The Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce is back in business this year, and planning the 2021 Art & Wine Festival after a year off due to the pandemic. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21-22, Siltanen Park, 127 Vine Hill Rd. Parking will be available at Scotts Valley High School. Patrons will then walk across the Shugart Park Bridge to the festival area.
“This is a huge boon for all of Scotts Valley,” said Executive Director Danny Reber. “People are hungry for something fun.”
This year’s festival a vital necessity
The truth is, the Chamber was in dire straits with the cancellation of last year’s event — the first time it been called off in 20 years. “A lot of people don’t realize the chamber is a non-profit organization,” said Reber, adding that about 40 percent of his budget comes from the Art and Wine Festival. ”This is huge news for the Chamber of Commerce. Now we know we’re going to be okay.”
The Art and Wine Festival typically infuses between $50,000 and $70,000 into the Chamber’s coffers.
A different kind of summer
It was only a few weeks ago that most people thought the event would be called off for a second year in a row. The City of Scotts Valley has closed Skypark for the summer, which is where the event is typically held.
Last August, about 1,700 firefighters bivouacked in the park while fighting the CZU Lightening Fire. The result: the soccer field was damaged and has not been repaired. The cost is expected to be about $1million.
But after pleading its case with the City and County, the Chamber received the go-ahead. “We do have the greenlight from the City and County Health Director Gail Newell,” Reber said. “We needed to have the Festival or we didn’t know what we would do.”
The show must go on
This weekend, the Chamber will be sending applications to 150 artists who have displayed their crafts at past festivals. New artists can contact the Chamber for an application.
“This is great for the artists,” Reber said. “They haven’t been able to do any shows during the pandemic.” In addition to arts and crafts, there will be 10 local breweries and 12 wineries. This is the only festival in the county that displays all local beer and wine.
David Leland
David is a local resident, a writer, MSV Columnist and a heck of a nice guy who cares about our commUNITY