With economic recovery still a distant dream and gas prices high, one would think that a hot, smelly festival in the middle of nowhere would experience a significant decrease in attendance.
But that was not the case at the Gilroy Garlic Festival this year.
The San Jose Mercury News reported that 108,519 people ponied up the $12 for admission to the event, a slight increase over last year. Over $1.7 million was raised, and much of that will be donated to hundreds of charities and nonprofits.
This year's attractions included free garlic ice cream, a plethora of garlicky food items, live music, art vendors, arts and crafts for children, a beauty pageant, and a recipe contest and cook-off.
Organizers said that the good turnout this year will allow them to make sustainability a priority for the 2010 festival.
