Summer has its own rhythm—and for those of you who, like me, love mountain biking, the outdoors and great local music, Scotts Valley is serving up all three and more on one big community playlist.
If you haven’t rolled out to the Glenwood Open Space yet, you’re in for a treat. In just a few miles, you glide past wildflower-painted vistas, wind through oak-lined single-track, and suddenly find yourself under a towering redwood canopy. It’s nature’s mixtape, and whether you’re climbing, coasting or simply hiking with friends, the views never get old.
Every good ride deserves an encore, and lately the post-trail scene has been quietly exploding. Pedal down from Glenwood and you’ll land at Steel Bonnet Brewery—our very own family-run craft house that’s been perfecting everything from British cask ales to hop-heavy IPAs since 2014. Grab a pint under the redwood tree beer garden, sample whatever food truck is parked out front, and stick around: there’s live music several nights a week—the kind that makes you forget your quads are still burning.
On the other side of town, the Pipeline and Powder Mill trails in Henry Cowell State Park deliver great hiking and biking, with steep descents, shaded climbs and enough redwood majesty to fill a postcard. Finish that loop and head straight to the sunny patios of Bruno’s Bar-B-Q or Laughing Monk Brewery. Bruno’s lineup this month swings from James Durbin to reggae to stand-up comedy, and if you head upstairs to the Cloud 9 rooftop deck, you’ll swear you’re on vacation. Laughing Monk keeps the taps flowing with local bands on an incredible patio and, on July 4, they’ll help us turn the post-parade party into a full-blown festival.
Prefer grapes to hops and barley? Duck into Saison, Inversion or Kissed by an Angel wineries. Saison offers a unique European wine experience, with June featuring lobster and a wine journey through Bourgogne in a temperature-controlled cellar. On weekends, you can sip a Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot while acoustic guitars strum on the Inversion patio—or step inside for rock covers in the KBA lounge next door. It’s low-key, it’s local, and a secret sommeliers already know: the Santa Cruz Mountains are one of the best wine-growing regions in the world.
Of course, summer fun isn’t just for the grown-ups. July is Parks Make Life Better Month, and our Recreation crew has packed the calendar:
- Food Truck Fridays return to Skypark the fourth Friday of every month with live music, food and drink. On June 27, the City Council will staff the beverage garden, with all profits and tips supporting the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation. Stick around after the band wraps up—”Moana 2” hits the outdoor screen at 8:30pm, free for everyone.
- Each Wednesday in July, our staff sets up something new at Skypark: jumbo lawn games, arts-and-crafts, a park-wide scavenger hunt, even a drop-in Qigong class for a little midweek zen.
- The Fourth of July Parade is back in full color. Before and after the 11am march down Scotts Valley Drive, the City Recreation team and Boys and Girls Club will co-host a Kid Zone from 9am-3pm with bounce houses, crafts, food trucks and—yes—more live music and a Laughing Monk beer garden for the adults.
- Movie Night rolls into Siltanen Park on Aug. 15 with “Jumanji” under the stars, and we’ll shut down summer with our first Chalk It Up sidewalk art festival at Skypark on Aug. 24 (bring your inner Picasso—or just come enjoy Music in the Park while the kids create).
- If you’re the “sleep-under-the-stars” type, circle Sept. 13-14 for our second Family Campout at Siltanen Park—night hike, glow games, s’mores, the works.
And because we’re Scotts Valley, there’s always one more way to get active: the inaugural Glenwood 5K Trail Run/Walk debuts Oct. 11. Run it, walk it or cheer from the sidelines—just be ready for bragging rights at brunch.
You’ll find full details, registration links, and a growing menu of summer camps and classes—from LEGO engineering to skateboard clinics—on the Scotts Valley City website scottsvalley.gov/438/Parks-Recreation.
But the short version is simple: pick a day, head outside and the community will take care of the rest.
Whether you’re clipping in for that dawn patrol ride, unfurling a picnic blanket before the opening chord, or chasing your kids through a chalk-dusted Skypark, I hope you’ll soak up every note of this season.
I can’t wait to see where the trail—and the music—takes us next.
See you out there.
Derek Timm is mayor of Scotts Valley. To reach Timm, email dt***@**********ey.gov or call 831-239-9203.
