The Napa Valley Weekender
By Napa Valley Features
Welcome to Napa Valley Features’ Weekender. Every Friday morning we provide a selection of activities and experiences around the region that has been curated by the Napa Valley Features team. Our goal is to provide at least a few free or low-cost events and to cover every town in our valley. This is an eclectic list, ranging from theatrical readings to musical concerts, from wine celebrations to art gallery tours, from charitable walks to astronomical marvels. Our goal is for both locals and visitors to find this list valuable, engaging and complete with sufficient details to eliminate the need for extensive searches for times, locations or any associated costs.
This Weekend
American Canyon
Explore American Canyon trails and Glass Beach. Take a free, self-guided hike and explore the trails of American Canyon along the Napa River, with a particular focus on Glass Beach, where currents have deposited large amounts of sanded glass to create a multicolored shoreline. The full four-mile loop, which takes about one to two hours to complete, offers opportunities for birdwatching, observing other local fauna like rabbits, and walking or jogging along diverse paths. While the event is free, parking is available at the Landfill Loop Trailhead, and guests are advised to arrive early due to limited parking spaces. For more information, visit the Landfill Loop Trail, American Canyon.
A self-guided Love & Hiking Date for Couples is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17 at the Newell Open Space, 7000 Newell Drive. Enjoy a hike with fun digital activities along the way. Tickets are free.
Calistoga
The Calistoga Cat Action Team of Napa and Sonoma Counties presents Cat Bingo from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 16 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1504 Myrtle St. in Calistoga. Tickets are $49 per person and include bingo games, wine, dinner, refreshments, prizes and a live auction. Pay online at www.calicat.org, click on the purple DONATE button, select PayPal and how many tickets you need. Walk-ins welcome.
LGBT Night at Romeo Vineyards & Cellars with Elaine Jennings and The Tritones takes place on Friday, Sept. 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening features performances by Elaine Jennings, accompanied by The Tritones — Wayne de la Cruz on piano, Dennis Hubert on guitar, and Soren Bloch on drums. The event is designed to celebrate the LGBT community and offers attendees the option to purchase wine from Romeo Vineyards & Cellars. Admission is free, though tips for the performers are appreciated. The venue is located at 1224 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, and can be reached at 707-942-8239.
Buster’s BBQ Jazz and Blues: Enjoy free music (tips appreciated!) every Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. Listen to jazz and blues on the back patio at Buster's Southern BBQ, weather permitting.
Calistoga Farmers’ Market: This year-round market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday. The Calistoga Farmers’ Market, managed by a Market Advisory Committee under the umbrella of the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce, is full of fresh vegetables, local fish, arts, crafts, baked goods and music. It's located on Washington Street adjacent to the Community Center and across from City Hall.
Napa
A ribbon cutting at Napa’s MACO Vineyards, 1000 Main St., Suite 190, will be from 5-7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 15. The Napa Chamber of Commerce is hosting the ribbon cutting.
The Napa Farmers Market is held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at 1100 West St. at Pearl, also on Tuesdays at the same time and place.
Open Studios Napa Valley: Save the dates, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 16 to 17, and Sept. 23 to 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the Napa Valley. Many artists also exhibit at the Art Gallery Napa Valley, 1307 First St., Napa. For more info, visit their website.
Grammy Award-winning rock bands Stone Temple Pilots and +LIVE+ will co-headline the Saturday, Sept. 16, concert at the Fortinet Championship golf tournament at the Silverado Resort. For more information on the Fortinet Championship, visit fortinetchampionship.com.
The Suicide Loss Support Group, hosted by Community Health Napa Valley, is an in-person, closed, 12-week program offered twice a year in February and May. Meeting every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the group aims to provide a structured environment for learning and group support for those navigating the emotional landscape of suicide loss. While pricing information is not available, registration is a requisite for participation. For more details or to register, interested individuals can contact Xavia at 707-258-9080 or via email at xavia.hendriksz1@providence.org.
St. Helena
Wood Forms: New Work by Sébastien Pochan will be on display from Friday, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 at Carter and Co, 1231 Main St., St. Helena. The opening reception for the exhibition will be held on Sept. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m. Sébastien Pochan's work explores the intricate possibilities of wood as an artistic medium, and his latest collection will be showcased at Carter and Co, a store known for its carefully curated selection of stoneware, dinnerware and artful objects. The event is free to the public and does not require reservations. For more information visit the website or check in at Carter and Co.
Cameo Cinema and Cameo Cinema Foundation present "Faces of Napa Valley," a call for entries focused on capturing St. Helena's Everyday Heroes. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Open to residents of St. Helena aged 10 to 100, the workshop, led by Michele Mitchell, will delve into the essentials of documentary filmmaking, covering topics such as interviewing techniques, camera basics, and editing. Participants will have the opportunity to produce their own short films, which will be showcased at a later event. Attendance is free of charge, includes a light lunch, and is funded by a grant from the City of St. Helena. The workshop is limited to 20 participants and will be held at the Boys and Girls Club of St. Helena and Calistoga, located at 1420 Tainter St., St Helena. To register, email info@cameocinema.com; for film submissions, contact cathybuck25@gmail.com.
The St. Helena Farmers’ Market is on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to noon from May through October in Crane Park, 360 S. Crane Ave.
Yountville
Every Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., Hotel Villagio in Yountville hosts live music in its lobby. This week, a multi-genre vocalist Coyote Creates, known for her jazzy rock covers and performances at high-profile events, will perform. The free event takes place at 6481 Washington St.
