South Valley Summer Guide 2023

Sensational Summer

The hottest months call for the biggest events

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

From live music, to parades, art camps and more, we’ve compiled a list of some of the many summer activities that are on tap for this year.

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Free Movies Under the Stars

Hollister Recreation announced its lineup for this summer’s Free Movies under the Stars at McCarthy Park, 230 McCarthy St., and Dunne Park, 600 West St.

Showtimes are at 7pm:

• July 14: DC League of Superpets (McCarthy Park)

• Minions: The Rise of Gru (Dunne Park)

Food vendors will also be in attendance.

Gilroy Gardens

Gilroy Gardens is now fully operational for the summer, with its Water Oasis area open for the hot days as well as new water features slated to open soon.

Lakeside Splash will include an interactive water play area with cabanas and a barbecue restaurant and bar.

Summer Family Camp Night returns July 8-9, where families are invited to bring their tent and camp overnight in the gardens. The event includes dinner and a movie on Saturday, with breakfast, lunch, and the park on Sunday.

For information, visit gilroygardens.org.

BEAT THE HEAT

The Downtown Splash pad at the Community & Cultural Center in Morgan Hill is popular with the kids.

Nature is for EVERYONE!

"Everyone can help respect and protect nature, wildlife, and each other."

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is a public agency that works to protect natural and working lands and connect people to nature.

Since 1993, our tireless efforts have succeeded in protecting 30,000 acres of nature to create a more livable future for all.

Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve, Morgan Hill

Scenery Abound

Venturing off the highway reveals captivating local sites

BY LARRY SOKOLOFF

Tarmo Hannula

STREET ART

Gilroy’s historic downtown, features a number of restaurants and shops, and Artemex at 7581 Monterey St. always has Mexican crafts and decor on display outside.

It's easy to pass right through southern Santa Clara County while driving along Highway 101 headed into or out of the Bay Area. In South County, there are fields, greenhouses, goats and sheep grazing, and of course, outlet stores in Gilroy. To see more, you need to get off the busy highway and take some quieter roads to get to know the area that’s home to the cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill and the town of San Martin.

Tarmo Hannula

LEFT PHOTO

South County boasts agricultural lands, vineyards and dozens of wineries, including Satori Cellars in Gilroy.

Morgan Hill is 20 miles south of San Jose, separated by the greenbelts that define the region. Gilroy is 10 miles farther south, and unincorporated San Martin is in the middle.

This is wine country, although the vineyards are on the edges of the cities, most of them far away from Highway 101. Visitors will see signs for the Santa Clara County Wine Trail, or they can look online for directions to the wineries at santaclarawines.com. Several of the wineries are located at Hecker Pass, on Highway 152 west of Gilroy.

Each city is surrounded by county and state parks. Henry W. Coe State Park, east of Morgan Hill, is the largest state park in Northern California with 87,000 acres of rugged terrain for hiking and camping. Other parks

include Uvas Canyon County Park, known for its waterfalls.

Gilroy boasts proximity to Gilroy Gardens, an amusement park geared toward young children. Continuing on Highway 152 west into the Santa Cruz Mountains, you'll also come to Mt. Madonna County Park, which has redwoods.

Both Gilroy and Morgan Hill have compact old downtowns, filled with shops and restaurants. It’s easy to park nearby and walk the four or five blocks of each. Both are located on Monterey Road.

Two murals in downtown Gilroy speak to the city’s agricultural roots. One mural, from 1993, shows Gilroy as the Garlic Capital of the World. An adjacent mural shows a map of the two dozen nearby wineries.

While the wine country in Napa and Sonoma offers deluxe resorts,

there’s only one here that’s comparable: CordeValle, located in the foothills west of San Martin. It’s an exclusive resort of 45 guestrooms and suites, with a golf course, spa, tennis courts and on-site winery and vineyard. Rooms rates are often over $1,000 a night. Security guards, a gated entrance and fences keep out anyone who doesn’t have a hotel reservation.

One way to get a feel for the South County region is to stop in Morgan Hill at Villa Mira Monte, where a rose garden in front shows highlights of local history.

If you thought Morgan Hill was named for a geographic feature of the South County, a visit here will set you straight. The villa, built in 1884, was the home of early landowner Hiram Morgan Hill and his wife Diana. The

restored Queen Anne style house and adjacent historical museum are framed by the garden, which details the history of the city.

