Gilroy: Garlic, History and Wine

Gilroy offers a variety of reasons to visit: historical themes, garlic cuisine, wine and rides. When looking for a hotel in Gilroy, it’s worth considering your interests alongside your travel dates. Monthly walking tours and the late-July festival take place on specific dates; individual wineries have designated visiting hours.

City History at the Museum and Downtown

The Gilroy Museum is housed in the historic 1910 Carnegie Library building. Its collection includes more than 25,000 objects relating to the history of Gilroy and southern Santa Clara County. This extends its focus beyond the city to the wider region. Historic murals and information panels in Gilroy’s Paseo also tell the story of the city’s past.

A map for a self-guided tour of historic sites is available for the historic downtown area. Check whether the map is available before your trip. Another way to explore the city’s history is on free walking tours of historic neighborhoods: members of the Gilroy Historical Society lead them on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. Check the current date before planning a tour.

Garlic Cuisine and the Festival

Gilroy’s garlic shops and restaurants offer genuine Gilroy garlic year-round; individual businesses and menus may change. Garlic ice cream is promoted as a Gilroy specialty and is available, among other places, at LJB Farms or Garlic World. Check current availability before making a special trip.

The Gilroy Garlic Festival is a three-day event featuring flavorful food, live music, arts and crafts, cooking competitions and family activities. It takes place annually in late July at the Hecker Pass Outdoor Events Center. Check the festival dates and venue before planning your trip around it. This gives you two different ways to experience Gilroy’s garlic theme: year-round offerings from individual shops and restaurants, or a festival held during a set period.

Vineyards and Visiting Hours

Family-run vineyards in Gilroy produce wines from Italian and Rhône grape varieties. Cinnabar Winery’s tasting room is located in a 12-acre vineyard on Dryden Avenue in the eastern foothills of Gilroy. The location connects the winery with a specific landscape, while the grape varieties offer a sense of the vineyards’ stylistic direction.

In 2026, Sarah’s Vineyard’s tasting room and outdoor patio were open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations were recommended, and walk-ins were welcome. Check these visiting hours before you arrive. This information helps you plan the timing of a possible visit; reservations were recommended while walk-ins were also welcome.

Rides and Circus Trees

Gilroy Gardens offers rides for all ages. The range extends from child-friendly rides for toddlers to thrilling roller coasters. Among the park’s distinctive features are 19 Circus Trees, considered living sculptures. Alongside the rides, they offer a different focal point in the park: unusual plant forms take center stage here, while the rides showcase the range of attractions. If you plan your stay around particular themes, Gilroy Gardens offers a distinct focus alongside city history and culinary offerings.

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