South Valley Summer Guide 2024

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BOOTS AND BREWS

Featuring a lineup of top country artists,

Sensational summer

The hottest days call for the biggest fun

Summer is back, and in more ways than just the temperature.

From live music, to parades, art exhibits, camps and more, we’ve compiled a list of some of the many summer activities that are on tap throughout South Valley.

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Boots & Brews Country Music Festival

The Boots & Brews Country Musical Festival features a lineup of Jake Owen, Randy Houser, Dylan Scott and Kassi Ashton. The concert takes place June 29 from 1-10pm at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Complex, 16500 Condit Road. For ➝ 10

the Boots & Brews Festival returns to Morgan Hill on June 29.

of the Sounds season

Local concert series keep the nights warm

MICHAEL MOORE, EDITOR

As the summer days get longer and the nights become warmer, live music fans throughout South Valley can enjoy their favorite venues and performers—and perhaps discover new ones— at a number of local concert series.

The Gilroy Downtown Business Association and the Morgan Hill

Chamber of Commerce are hosting free live concerts in their respective communities’ downtown areas. Numerous privately owned vineyards and other outdoor venues— including the popular Pepper Tree Ranch in Hollister—are also hosting live bands for ticketed guests throughout the summer.

CUT A RUG Fans can dance through the evening at a number of concert series in Morgan Hill, Gilroy and the Hollister area throughout the summer.

Friday Night Music

The Morgan Hill Friday Night Music series runs June 14 through Aug. 16 from 5:309:30pm at the Downtown Amphitheater, 17000 Monterey Road.

The lineup is as follows:

• June 14: The Cheeseballs

• June 21: NeverlaNd

• June 28: Maroon Vibes

• July 5: Carnaval

• July 12: Alex Lucero Band

• July 19: Daze on the Green

• July 26: Pop Fiction

• Aug. 2: Soul Kiss

• Aug. 16:The Hitmen

Downtown Live

Hosted by the Gilroy Downtown Business Association, the free event features rock and R&B dance classics from various local bands. Grab dinner before the show at any of the restaurants downtown and help support local businesses.

The lineup is as follows:

• June 13: Soul Kiss

• June 20: JJ Hawg

• June 27: Speakeasy

• July 4: California Standard

• July 11: 3 Mile Smile

• July 18: Phil ‘n the Blanks

• July 25: The Never Land Band

• Aug. 1: Southbound 101

• Aug. 8: San Benito County Line

• Aug. 15: Mitchell James Band

Hollister Concerts

This year's Hollister Concerts series honors musical legends with top-tier tribute bands, and it opens up sponsorship opportunities for local businesses looking to boost their visibility and connect with the community.

The 2024 Summer Concert Series schedule includes:

• July 13: Faithful, Pearl Jam Tribute, and 40 Ounces to Freedom, a Sublime Tribute

• Aug. 3: 24K Magic, Bruno Mars Tribute, and Maroon Vibes, Maroon 5 Tribute

• Aug. 24: The Long Run, Eagles Tribute, and Ronstadt Revival, Linda Ronstadt Tribute

• Sept. 14: Bonfire, ACDC Tribute, and Hurricane, Scorpions Tribute

The concerts take place at Guerra Cellars Winery, Pepper Tree Ranch, 500 John Smith Road in Hollister. Doors open at 5pm each night, with the show going from 6:30-9:30pm. For more details, visit www.hollisterconcerts.com or contact Guerra Cellars Winery.

MUSIC SERIES The Morgan Hill Friday Night Music Series is known to bring the crowds for live music, dancing and fun throughout the summer.

File photo

New outdoor exhibit opening June 29, 2024

Exploration Portal is the Museum’s new outdoor educational play space at the intersection of math, art, and nature. Children will discover fascinating patterns and symmetry in nature from variegated leaves to bees filling their honeycomb. There are giant solar flowers that open and close, a beehive feature for climbing, kaleidoscopes for examining, rocks that sing, whirling flyers that showcase airborne creatures, and measurement fun – all designed to explore patterns in nature.

Special exhibit open through September 2, 2024

Come visit Tokyo right here in San Jose and get an authentic peek into Japanese culture. Featuring a bustling modern city street inspired by Tokyo’s Harajuku district that bridges to a tranquil Shinto shrine. Your kids will learn the incredible contrast between modern kawaii aesthetics and traditional motifs and customs.

Presented

by

information and tickets, visit bootsandbrews.com.

Garlic City Car Show

The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Garlic City Car Show will return to downtown Gilroy on June 15, for its 24th year.

The car show will take place 10am-4pm June 15. The event is a magnet for enthusiasts and spectators alike, drawing thousands each year.

Established initially as a kickoff to the Gilroy Garlic Festival, the Garlic City Car Show has become a staple of Gilroy's cultural and social calendar.

For more information on how to register or become a sponsor of the 2024 event, visit gilroy. org/garliccitycarshow/.

San Benito County Rodeo

The San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo runs June 28-30 at the fairgrounds, 9000 Airline Highway in Tres Pinos.

For information and tickets, visit sanbenitocountyrodeo. com.

Recreational swim

The City of Gilroy’s recreational swim program returns for the summer, and for the first time since 2019, the water slides and diving boards are back in action.

The program is held at the Christopher High School Aquatics Center, featuring various swimming opportunities including

SADDLE UP The San Benito County Rodeo returns to the fairgrounds at Tres Pinos June 28-30.

IT’S A SPLASH The downtown Morgan Hill Splash Pad at the Community & Cultural Center is running through Aug. 15.

group swimming lessons in the morning and late evenings with open swimming times in the afternoon.