The garden contains raised markers explaining what happened in a given year. One for 1896 says “Railroad called area Huntington but passengers ask off at ‘Morgan Hill’s Ranch.’”

For 1950: “Anderson Dam constructed;” for 1961: “Bonfante family opens first Nob Hill Food Center;” for 1982: “El Toro Mountain becomes permanent open space.”

Villa Mira Monte is located at 17860 Monterey Road, a few blocks from the city's downtown. For more information on visiting the house or an adjacent history museum, visit morganhillhistoricalsociety.org.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

LOCAL HISTORY Villa Mira Monte, a registered historical site in Santa Clara County, is the former home of Hiram Morgan Hill, founder of Morgan Hill.

Courtesy of Larry Sokoloff

With over 150 hands-on exhibits and half an acre of outdoor space, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose inspires creativity, curiosity and lifelong learning for the whole family. The Discovery Duck wants to welcome you back and help your children’s minds grow as they safely play with elements like water, air, nature, and learn about nutrition and science. A family membership means you can enjoy interactive exhibits, multiple cultural celebrations, and specialty events all year long!

Saturday, June 24th 6:00pm

Leave the kids at home and experience one of San Jose’s iconic Museums as it turns into an after-hours playground for adults! With the same focus towards learning, creativity, and interactive play, we’re offering Children’s Museumstyle activities, but tailored for a memorable parent’s date night. Luxurious food stations and bars, world-class entertainment, networking with local officials and executives and free reign over the entire museum while helping out one of the most respected non-profits in San Jose.

Details at cdmlegacy.org

Help enrich the lives of children in our community by donating today on our website!

Circus performances throughout the night Freestyle Love Supreme Improv Musicians Unlimited food and drinks

Gilroy Garlic Festival events

Tickets for the Gilroy Garlic Festival’s second annual Garlic Golf Classic at the Gilroy Golf Course on June 23 are available.

The afternoon of golf, lunch on the course and post-play Gourmet Alley-style dinner begins with a four-person scramble, shotgun start at 1pm. Fees for a single player are $179 (includes golf, lunch and dinner), with dinner-only tickets (6pm) priced

at $45. The event will also feature various games, with proceeds benefiting the Association.

Tickets can be purchased at gilroygarlicfestivalassociation.com.

The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association is bringing back the Nashville Songwriters Sponsored by KRTY.com concert July 13 at Clos LaChance Winery in San Martin.

Doors open at 6pm, at the winery, 1 Hummingbird

Lane in San Martin. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased at gilroygarlicfestivalassociation. com. The $75 ticket includes a wine glass, glass of wine and garlic swag.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association.

The concert features Nashville songwriters Eric Paslay, Tyler Reeve, Chase McGill and Chris LeCorte.

All seating will be first-come first-served. Seating is limited so guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blanket.

The event is for ages 21 and over only. No outside alcohol allowed, including previously purchased Clos LaChance wines. Food will be available for purchase at the event, but outside food/picnic is also allowed, including sealed water bottles.

CAPTURE THE MOMENT Dylan Olivares poses for a photo in front of a giant inflatable garlic bulb mascot during the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association’s Golf Tournament in 2022. The tournament returns June 23 at the Gilroy Golf Course.

Erik Chalhoub

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

The pool is now open weekdays (excluding Mondays) from 9am to 8pm, and weekends from 9am to 5pm through Aug. 6. The schedule changes Aug. 8 to Sept. 4 with weekday hours (excluding Mondays) of 5-7:30pm and weekends from noon to 5pm.

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

The Morgan Hill Aquatics Center’s recreational swimming runs through Sept. 3.

Hours are Monday-Friday, 1-4pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 1-5pm. From Aug. 19-Sept. 3, the hours change to weekends only from 1-5pm.

For information, visit morgan-hill. 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.

San Benito County Rodeo

The San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo runs June 23-25 at the fairgrounds, 9000 Airline Highway in Tres Pinos. For information and tickets, visit sanbenitocountyrodeo.com.

WAITING FOR A CATCH Uvas Reservoir west of Morgan Hill is a popular summer fishing spot.

Morgan Hill Freedom Fest

The Morgan Hill Freedom Fest returns with a weekend full of Fourth of July festivities.

The event features a parade, fireworks show, patriotic sing, classic car show, family music festival and more.

For information, visit morganhillfreedomfest.com.

Fourth of July Kiddie Parade

Hollister Recreation’s Fourth of July Kiddie Parade returns.

The parade line up/check in starts at 9am 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.

