The northern half of the fair took place on a vast hard-packed dirt field. To the left was Gourmet Alley, and to the right were dozens of merchandise booths.

An inflated man stood just outside the cooking arena. His head was a head of garlic.

A map on a wall of informational postings illustrated the layout of the fair. The ranch side on the north was all dirt, while the park side on the south was a plain of grass.

A video shows highlights of the 2017 Gilroy Garlic Festival.

Fabric tents were scattered over the ground and provided shade under which folks could enjoy a meal.

Trees beyond the umbrellas divided the Ranch side from the Park side.

Trees provided shade and a good place to pause and recover from the heat of the fair.