The Napa Valley Weekender
June 28, 2024
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — Welcome to the Napa Valley Features Weekender, your guide to local events and experiences. With our valley-wide section and a dedicated segment highlighting volunteer opportunities, we aim to provide an overview of activities throughout the valley. Delivered every Friday in our convenient Scan and Plan format, you'll discover concise yet informative summaries with valuable links to streamline your planning.
Our commitment to inclusivity ensures a range of options, from complimentary to cost-effective, to accommodate all interests.
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For those looking for any newly added events, we’ve now included (N) for entrants added since the last Weekender and (R) for events that are repeating. Those providing special offers for Napa Valley Features subscribers now have an asterisk (*).
If you come across an event or opportunity that we haven't featured, don't hesitate to let us know. You can easily submit it through our online submission form or email us.
Napa Valley-Wide
(R) SAFE Event Highlights Senior Financial Abuse Prevention
Friday, June 28, 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Napa County District Attorney's Office, in collaboration with Napa County Health and Human Services Agency and Molly's Angels, is hosting a Seniors Against Financial Abuse workshop to educate seniors and financial professionals on recognizing and preventing financial scams. The event will be held at the St. Helena Performing Arts Center. Admission is free. For more information, visit the event’s webpage or RSVP. 1401 Grayson Ave.
(N) $5,000 grants for independent restaurants
Applications accepted until June 30. The Restaurants Care Resilience Fund is offering $5,000 grants to independent restaurants and commercial caterers for technology upgrades, equipment upgrades, employee training/retention and unforeseen hardship. For more information, visit their website.
(R) Napa Town & Country Fair at Napa Valley Expo
Thursday, Aug. 8, to Sunday, Aug. 11. The Napa Town & Country Fair features a lineup of performances on the Joe Anderson Plaza Stage, including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Parmalee, Breland and Chingy, along with La Original Banda El Limón on Sunday. Pre-fair tickets are available online until Aug. 7 at $12 for youths and seniors and $14 for adults, with prices increasing on event days. Parking is available for a fee. For more information call 707-963-3333 or visit their website. 575 Third St.
American Canyon
American Canyon Chamber of Commerce Calendar
American Canyon Library Events
Napa-Vallejo Flea Market
(N) American Canyon Library Events
Friends of the American Canyon Library book donation day: Saturday, June 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donate your good-condition books and DVDs to support the Friends of the American Canyon Library.
The library, located at 300 Crawford Way, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The library is closed on Sunday. This is just one of many events on offer. Visit the calendar to see more or call 707-644-1136 for more information.
Calistoga
Calistoga Farmers’ Market
Chamber of Commerce events
Picayune Cellars events
The Moonshine Theater events
UpValley Family Centers events
Calistoga Library events
(N) Sunday Jazz and Blues at Buster's BBQ
Every Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m. Buster’s BBQ hosts live jazz and blues on its patio every Sunday with Juan Escovedo and friends plus guest singers, weather permitting. For more information call 707-942-5605, email bustersbbqonline@gmail.com or visit their website. 1207 Foothill Blvd.
(R) Calistoga Concerts in the Park at Pioneer Park
Thursday evenings from now to Aug. 15, the annual Summer Concerts in the Park series features a lineup of bands that include Maya, Dirty Cello and Sacred Fire, attracting 700 to 800 attendees each week. For more information, visit the website. Pioneer Park, 1308 Cedar St.
Napa
Jarvis Conservatory events
Napa Chamber of Commerce calendar
Napa County Historical Society events
Napa County Library events
Napa Farmers Market
Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra events
Napa Valley College events
UC Master Gardeners of Napa County events
*(N) Outer Space Wines Changes Hands: New Owners to Continue Legacy
Dan Dawson, Chuck Meyer and Michael Holcomb are selling Outer Space Wines, a wine shop and bar at 974 Franklin St. in downtown Napa, to Thad and Emily Duprey. The transfer of ownership is set for Aug. 1. The Dupreys, who are moving from Maine with backgrounds in culinary arts, wine sales and technology, will retain the Outer Space Wines name this year before rebranding in 2025. Dawson, who founded Back Room Wines in 2002 and later established Outer Space Wines in 2022, will consult for the Dupreys. “The buyers are enthused to take what I’ve built so far and go further so it will succeed and thrive. I’ll be sticking around, helping them out/consulting for a while – how long nobody knows,” Dawson said. He will also resume writing for Napa Valley Features, take on small wine projects, attend to family matters, travel and “slowly” look for his next venture. Outer Space Wines can be reached at 707-657-7401 or their website. On Saturday, June 29, mention you are a subscriber to Napa Valley Features and receive significant discounts on wine.
