Mangia, mangia! Garlicky Italian food will rule the South Bay’s festival scene this coming weekend.
The Gilroy Garlic Festival is returning for its three-day run July 24-26 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), and the Italian Family Festa will spread out at San Jose’s History Park on July 25-26 (Saturday and Sunday).
ITALIAN FAMILY FESTA MENU
At the 44th annual Italian Family Festa, presented by the Italian American Heritage Foundation (IAHF), local chefs — both professional and festival-tested — will prepare Italian classics and other favorites. Admission is free, and History Park is spacious enough to accommodate thousands of attendees.
The Sons of Sicily will sell ravioli (meat or cheese) at the Italian Family Festa this weekend at San Jose’s History Park. (Photo courtesy of the Italian American Heritage Foundation)
Here’s a roundup of food and beverage options:
— Members of the Tricarico Club will make their longtime specialty, Polenta with Sausage. The Sons of Sicily will cook at two booths, one offering Sausage Sandwiches and one with Ravioli (meat or cheese). The sausages come from Sunnyvale-based New York Style Sausage Company, the largest maker of Italian sausage on the West Coast.
— Arancini, Caprese in a Cup and dessert Sfingi from Risotto’s Kitchen of San Jose.
— Pizza by the slice from Tony & Alba’s restaurant in San Jose.
— Smoked Pork Rib Tips, Chicago-Style Hot Dog, Southside Walking Taco, Truffle Mac & Cheese, Fried Corn from the Three Little Pigs, based in Dublin in the East Bay.
— Meatball Sandwiches and Spaghetti with or without Meatballs from the IAHF cooks.
— Freshly made Cannoli and Gelato Cups, also from the IAHF team.
— Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches, Eggplant Pesto Sandwiches, Fried Artichokes, Fried Zucchini from Aroma Concessions.
— Other booths will serve Limoncello Spritzes, espresso drinks, lemonade and caramel corn.
— New this year will be Tanghulu, candied fruit skewers, from J&F Sweethouse.
A festival-goer holds a cannoli, the famous Sicilian dessert, at the Italian Family Festa. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
— Vendors will include Roxanne’s Biscotti of Morgan Hill, Foustman’s Salami, That Garlic Stuff (condiments), Mike & Niki’s Honey of Campbell, Extraordinary Blends (olive oil, vinegars), Delightful Foods (pies, cookies) and Nokki Farm (dried tropical fruit).
— Six regional wineries will pour at the Wine Garden: Guglielmo Winery, Bargetto Winery, Fortino Winery, D’Argenzio Winery, Orsi Family Vineyards and Rosa d’Oro Vineyards.
Details: Free admission. Hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 1650 Phelan Ave., San Jose. Limited free parking; ride-sharing is encouraged. Find more parking info at www.italianfamilyfestasj.org.
GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL MENU
If you managed to buy tickets for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, you’ll be treated to the aromatic cooking of the “pyro chefs” in Gourmet Alley. For the second consecutive year, this will be a limited-attendance festival at the Hecker Pass Outdoor Events Center. Here’s the food and drink lineup:
Rich Janisch, left, and his brother Steve Janisch, of Gilroy, make garlic calamari during the Gilroy Garlic Festival at Gilroy Gardens in 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
— Along Gourmet Alley, attendees will find booths selling Shrimp Scampi, Pepper Steak Sandwiches, Pasta con Pesto, Sausage Sandwiches, Calamari, Garlic Fries, Tri-Tip Fries and Garlic Bread.
— Can’t decide? Combo Plate 1 includes half a Pepper Steak Sandwich, Calamari, Pasta con Pesto and Garlic Bread. Combo Plate 2 has half a Sausage Sandwich, Scampi, Pasta con Pesto and Garlic Bread.
— Another booth will serve free cups of garlic ice cream, thanks to festival sponsor Christopher Ranch. Marianne’s of Santa Cruz makes the ice cream. It’s an acquired taste that most folks don’t acquire, but you need to boast that you’ve tried it. And it’s refreshing on a hot day.
— New this year will be Chicken Tenders, Corn Dogs and a Fruit Cup. These booths will be located near Gourmet Alley and run by the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association.
There will be free Garlic Ice Cream at the three-day Gilroy event. (Patrick Tehan/Bay Area News Group archives)
— The wine tent will showcase Santa Clara Valley wines. Among those pouring will be Besson Family Vineyards, Solis Winery, Guglielmo Winery, Martin Ranch Winery, Fortino Winery and Sarah’s Vineyard.
— At the beer garden, Gilroy’s Promised Land Brewing Company will add its garlic craft brew to the array of taps.
Details: Tickets, $35, and onsite parking, $25, must be purchased in advance as the number of attendees is limited. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits and schools whose members staff the festival. https://gilroygarlicfestival.com/
Dining and Cooking