Festival Brings Classic Cars, Live Music and Fun Downtown

About 200 people were meandering past shops and restaurants while looking at cars and visiting fundraising booths during the 11th Annual Garlic City Fun Run on Saturday. 

Organizers decided to forgo the actual "fun run" part of the event so they could focus on the car show, which attracted participants and attendees from throughout South County. 

Ron Schuler was showcasing his reconstructed 1972 Ford Gran Torino along with a couple hundred other car enthusiasts who were vying for trophies and plaques, according to Brian Dauenhauer, who helped organize the event. 

Up and down Monterey Street, and fanning out to the side streets, cars spiced up the downtown. There was a 1926 Model T, a 1929 Model A and a 1950 Studebaker. The muscle cars and street rods got plenty of attention, and there were enough Mustangs to need a round-up if they all got loose at the same time.

Aside from the car show, attendees were entertained by live music on three stages, food, about a dozen booths, and fundraising opportunities to help various charitable groups. There was also a giant garlic bulb lit like a torch. 

The festival, put on by local downtown businesses, raises money for improvements to the downtown area, Dauenhauer said. Entry fees for the car show, which cost between $35 and $40, go straight toward downtown improvements. 

"We just like to give back to the community," said Dauenhauer. "It's good, clean fun and kid friendly."

However, Saturday's event also provided local organizations in need of a financial boost an opportunity to raise funds. 

Station 55 was collecting donations to help a family member with cancer, with many residents coming out specifically to help the family. There were raffles to benefit Operation Interdependence, which sends packages of goodies to troops overseas.

The Gilroy Exchange Club was also on scene, selling linguica sandwiches for $5 to benefit three organizations. The exchange club is helping raise funds for the Suzuki Violin Program at Antonio Del Buono Elementary School, which recently had $17,000 cut from its budget. 

Erwin Boggs, festival volunteer and violin program supporter, said a . Mayor Al Pinheiro and Lori Franke, who founded and directs the violin program, conceptualized the idea of holding a benefit dinner in an attempt to save the program. 

The former head of the Fun Run Festival, John Tomasello, was quick to respond when asked about his favorite part of the day.

"The people—the community coming out," he said. 

With the Garlic City Fun Run over, all attention turns to the 34th Annual Garlic Festival, July 27 - 29.

Check out  from Saturday's festival. 

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