- Debbi and Mike... and Roast Beef
Debbi & Mike Sanchez & Roast Beef, Publishers
Bronc riding at the Gilroy Rodeo
S ummertime is here and the mission is clear: Get to the Gilroy Rodeo! Yes, it’ s rodeo time in the South County. I don’ t know about y’ all, but we plan to be all in at the rodeo grounds the weekend of August 8-10 and take in all the bull … bull riding that is, along with the bucking broncs, barrel racing, team roping, and our favorite, the mutton busting! Add to all this the rodeo clowns, the queen and her court, the fanfare, and the patriotic tributes during opening ceremonies and throughout the weekend, wow! This year’ s rodeo is the place to be for family fun, exciting action, and lots of activities like shopping, eating great food, dancing, and catching up with friends you haven’ t seen in a year or more.
The rodeo celebrates its 6th Annual event at the incredible and quaint Gilroy Rodeo grounds off Dunlap Road.( 2365 Dunlap Ave Gilroy, CA 95020). For locals it’ s old home week. For out-of-the-area visitors, it’ s just like being at home. The crowds are great, the event staff and security are on top of their game, and everyone is in great spirits.
Dating back to the 1930’ s the Gilroy Rodeo enjoyed a 26-year run before ceasing operations in 1956. After 62 years out to pasture, Rodeo president Eric Martin and his wife Kendra thought it was time to bring this incredible family event – and South County legacy, back to life. The Rodeo’ s modern era began in 2018 with their much anticipated first event. Right away attendees noticed it’ s familiarity to another local event involving a stinkin’ rose. In a much more intimate setting, a new local iconic event got its start. Since then, the Rodeo has grown each year. When the“ other” local event was hit with tragedy in 2019 and then hit with several years of Cityled red tape and fear-based road blocks, the Rodeo helped fill part of that home grown, annual reunion void we were all missing. For all the great things the Gilroy Rodeo has brought to our community, and for all the great things it will continue to bring, including giving back over $ 66,000 to date to local organizations, and raising thousands of dollars each year for the“ Gilroy Kickin’ Cancer” initiative, we say,“ Long live the Gilroy Rodeo!” Or, for my Stenson-wearing friends, Yee Haw!!
Morgan Hill has another iconic annual event coming this summer: it ' s the 150th Morgan Hill Freedom Fest! This July 3rd and 4th you want to be in Morgan Hill for an incredible fun-filled event to celebrate our independence and freedom... two things we need to hold on to now more than ever. We ' ll be there, hope to see you!
Speaking of the stinkin’ rose, that“ other” annual event is back! Believe it or not, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is making its comeback this summer. Mark your calendars for July 25th, 26th, and 27th as the grove area of Gilroy Gardens Theme Park becomes Garlic Festival Central!( Stetson) hats off to the Garlic Festival Association, the volunteers, and community advocates who never gave up, never gave in, and never gave a rip about all the“ no ways” and not on my watch” attitudes they faced from too many of our civic leaders and city hall. Amazing what one local election can do, huh? The Fest will be smaller; there are limited tickets( only 3,000 per day), and it will be different from the Fests of old. However, the simple fact that our beloved Fest is back in any form is something to celebrate. Cheers to perseverance and persistence, two things our community is best at! The other is always finding a way to make history! Here’ s to a summer filled with Garlic and Rodeo!
Let’ s go make history, together.
- Debbi and Mike... and Roast Beef