(N) Pride Drag Celebration Dinner Show at Be Bubbly Napa
Friday, June 28, 7 p.m. Ava Lashay returns with a PRIDE Show featuring her glamorous friends at Be Bubbly Napa. Dinner is served at 7 p.m., followed by the show at 8 p.m. Tickets include $30 applied to the final bill and $10 in ones for the show. 10% of all bubbly sales will be donated to LGBTQ Connection. For more information call 707-637-4532 or visit their website. 1407 2nd St.
(N) Valley Players' Summer Staged Reading Series
June 28, 7 p.m. Valley Players presents a staged reading of “The Next to the Last Box” by Karen Marguerite Caronna about two seniors at Sunset Vista Villas navigating love and life. Tickets are $10 at their website or at the door. For more information visit their website. 1625 Salvador Ave.
(N) Bicycle Works 45th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, June 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bicycle Works celebrates its 45th anniversary with a mountain bike or road ride starting at 9 a.m. for riders of all levels. The road ride starts at the store, and the mountain-bike ride starts at Skyline. Post-ride refreshments and a raffle will be held at the store at noon. For more information call 707-258-6272 or sign up on their website. 3367 Solano Ave.
(N) Di Rosa Presents ‘M is for Water,’ Curated by Artist Isabelle Sorrell
Saturday, June 29, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art presents “M is for Water,” a group exhibition curated by Isabelle Sorrell. The public reception costs $10 but is free for di Rosa members. The exhibition runs from June 29 to Oct. 6. Admission is $25 with members free. For more information call 707-226-5991 or visit their website. 5200 Carneros Highway.
(N) Robert Mondavi Arch & Tower 4th of July Celebration
Thursday, July 4, 8 to 10 p.m. Celebrate 4th of July with a drone show, two glasses of wine and food at the historic Arch & Tower by the Napa River. Tickets are $50 for general admission and $40 for wine club members. Reservations are required, and guests must be 21 or over. For more information, visit the website. 1234 Napa River St.
(R) Napa County Historical Society Hosts 2024 Summer Walking Tours
Fridays and Sundays through Sept. 1, various times. The Napa County Historical Society offers guided walking tours of Historic Downtown Napa and Tulocay Cemetery during the summer. Keep an eye out in October for the popular Halloween Spooktacular Tour of Tulocay Cemetery. The tours are 90 minutes, with whisper headsets provided. For walking tour tickets, visit the website.
(R) Napa Valley Tours
The Napa Valley Tour app offers a self-guided tour of historic landmarks throughout the Napa Valley and is available on Google Play and the Apple Store for $7.99. Another self-guided history tour, created by the Napa Valley Shakespeare Festival, is available through Otocast, “Echoes of the Napa Valley: The Tulocay Project.” This tour features monologues from the perspective of historic residents of the valley performed by professional actors. Download the Otocast app and search for “Napa history” or search by location. For more information call 707-963-3333, email info@napahistory.org or visit their website. 1700 First St.
(R) Water to Wine - Guided Trip at Napa River
Tours launch at 9 and 11:30 a.m. from the Riverfront Plaza, Main Street Dock, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Paddle through the scenic Napa River and explore its natural beauty with a guided tour, followed by a free paddle session; add a $29 voucher for a wine flight at Outer Space Wines. Tour price is $79. For more information visit their website or call 707-963-3333. 700 Main St.
(R) Jane Lufkin Oils at Jessel Gallery.
Saturday, July 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jessel Gallery presents Jane Lufkin's oil paintings with a pop-up event featuring Debbie Dean, Marcia Garcia, Leo Peck and Teri Taylor, alongside the "Ladies of the Napa Valley" exhibition running from July 1 to Aug. 31. Bring a friend and enjoy a picnic on the deck. For more information call 707-257-2350 or visit their website. 1019 Atlas Peak Road.