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.

Digital NEST

Digital NEST is offering a number of summer programs in Gilroy, 7500 Monterey St., for young people ages 14-24.

Activities include:

• Music Fest Showdown: Participants will learn about design thinking and project management by creating a music festival experience. You and your team will brainstorm and design a music festival concept, from the location to the headliners and everything in between. The workshop runs June 23 from 2-4:30pm.

• Cinehaiku Competition: Make a short 30-second video with three scenes and two cuts. In this workshop, attendees will learn basic video and editing techniques, all while putting together a short video and putting it into the Digital NEST competition. It will be held Aug. 7 from 1-3pm.

For information, visit digitalnest.org.

GardenShoppe events

The GardenShoppe, 364 Seventh St. in Hollister, will host a number of events throughout the summer.

The Summer Dance Party is slated for June 24 from

7-10pm, featuring DJ Sikk Ceez, cocktails and more. The event is for ages 21 and over.

The Disney Sing-Along Trivia Night will be July 29 from 6-10pm. The 21-and-over event features 50 questions about Disney songs, a costume contest and karaoke.

For information and tickets, visit gardenshoppeandbar.com.

Summer Reading Program

The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) is inviting everyone to join the free summer reading program, “Find Your Voice.”

Throughout the months of June and July, SCCLD libraries will host a lineup of programs for children, teens and adults. Participants can look forward to performers, arts and crafts, book clubs, speakers and more.

“According to the California State Library, summer reading programs can help children develop skills in art, science, math, technology and literacy, which helps to maintain what students learned through the school year,” County Librarian Jennifer Weeks said. “These free programs also help participants socially, as they build connections within the community, to each other and their libraries.”

GOOD TIMES These women join the fun at the Garden Shoppe ‘n Bar in downtown Hollister during one of its regular events.

Tarmo Hannula

A recent study by the Northwest Evaluation Association found that, on average, students in third to fifth grades lost 20% of their school year gains in reading, and 27% of their gains in math during the summer months. Younger children (Grades K-2) and those from low-income families are more disproportionately affected by the so-called “ summer slide.”

To take part in the summer reading program, library patrons can register at sccl.beanstack. com/reader365, and log their read books and completed activities. Participants can earn a prize for reading five books and completing an activity this summer.

Gilroy Rodeo

The Gilroy Rodeo returns Aug. 11-13 at 2365 Dunlap Ave. For information, visit gilroyrodeo.com.

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.

South Valley Civic Theatre

“Matilda The Musical” runs Fridays through Sundays from June 23-July 15 at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill. Inspired by Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning musical is from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power

SADDLE UP The Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo returns June 23-25 at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos.

of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life.

“Becky’s New Car” runs Aug. 4-27 at Limelight by SVCT, 7341 Monterey St. in Gilroy. Becky Foster is caught in middle age, middle management and in a middling marriage, with no prospects for change on the horizon. Then one night a griefstruck millionaire stumbles into the car dealership where Becky works, and she is offered a new life.

For information and tickets for both shows, visit svct.org.

‘The Little Mermaid’

Little Theatre Productions, Broadway South Bay and Gavilan College present “The Little Mermaid,” the first fulllength Disney-licensed show to be performed in Gilroy. Running three weekends at Gavilan College beginning July 28, “The Little Mermaid” is based on the Hans Christian Andersen story, and brings elements of the 1989 animated film along with new songs. For information and tickets, visit broadwaysouthbay.com.

Living History Days

Step back to the early days of San Juan Bautista every first Saturday of the month from 11am to 4pm at the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Meet mountain men, Civil War soldiers, Victorian ladies, and more. Enjoy craft and cooking demonstrations, an old-fashioned soda in the historic Plaza Hotel Saloon, and historic horsedrawn vehicles.

NorCal Dub Affair Volkswagen Car Show

The second annual NorCal Dub Affair Volkswagen Car Show is coming to Mission San Juan Bautista on July 29 beginning at 7am. The show features custom and vintage Volkswagen cars. This year's theme is Historic Mission style featuring street foods, live music, local beer and wine, swap meet, new VW part vendors, raffles, awards and more. For information, visit dubaffair.com.

Erik Chalhoub

ROCK THE NIGHT AWAY Arena will perform at the Downtown Live music series in Gilroy.

LIVE MUSIC

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 24 from 1-9pm at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Complex, 16500 Condit Road. For information and tickets, visit bootsandbrews.com.

