The Project

The Bonanza Days originally began in 1968 and was created by George Milias and other local leaders after the end of the Gymkhana rodeo. It grew into a four-day celebration with floats, marching bands, and Western attire. The Bonanza Days drew crowds from across California, but the tradition faded in the early 19802 as the Garlic Festival rose in prominence.

The Leadership Gilroy Class of 2018 chose to resurrect Bonanza Days. Their goal was to create an event that would bring residents together, encourage neighbors to reconnect, and celebrate Gilroy’s history.

The historical parade was held on September 29, 2018 and featured local schools, marching bands, class cars and community groups. The parade ended at Miller park for a community festival. The class brought back traditional Bonanza Days activities such as tug-of-war, and gunny sack races. There were free treats for kids, including cotton candy and hot dogs.

The event was a success! With more than 5,000 people in attendance, residents came out of their homes to watch the parade and reconnect with neighbors. Local schools collaborated to build floats and the Leadership Gilroy Class of 2018 planned to return all funds raised back to the participating schools.