(R) Lis MacDonald's Watercolor Workshop
Thursdays, July 11, 18 and 25, 10 a.m. to noon. A Fearless Watercolor workshop by Lis MacDonald, costing $50 per day or $275 for the series. For more information, contact MacDonald at 707-337-1519, visit her website or email lismac25@gmail.com. 1520 Behrens St.
St. Helena (and nearby)
Clif Family Winery's Street Food events
Rianda House events
St. Helena Chamber events
St. Helena’s Farmers’ Market
St. Helena Striders upcoming walks
UpStage Napa Valley presents
UpValley Family Centers events
(N) St. Helena Farmers’ Market at Crane Park
Fridays 7:30 a.m. to noon. The St. Helena Farmers’ Market offers spring produce from various growers, including new purveyor Dry Creek Zinegar. Chef Lars Soderholm’s sourdough pancakes and a community breakfast are available from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. with a suggested donation of $5. Jessica Mennella presents a lecture on summer scents at 10:30 a.m. Dogs and pets are prohibited, except for service animals. For more information visit the website. 360 S. Crane Ave.
(N) Marfa Stance x NO|MA House Personal Styling Session
Friday, June 28, 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, June 29, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join NO|MA founder and lead designer Ann Backen and Marfa Stance stylist Sophie Schneider for personal styling sessions, featuring exclusive previews and fittings. For more information, email contact@nomahousecc.com. 1421 Main St.
(R) St. Helena Library Events.
Summer Reading Challenge: Ends Aug. 31. The library offers reading challenges for adults, teens and children with prizes for participation that include gelato for kids, Six Flags tickets for teens and gift cards for adults. Pick up a booklet at the library to join.
Story Time at St. Helena Public Library: Every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Enjoy fun story time and craft activities for children in the children's room.
These are just a couple of the offerings. To learn more, visit the library’s calendar of events or call 707-963-5244. The library is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and is closed on Sunday. 1422 Library Lane.
(N) Cameo Cinema:
Friday, June 28, to Sunday, June 30. “Thelma” shows on Friday at 5 and 7:45 p.m. “Inside Out 2” shows on Saturday and Sunday at 2, 5 and 7:45 p.m., with additional Sunday showings at 2 and 5 p.m. General admission is $10, and tickets for students and seniors are $8. For details call 707-963-9779 or visit their website. 1340 Main St.
(N) Beat the heat at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum
Wednesday evenings in July, 4:30 to 6 p.m. The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum will be open for special evening hours, offering visitors a chance to learn about the author. Regular museum hours remain unchanged. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. For more information, visit the website, call 707-963-3757 or email info@stevensonmuseum.org. 1490 Library Lane.
(R) St. Helena Historical Society Dinner at the Heritage Center
Saturday, July 20, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The St. Helena Historical Society hosts Dinner at the Museum, featuring tapas, Gerard's paella, salad and dessert from the CIA and Napa Valley wines with a silent auction and flamenco guitarist. Tickets are $150 per person available online. Ticket deadline is July 10. For more information, email shstory@shstory.org. 1255 Oak Ave.
(N) Pope Valley Ropers and Riders Gymkhana Series
July 21. The Pope Valley Ropers and Riders host their annual gymkhana series, featuring events such as Clover Barrels, Speed Barrel, Big-T and more, starting at 9 a.m. Helmets are required for participants under 18. Entry fees are $35 per day or $7 per event. For inquiries, contact 707-953-7065 or visit the website. 2280 Barnett Road.
(N) Rutherford Chili Ball at Beckstoffer Farm Center
Sunday, Aug. 4, 4 to 8 p.m. Enjoy family-friendly fun, including food trucks, lawn games, and a silent auction to kick off the 2024 harvest season. Admission includes one entrée and one drink ticket. Early bird tickets are $65 until July 21; general admission is $80, with reduced prices for youth and free entry for children under 6. Reserved tables for 10 are available for $1,000. For more information, visit their website. 8600 Conn Creek Road.
