For its 16th year, the popular festival gets a massive expansion
The Scotts Valley Art and Wine Festival is a local institution—but going into its 16th year it has made a few changes. The biggest is the new focus on beer; organizers have added several local and regional breweries, and even changed the name to the Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival. Wine fans needn’t worry, however, as they’ve also doubled the number of wineries participating. We spoke with Festival chairperson Farah Galvez Theissen about the changes festivalgoers can expect this year.
GT: Why did you decide to feature beer?
FARAH GALVEZ THEISSEN: We knew we had to change it up a little bit. We needed to go after a different demographic. Everybody that worked on this committee this year, we all are beer drinkers as well. At last year’s festival, everyone was asking us, “are these all the beers you have?” It was just mostly art and wine, which is what we’ve been doing for the last 15 years.
How else is the festival changing?
We’re really pushing the family component, because we want to make it so that mom can have a glass of Chardonnay, dad can have a nice beer, and kids can have jump houses and all these other things they can do like 4H’s petting zoo. We’re trying to make it a complete package instead of just art and wine. Last year, we only had one bounce house. This year, we have four. We have a trampoline. There will be a fishing booth. Kids can fish and win a prize. We’re going to have a parade, so the kids show up, you can check them into the art booth. They can make a mask and they can make a hat, and we’re going to have a parade at 2 o’clock.
Any new wineries you’re featuring that you’re excited about?
I’m very excited about Pelican Ranch Winery. The owner, Phil Crews, he’s local. He’s actually a professor up at UCSC in chemistry, He’s kind of a mad scientist of wines. He sources his grapes locally.
SOMETHING’S BREWING The Scotts Valley Art and Wine Festival has been a staple in Skypark. This year, it’s getting a name change to reflect its expansion of beer selections. INFO: Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Skypark, 316 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley. Free. 438-1010.
