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In addition to the usual garlic treats and dozens of bulbous trinkets, this year's Garlic Festival will include a new patch of Astroturf - for the children, mind you - and a battle of the bands that will reward one high school group a $1,000 prize.
GeneralSports Venue/AstroTurf has covered about 4,600 square-feet of sun-baked dirt at Christmas Hill Park with perennially green fake grass. The job cost $58,234, and the Garlic Festival Association paid $40,500 for the work, with the city picking up the difference.
"It's done, and it's a huge improvement to the children's area," GFA Executive Director Brian Bowe said. "It's the perfect location for the expanded children's area, under the trees and in the shade."
This year's kids' area - where festival volunteers paint the faces of merry-making garlic tikes while parents enjoy local wines - will have a Medieval theme: "You know, something fun for the kids," Bowe said.
For those who are too old to have King Arthur painted on their faces, yet too young to enjoy the fruits of local vineyards, the battle of the bands will fill the vacuum, Bowe said.
"It's something fun for the teens, and the winner will get $1,000 Sunday afternoon," Bowe said.
The festival had scheduled about six bands as of Wednesday. They will have a final showdown Sunday on the gazebo stage, and depending on how many more have signed up since last week, a semi-final competition will take place Saturday - maybe even Friday, too, Bowe said.
There will also be a book signing this year.
The acclaimed cooking team of Sam Bozzo and Gene Sakahara has published the ultimate garlic cookbook to commemorate the 30th Gilroy Garlic Festival. "Any Bozzo Can Cook" features 102 garlic-enhanced recipes, as well as a selection of choice desserts, many of which have been served by the renowned SakaBozzo cooking combo at appearances across the globe.
"We're really excited about having Sam and Gene there to sign copies of their cookbook in the mercantile tent. It will be a lot of fun," Bowe said.
The authors will make autograph appearances each day at the festival. Advance copies of the book are available at www.sakabozzo.com.
Sha-Boom, a festival favorite that plays retro rock to massive crowds, will bid the festival farewell after 26 appearances. The band formed in 1981 and will perform daily at 3 p.m. on the amphitheater stage thanks to Christopher Ranch, the garlic king who paid for much of the scattered band's travel costs.
The 2008 Gilroy Garlic Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 25 to 27 at Christmas Hill Park.
Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for seniors 60 and older and $6 for children 6 to 12. Children younger than 6 are admitted free.
Chris Bone Chris Bone covers Gilroy government for South Valley Newspapers. Reach him at 847-7109 or e-mail him.
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