The Napa Valley Weekender
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
The Friends of the American Canyon Library are hosting a used book sale on Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., offering a wonderful opportunity for book enthusiasts. By attending this event, guests can discover a diverse selection of great books while simultaneously supporting the local library. The proceeds from the sale will contribute directly to a great cause, helping to enhance the resources and programs of the American Canyon Library. Whether looking for a classic novel or a hidden gem, attendees are sure to find something special to add to their collection. Don't miss this chance to celebrate reading, support the community and take home some literary treasures.
American Canyon’s own The JFA Band is set to enliven the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Napa Valley – American Canyon, located at 3600 Broadway St. The event is taking place on the patio from 6 to 8:30 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 25. Known as the world's first Gold LEED-certified hotel, this environmentally friendly retreat is just 9 miles from Napa. Attendees can indulge in dinner and drinks at Table 29 Bistro & Bar, opening at 5 p.m., before enjoying the music.
Calistoga
UpValley Family Centers and the Calistoga Joint Unified School District will kick off the school year with the 20th annual Back to School Community Celebration from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Berry Field on the campus of Calistoga Elementary School. The celebration will feature free entertainment and activities for all ages, including a "Migration Is Beautiful" art workshop with Favianna Rodriguez, a climbing wall, a free meal, musical performance by singer Jazmin Oro, games and prizes. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with UpValley Family Centers and the 40-plus partner agencies that will showcase locally available health and social services. Attendees will also be able to meet Calistoga Joint Unified School District Superintendent Audra Pittman, as well as teachers and community leaders.
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.
The drawing for Sharpsteen Museum's 35th Annual Instant Napa Valley Wine Cellar Raffle will be Saturday, Aug. 26. This year there is only a drawing, not a public event. The grand prize is 60 bottles of premium Napa Valley wines. Raffle tickets are $10 each or five for $40. Purchase tickets online here or via phone at 707-341-3313 or at the Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga.
Calistoga Art Center is hosting an exclusive series of curated art-collector tours showcasing three prominent estates on Saturdays, Aug. 26, Sept. 30 and Oct. 28. Attendees will explore the modernist estate of David Gates, a contemporary home filled with 20th century to modern European art and a Tuscan-style haven adorned with contemporary works. Each tour, held from 4 to 6 p.m., will be complemented by select wines from local vineyards. With tickets at $125 per person per tour or $300 for the series, this unique experience not only offers an intimate look at private art collections but also supports Calistoga Art Center's mission in Napa Valley. For more information visit Calistoga Art Center or call (707) 942-2278.
Picayune Cellars is turning up the heat with a smashburger and dance party from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Chef Avia Hawksworth will be manning the grill, while The Desperate Men play a rollicking repertoire of blues and rock ’n’ roll hits. Wine by the glass or bottle will be available for purchase. Picayune Cellars is at 1440 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. For info call 707-341-3410.
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.
Napa
Tomatoganza! Napa County's first-ever tomato taste-off and seed-saving event, will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. Attendees can sample tomatoes from seven local farms, vote on their favorites and learn seed-saving techniques through live demonstrations. Tickets are $12 for an individual and $27 for a group of three, with kid-friendly activities, raffle prizes and saved seeds included. Hosted by the Napa County Seed Library, the event, aimed at Napa locals but open to all, supports the community's goal to grow, save and share locally adapted seeds.
St. Helena
At the Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena, this weekend “Oppenheimer” is playing at noon, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon and 4 p.m. Sunday. During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work comes to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witness the world's first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history. The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as his wife, biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer. Oscar winner Matt Damon portrays Gen. Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project, and Robert Downey Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
Santa Cruz singer/songwriter/guitarist Asher Stern will perform from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at The Saint, 1351 Main St., St. Helena. Stern enjoys creating tasteful layers of rhythm through looping on his acoustic guitar to accompany his soulful, heartfelt songs, sometimes even breaking out his harmonica. He covers a range of artists, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Otis Redding, Bill Withers, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley. Details: 707-302-5130.
St. Helena's Market Restaurant’s 20th Anniversary Celebration: A special event marking the 20th anniversary of St. Helena's Market restaurant is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 28. As this event celebrates two decades of the restaurant's impact on the local food scene, it's advisable to contact this favored local destination soon to secure your reservations.
Yountville
Sunrise Yoga: This event, featuring breath work and meditation, will be held on the Bardessono Hotel and Spa Rooftop Pool Deck. The event will run from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. every Saturday from Aug. 5 to Nov. 11. The cost is $30 per person, and reservations are required.
Yountville residents are invited to Bash 2023 at their annual Yountville Barn Dance, 6 to10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 25, at 6516 Washington St. From 6 to 7:30 p.m. attendees can enjoy food, wine and mingling with their neighbors. The J Silverheels Band plays from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 for this event sponsored by the Town of Yountville and the Yountville Chamber of Commerce.
Upcoming Events
Join an evening filled with beautiful music at the Jarvis Conservatory on Saturday, Sept. 2, for "It's a Grand Night for Singing." Music director Frank Johnson will present five engaging singers, offering a delightful variety of pieces including operatic arias and classic tunes. Enjoy a special performance by young tenor Curtis Resnick and complimentary beverages and snacks at intermission. Tickets are available for $20, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Don't miss this unique blend of classical and popular music in historic downtown Napa.
Sunrise Horse Rescue Annual Dinner and Auction: After a three-year pause this widely attended event is back, celebrating the 16th anniversary of Sunrise Horse Rescue. The Sept. 9 event is set to take place at Blossom Creek Farm in Calistoga. Prices start at $225, with all proceeds earmarked to support regional horse-rescue initiatives.
Frog’s Leap’s Winery, 8815 Conn Creek Road in Rutherford, will screen a new documentary, “The Art of Eating: The Life of M.F.K. Fisher,” from local film director Gregory Bezat at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9. Bob Thompson will moderate a Q&A panel discussion that includes Bezat; Fisher’s daughter, Kennedy Golden; Jerry di Vecchio; and Toni Allegra. It is presented in association with the Napa Valley Wine Library Association. Tickets are $75 at frogsleap.com.
A classic jazz trio concert will be presented at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at St. Helena’s Cameo Cinema. If you are a fan of the classic jazz trio -- established by Nat King Cole in the late 1930s -- this is the concert you’ve been dreaming about. Larry Vuckovich, one of the most versatile jazz pianists, returns to the Cameo Cinema with bassist Doug Miller and guitarist Kai Lyons for an afternoon of jazz. The concert will feature the music of Cole, Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal and Vince Guaraldi. Tickets are $40. Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-9779.
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.
Open Studios Napa Valley: Save the dates, Sept. 16-17 and Sept. 23-24, 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.
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.
WOW! There is a lot going on in the Napa Valley. SO wonderful to see such a variety of events. Thank you for listing the Frog's Leap showing of The Art of Eating: The Life of M.F.K. Fisher on September 9 pm at 6:00 pm. As a joint event with the Napa Valley Wine Library Association, this is a fabulous way of remembering my mother, who was one of the founders of the Wine Library. I look forward to being a part of this celebration, and to watching the new version of this film, which was shown at the Cameo Cinema in December 2022, at Frog's Leap Winery. I hope to see many of you there!!!!