Yountville (and nearby)
Napa Valley Museum events
Valley Players present
Yountville Art Walk
Yountville Chamber of Commerce calendar
Yountville Community Hall events
(R) Yountville Library Events
American Mahjong: Saturday, June 29, 2 to 4 p.m. Join fellow American Mahjong enthusiasts for casual game play. Games are not competitive or played for money, and skill levels may vary.
This is just one of the offerings. The complete countywide calendar can be found here. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. For more information, contact the library at 707-944-1888. 6516 Washington St.
(R) Friday Night Dances Groove Into Yountville
Yountville Community Center at 6516 Washington St. invites guests 21 and over to its Friday Night Dances, happening the last Friday of each month. Each dance session, priced at $10, features Geoffrey Leigh spinning golden oldies and more. Light refreshments will be provided, and attendees can register at their website or pay at the door. More info at their website or 707-944-8851.
Special Nearby Events
*(R) Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens Farm-to-Table Dinner Series
Join Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens for the 2024 Farm-to-Table Dinner Series, with themes changing monthly: Spanish on Saturday, July 13, featuring ingredients from Jackson Estates & Gardens; Southeast Asian Fusion on Saturday, Aug. 10, with Liberty Farms Duck and Dry Creek Peaches; Caribbean on Saturday, Sept. 14, with Costarella Seafood; and a special guest chef with Snake River Farms products on Saturday, Oct. 5. Each event runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and includes a multicourse dinner paired with Kendall-Jackson Estate wines. General admission is $225 per person, except for the October dinner, which is $300. A special 20% discount for Napa Valley Features subscribers is available for up to 4 tickets using the code FUN24. For more information call 707-571-8100, email reservations.kj@jfwmail.com or visit their website. 5007 Fulton Road, Fulton.
Astrological Events This Month
July through early September: Prime Viewing of the Milky Way Core
In Napa Valley the best time to observe and photograph the Milky Way's core stretches from July through early September. This period offers an exceptional celestial display when the core is prominently visible low on the southwest horizon, especially after sunset and before sunrise. The most favorable conditions for viewing this galactic wonder occur during the new-moon phase or when the moon sets early, providing the darkest skies. Seek out locations away from city lights to fully appreciate the clarity and beauty of the Milky Way during these peak months.
July 5: New Moon
The new moon on July 5 (3:59 p.m.) offers yet another night of dark skies, perfect for observing the deep celestial wonders above Napa Valley.
July 21: Full Buck Moon
The full moon on July 21 (3:18 a.m.) is known as the Buck Moon, marking the time when male deer (bucks) begin to grow their new antlers. It is also referred to as the Thunder Moon and the Hay Moon due to the season's typical thunderstorms and agricultural activities.
July 22: Mercury at Its Greatest Eastern Elongation
On July 22 (3:09 p.m.), Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation, becoming visible low in the western sky just after sunset. It's an excellent opportunity to view this elusive planet as it lingers in the twilight.
July 28, 29: Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower
The Delta Aquarids meteor shower peaks on the night of July 28 (after midnight) and the morning of July 29. While the second-quarter moon may obscure some meteors, a dark observation spot could still offer a good view of this average but enjoyable shower.
Please click here to view the entire list of night-sky events for 2024.
Napa Valley Volunteering+
Become a Volunteer Firefighter or EMS Responder in Napa County. This role offers a chance to protect lives, property and the environment while working collaboratively with a dedicated team. For those interested in contributing to the safety and resilience of their community, please fill out the interest form available online.
Community Health Napa Valley is seeking volunteers for various programs that include their Adult Day Health Care in Napa, Act Two retail store in St. Helena and their Hospice Program. Contact Anne House at 707-254-4172 for more information or visit Community Health Napa Valley Volunteer.
The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition. To volunteer, complete the sign-up form and get subscribed to their monthly newsletter. The Vine Trail office is located at 3299 Claremont Way, No. 5, Napa, phone 707-252-3547.
Napa Parks and Recreation offers a wide range of volunteer activities, including park cleanups, guiding, coaching, teaching and special-event assistance. These opportunities cater to various interests and schedules. Apply through their online Volunteer Interest Form.