the big festival, it might lead to new ways to celebrate garlic in the future. The move shows how important it is for big events to have community support and make enough money to keep going.”
