Despite long lines, both newcomers and die-hard festival fans were thrilled at the return of the long-held tradition, and hope for more festivals to come.

An event that has drawn tens of thousands of attendees in the past has capped tickets at around 3,000 per day in its return.

For the first time since a mass shooting in 2019, the Gilroy Garlic Festival opened to the public on Friday. The South Bay summer staple has moved to a smaller venue with fewer vendors and less attendees over the three-day event.