The "Endless Summer" Bash takes place at the Napa Valley Museum on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., offering an evening that combines art exhibitions with tropical cocktails from Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, featuring Copalli Rum. Graphic artist Darren Wong will be present for a meet-and-greet session where attendees can get their limited edition Tiki Dreams posters signed, and exclusive merchandise such as a new McBiff California Roadtrip poster and Tiki Oasis collectible mugs will be available for purchase in the Museum Store. Tickets are $30 for members and $40 for non-members, and while Aloha wear is appreciated, it is not mandatory. Contact the Museum website for additional details or phone: 707-944-0500.
Upcoming Events
Coastal Cleanup Day is from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 23. Roll up your sleeves and volunteer on the biggest international cleanup day of the year. Coastal cleanup day helps prevent trash from ending in waterways and eventually the ocean. You will play a vital role not only in removing trash but also in reporting crucial scientific data to the California Coastal Commission. There are several locations in American Canyon including Community Park 1 & 2, 1400 Rio Grande Drive.
Night Sky for October 2023 takes place throughout the month of October with various celestial events, such as meteor showers, planetary appearances, and an annular solar eclipse. The month kicks off with the Draconid Meteor Shower from Oct. 8 to 10, offering up to six meteors per hour and followed by other notable events like the appearance of Venus and the crescent Moon on Oct. 10, and the Orionid Meteor Shower from Oct. 20 to 21. One of the highlights is the "Ring of Fire" Annular Solar Eclipse visible in the Western United States on Oct. 14, beginning at 11:04 a.m. and ending at 4:55 p.m. The events are free to observe (just look up!), though protective eyewear is a must for the solar eclipse.
The deadline for the St. Helena Art Mural Project, coordinated by the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce and the St. Helena Beautification Foundation committee, is 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29. The committee invites artists residing on the west coast to submit their qualifications for a public art mural to be created and installed on the south facing exterior side of the Wydown Hotel in the Historic Downtown Shopping District of St. Helena. A jury will select two to four semi-finalists based upon their past work, references, and questionnaire. Semi-finalists will be invited to create a proposal, based on the project’s goals and objectives. After reviewing proposals from semi-finalists, the jury will select one artist based on their proposal for the project to be completed in summer 2024. For more information, visit here. If you have any questions, please email Stephanie Smithers at stephanie@sthelena.com.
Join Charles Krug Winery for its 71st Harvest Party, Tastings on the Lawn from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30. The theme is Hawaiian/Tropical and all are encouraged to grab your favorite Tommy Bahama or Reyn Spooner Hawaiian shirt, and let’s send summer off with a bash! Included will be multiple wine stations serving all current releases, varied entertainment including live music, island themed food stations, catered by Tre Posti and desserts from Trader Jim’s “Dole Whips and Floats.” Price is $125 for non-club members and $95 for Wine Club members. Please visit Eventbrite or click here to purchase tickets.
2023 Harvest Dinner & Auction: The Harvest Dinner and Live Auction, organized by the Napa Valley State Parks Association (NVSPA), is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 30, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The event will be hosted at the historic Bale Grist Mill and features an evening filled with live music, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live auction bidding and a dinner catered by Elaine Bell. The event aims to raise funds to support the NVSPA's mission to maintain and enhance the three state parks in Napa Valley: Bothe Napa Valley State Park, the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, and Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. Individual tickets are priced at $250. Online Auction: Runs from noon on Friday, Sept. 15 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1. Event often sells out quickly. For donations or sponsorships: auction@napavalleystateparks.org
On Sept. 24, the St. Helena Historical Society hosts its 19th annual Spirits of St. Helena Cemetery Discovery Walk with tours at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Collaborating with St. Helena High School’s drama students, the event will focus on Irish settlers buried in the St. Helena Public Cemetery. The scripted tours will share immigration stories of early settlers like the Greers and Fealys, shedding light on their challenges upon arriving in Napa Valley. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children and can be purchased at the gate.
Join the Force for Good: Volunteer to Shape the American Dreams of Your Neighbors takes place on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. at Shearer Elementary School, 1590 Elm St., Napa. Hosted by the Citizenship Legal Services Collaborative (CLS) in partnership with the Napa Valley Community Foundation, the orientation and training session aims to equip volunteers with the skills needed to assist at upcoming citizenship workshops. Volunteers play a pivotal role in helping individuals navigate the intricate path to U.S. citizenship. Attendance requires an RSVP, which can be made at bit.ly/44lgZS2. For more information, contact napacitizens@gmail.com at 707-738-3345 or info@puertasabiertasnapa.org at 707-224-1786.
The American Canyon Chamber of Commerce’s Coffee Chat is from 9 to 10:30 a.m., the fourth Thursday of every month at different locations. The next coffee chat, featuring networking, coffee and light breakfast treats, is Sept. 28 at the chamber’s offices, 3860 Broadway St. No. 103 in American Canyon. It is hosted by Michelle Ryan, Del Sur Mortgage. It is free and open to the public.
Jessel Gallery Writers’ Salon: Oct. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. $10 at the door and reservations required. This event is growing in popularity and demand for seats, so reserving a spot soon is mandatory if you want to participate in listening to some of Napa Valley’s finest writers read their work. Call (707) 257-2350 for more info.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, the 13th annual Napa Blues, Brews & BBQ event returns to the Napa Valley Exposition at 575 3rd St. in Napa. The one-day festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. and is free to enter. The event features live blues music, a variety of barbecue food vendors, arts and crafts stalls and a specialty microbrew beer garden with over 40 unique beers. This year, the event is partnering with local charity Feeding it Forward and offers a $60 Beer Garden bracelet for unlimited beer tastings and exclusive stage performances. Attendees must be 21 or older to enter and on-site parking is available.