Downtown Live

Downtown Live, an eightweek long music series that began June 15, runs every Thursday from 5-9pm in downtown Gilroy.

Hosted by the Gilroy Downtown Business Association, the 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 22: B Town

• June 29: Neverland

• July 6: Sweet Daddy & the Bad Cats

• July 13: JJ Hawg

• July 20: The Joint Chiefs

• July 27: Arena

• Aug. 3: San Benito County Line

Friday Night Music

The Morgan Hill Friday Night Music series runs through Aug. 18 from 5:30-9:30pm at the Downtown Amphitheater, 17000 Monterey Road.

The lineup is as follows:

• June 23: Faithfully Live, opener: Simon Santiago

• June 30: Shane Dwight Band, opener: Aiden Moore

• July 7: Neverland, opener: Aaron Leigh from Y&T

• July 14: Pop Fiction, opener: JJ Hawg Duo

• July 21: Carnaval, opener: Endless Summer Trio

• July 28: Daze on the Green, opener: Owen Evens

• Aug. 4: Maroon Vibes, opener: Sunfur

• Aug. 11: Superbad, opener: Given to Fly

• Aug. 18: Soul Kiss, opener: Alex Lucero

Hollister Concerts

The Hollister Concerts summer series runs select days through Sept. 16 at Pepper Tree Ranch. Gates open at 5pm, with the bands starting at 6:30pm.

The lineup is as follows:

• July 15: Elton John the Early Years and Billy Nation (Tributes to Elton John and Billy Joel)

• Aug. 5: Red Not Chili Peppers and Green Today (Tributes to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day)

• Aug. 26: Garth Guy and Tennessee River (Tributes to Garth Brooks and Alabama

• Sept. 16: Wanted and Ragdolls (Tributes to Bon Jovi and Aerosmith)

For information and tickets, visit hollisterconcerts.com.

SUMMER TRADITION The Morgan Hill Friday Night Music Series runs through Aug. 18.

Robert Eliason

CAMPS Summer Art Camp

6th Street Studios & Art Center is holding a Summer Art Camp from June 19 to Aug. 11 in Gilroy and Hollister.

The eight-week session runs Mondays through Fridays from 9am to 3pm, with sessions for children ages 4-11 and 12-18.

The camp includes music, performing arts, yoga, visual arts and more.

For information, visit 6thstreetartstudios.org/ classes.

California Summer Performing Arts Academy

The third annual California Summer Performing Arts Academy runs July 9-15 at Christopher High School, 850 Day Road in Gilroy. All incoming third-graders through outgoing ninth-graders are invited to participate. The deadline to register is June 25. For information, visit cspaa.org.

San Benito County Arts Council Summer Camp

The San Benito County Arts Council is now enrolling students in Summer Art Camp. Summer Art Camp is a way for students to try different artistic styles, mediums and techniques in a condensed three-day workshop format.

Art Camps take place at The Art Depot, 35 Fifth St., Suite D, located in the historic train depot in downtown Hollister. The cost is $65 per student, per camp with a $10 sibling discount. All materials will be provided.

Camps run Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Ages 5-7 attend 9:30-11:30am, and ages 8-13 attend 12-1:30pm.

• Week 1: Mosaic Camp, June 27-29

• Week 2: Paint Party Camp, July 5-7

• Week 3: Creating with Clay Camp, July 11-13

• Week 4: Cartooning Camp, July 18-20

• Week 5: Paint Party Camp, July 25-27

The Arts Council will also be offering a single session Art Lab (ages 12-15) Wednesdays, 2:30-4pm. The cost for each

SPLASH TIME The City of Gilroy’s recreational swim program returns for the summer.

CREATIVE MINDS The San Benito County Arts Council is enrolling students for Summer Art Camp.

Adam Henig Contributed

single session Art Lab is $25/ student/per session.

For online registration or to view the full class schedule and descriptions, visit sanbenitoarts.org.

Central Coast YMCA

Sometimes the best vacation is the “Staycation,” and the Central Coast YMCA offers everything from summer camps and summer sports leagues to Family Fun Nights and Splashin’ Bash Pool Parties.

The Central Coast YMCA will host summer day camps at seven different locations in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, with

registrations now being accepted.

In addition to summer camps, the Y also offers such summer events and activities as:

For information, visit centralcoastymca.org.

FOCUSED Ricky Adams of Silly Ricky’s Juggling and Fun entertains attendees of the Third Friday Art Walk in downtown Gilroy.