Summertime…
and Downtown is Sizzling!

On June 21 Gilroy Downtown Business Association presents the annual Antiques & Collectibles Street Fair from 8am to 4pm. Early Saturday morning, scores of antiques vendors will begin setting up their canopies and tables with thousands of items to tempt the collector along Monterey Street from 5th to 6th Streets. Glassware, silver, furniture, jewelry, sculpture, artwork, toys, linens, pottery and porcelain are just a few of the categories that will greet you as you wander through the booths to find that elusive treasure.
There will be an appraiser available from 11am to 2pm at Martin Street to validate your  purchase or just give you an idea of what that old box that Great Aunt Tillie left you in her will is really worth. Bring some items down and find out what a treasure you really have. The first item is free and additional items will carry a nominal fee.
A jump house is planned to distract the kids for a while. A small quilt exhibit will be set up in the Chamber breezeway for your enjoyment.
The Rock ‘n' Ribs BBQ competition will also be in full swing on Monterey Street from 4th to 5th Streets. If you enjoy the sweet taste of great BBQ, the smell of seasoned smoke, the taste of ice cold beer while listening to some of the best local musicians, the 2nd annual Rock ‘n’ Ribs is where you want to be. Take time to chat with these folks and you'll understand the passion barbecue inspires. Local favorites like Rollin' Smoke and WeBQn, last years grand champions, will be doing battle with some of California's top teams like The Smokepranos and Ric's Righteous Ribs who have appeared on Food Network and are California’s Team of the Year for chicken and the West Coast Champions in chicken and brisket. There is even an all girls team, The Q-Tees, average age 15, who can give even the seasoned cookers a run for their money.
This is not just a spectators sport you are invited to eat some of the best BBQ your tongue will ever taste. Festivities start on Friday night with live music on Fifth St. Bring your chairs and sit back and listen to The Fast Lane Band as they kick off the Fifth Street Live Music Series from 7 to 9pm. They cover a variety of styles which include rock & roll, blues, R&B, swing, reggae, latin and country, with enough of a mixture to make sure everybody gets that urge to dance. Watch the cookers roll in with some of the most unusual bbq cookers you have ever seen.
Saturday morning the air fills with sweet aromatic smoke as the cookers fire up their units to begin the competition. Music starts at 10am and goes through out the day. Judging and awards are from 3 to 4pm and then, of course, more BBQ and more music.
Once you’ve been downtown for the Friday night music you’ll want to make it a weekly event. Come back on June 27 for the Corona Blues Band entertaining you with their original music as well as familiar songs from groups like Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, BBKing, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more. Fifth Street Live Music will continue every Friday night from 7 to 9pm downtown thru August 15, except for the 4th of July. Come and join us for a great evening out with the family. The City of Gilroy Department of Parks and Recreation will also be providing a children’s activity area so be sure to bring the kids.