Starting June 11, the pool is open weekdays (excluding Mondays) from 8am to 8pm, and weekends from 8am to 5pm through Aug. 18

For a list of classes and open swim hours, visit gilroy. theswimmingswan.com.

Starting June 8, the Morgan Hill Aquatics Center’s recreational swimming runs through Sept. 1.

Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 1-4pm, and Saturday-Sunday,

1-5pm. From Aug. 14-Sept. 1, the hours change to weekends only from 1-5pm.

For information, visit morganhill.ca.gov/189/ Aquatics-Center-AC.

The Downtown Splash pad at the Community & Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill, has reopened for the summer. The pad operates daily (excluding Fridays) from 11am to 3pm until Aug. 15.

Cool in the parks

Water features at Valley View and McCarthy Parks in Hollister are now operational every

out for the golf tournament, tickets are still available for the Gourmet Alley dinner.

For more information and to purchase dinner tickets, visit gilroygarlicfestivalassociation. com.

Fourth of July Kiddie Parade

Hollister Recreation’s Fourth of July Kiddie Parade returns.

The parade line up/check in starts at 9:30am July 4 on San Benito Street in front of the Veterans Memorial Building. Parade begins at 10am.

Decorate your bikes, trikes, wagons and scooters and join the fun.

Freedom Fest

Morgan Hill Freedom Fest brings a full schedule of Independence Day festivities on July 3-4. Events feature a parade, fireworks show, youth patriotic sing, 5K run and kids 1-mile, classic car show, live entertainment and more.

For information, visit morganhillfreedomfest.com.

day from 11am-7pm, through Sept. 29.

Gilroy Garlic Festival Golf Classic

The annual Gilroy Garlic Festival Golf Classic will be held June 21 at Gilroy Golf Course, with proceeds to benefit the nonprofit Gilroy Garlic Festival Association.

Registration includes a round of golf, lunch on the course and post-play dinner, according to the festival association. Dinner will be prepared by Gourmet Alley chefs. Fun activities are scheduled throughout the day. Although registration is sold

Gilroy’s Annual Fireworks Show

Gilroy’s annual fireworks show takes place on July 4, with the fireworks beginning around dusk at 9:30pm and originating from Gilroy High School. Fireworks can be viewed from nearby neighborhoods and at Christmas Hill Park.

San Benito County’s 150th

Celebrate San Benito County’s sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary on July 27 at the San Benito Historical park. The party includes live entertainment, food

LET FREEDOM RING The annual Fourth of July Kiddie Parade will take place the morning of July 4 in downtown Hollister. File photo

A Vibrant Downtown Gilroy

trucks, vendors and activities for the whole family.

The celebration takes place from 10am-6pm. The Historical park is located at 8300 Airline Highway in Tres Pinos.

Gilroy Rodeo

The Gilroy Rodeo returns Aug. 9-11 at 2365 Dunlap Ave. For information, visit gilroyrodeo.com.

ARTS

Third Friday Art Walk

6th Street Studios and Art Center hosts Art Walks every third Friday in downtown Gilroy from 5-8pm.

The event features art stops with artists, entertainers, musicians and more.

For information, visit 6thstreetartstudios.org.

The Art Depot is located at 35 Fifth Street in Hollister.

For more information, visit sanbenitoarts.org.

Summer Art Camps

Registration is open for the San Benito County Arts Council’s summer youth art camp, which starts June 25 and continues through July 25, with each week focusing on a different subject area.

Summer Art Camp takes place at the Art Depot in downtown Hollister.

To register online and view the full class schedule and descriptions, visit  www.sanbenitoarts.org.

California Dreamin’

The local art exhibit, “California Dreamin’,” showcasing a collection of artworks that celebrate the essence of summer nostalgia and the California Dream, opens in downtown Hollister with a June 22 celebration from 12-4pm at the Art Depot.

The exhibit, hosted by the San Benito County Arts Council, will remain open for special viewing hours from 5-7pm on Fridays in July

Featuring a diverse range of paintings, fiber arts, mixed media, photography and other works by talented local and regional artists, California Dreamin’ promises to deliver the idyllic and wistful imagery associated with the Golden State’s summer days—from the golden hues of sunset on

the beach to the intricate patterns of a summer quilt.

The June 22 opening celebration will offer a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts and community members to immerse in the creative interpretations of California’s iconic summer moments.

“We are excited to present this exhibition that not only highlights the incredible talent within our community but also resonates with the universal theme of summer nostalgia,” said Heidi Jumper, the Arts Council’ Director of Marketing and Outreach. “We invite everyone to join us for the Opening Celebration to meet the artists and experience the magic of California summers through their eyes.”

The opening celebration will include light refreshments, music and a chance to meet and engage with the artists behind the works.

Single camp scholarships available for qualifying San Benito County students, according to the Arts Council. Email heidi@sanbenitoarts. org to inquire about a scholarship application.

Youth art camp at 6th Street Studios and Art Center in Gilroy runs from June 17 to Aug. 9, offering to teach a variety of art skills including watercolor, clay, acrylic paint, found object, music, dance, drawing and more.

Full-day and half-day sessions are available for children ages 4-17 years old. The session curriculum will change weekly, ranging from visual arts to theater arts. Sessions will be instructed by professionals in different fields, along with camp leaders and high school assistants.

6th Street Studios and Arts Center is located at 64 West Sixth Street in Gilroy.

For more information about summer art camp and to sign up, visit 6thstreetartstudios. org/classes.

CAMP SEASON Summer art camps in South Valley this summer include the San Benito County Arts Council camp, and the 6th Street Studios and Art Center youth art camp.

PONCE LANDSCAPING

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