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 events 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
Napa-Vallejo Flea Market: Open Sundays from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round, this may be the largest and longest-lived flea market in Northern California. If you haven’t been, think community garage sale on steroids. 303 S. Kelly Road in American Canyon, (707) 226-8862.
Calistoga
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.
From Friday through Sunday, Sept. 1-3, The Moonshine at Mount View Hotel in Calistoga presents a lineup of events, starting with the movie "Rope" on the 1st, live music by Sausalito on the 2nd, and the movie "Strangers on a Train" on the 3rd. This outdoor venue opens its doors at 7 p.m., featuring movies at sunset and live music from 8:30-10 p.m. Movie tickets are $5, live music tickets are $15 and food and drinks are available for purchase. For private event inquiries, call (707) 942-6877.
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.
Every Sunday from 6:30 to 9 p.m., jazz vocalist Elaine Jennings performs at the Hydro Bar & Grill, located at 1403 Lincoln Ave. in Calistoga. Known for her appearances in major Bay Area productions, Jennings showcases both popular and lesser-known tunes from the Great American Songbook, accompanied by her jazz trio, The Tritones. The event is free to enter and food and drinks are available for purchase. For more information, guests can contact the venue at (707) 942-9777.
Napa
"It's a Grand Night for Singing" at the Jarvis Conservatory on Saturday, Sept. 2, director Frank Johnson will present five singers, offering a 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.
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.
A Nutty Napa Scavenger Hunt will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday, Sept. 4 starting at the China Point Overlook on Soscol Avenue. A creative, nontraditional scavenger hunt begins at a scenic spot that's a local favorite. You'll get your digital quest from your live and interactive remote host. Then you’ll take off on your own to experience a wide variety of carefully curated locations in town. You'll walk or drive to the various checkpoints as you solve clues, accept wacky challenges, and get outside your comfort zone. Both family and dog friendly, the game alternates between the indoors and outdoors with plenty of bonus challenges. You'll text photos to your remote host, who cheers you on and assists as you document your progress. You can even interact with the locals to solve clues. It is created by Kat Nelson, owner of Alley Kat Adventures. Cost $24 per person, tickets at Eventbrite.com
St. Helena
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.
On Friday, Sept. 1, Merryvale Vineyards in St. Helena hosts its Friday Live Music on the Terrace event from 5-7 p.m. Located at 1000 Main St., the event features live music, a food truck and the option to buy Merryvale wines by the bottle. Seating is first-come, first-served and attendees can bring lawn chairs or blankets. In case of rain, the music will move indoors to the tasting room.
On Saturday, Sept. 2, the St. Helena Historical Society invites the public to its open house event from noon to 4 p.m. Located at 1255 Oak Ave. in St. Helena, this free event is part of a monthly series held on the first Saturday of each month. The Historical Society focuses on preserving the heritage of St. Helena through the collection and interpretation of photographs, documents, artifacts and oral histories. Visitors can engage with exhibits, educational programs and lectures designed to illuminate the rich history and culture of the town.
On Saturday, Sept. 2, from 8-11 p.m., The Saint at 1351 Main St. in St. Helena presents an evening of live music featuring Kevin Hague. Specializing in acoustic folk and Americana, Kevin will perform unique covers from artists like John Prine, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson, and Townes Van Zandt. Entry to the event is free and wine and snacks are available for purchase.
Yountville
Every Friday from 6-10 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. in Yountville.
On Friday, Sept. 1, from 5-8 p.m., the RH Wine Vault in Yountville hosts the Gros Ventre Cellars Vintner Spotlight. Attendees can meet founders Chris and Sarah Pittenger and taste their exceptional wines, including vineyard-designated pinot noir. The wines will be available for purchase by the flight and bottle. The event takes place at 6711 Washington St. in Yountville.
On Friday, Sept. 1, Chandon Winery in Yountville hosts a special event from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Located at 1 California Drive, the event is free to enter and features bookable Garden Spritz experiences throughout the winery. Wines and specialized experiences are available for purchase. It's an opportunity to explore Chandon’s sparkling wines in a scenic setting.
Upcoming Events
The Yountville Chamber of Commerce will host a webinar called “AI and Its Impact on Businesses: A Non-Technical Exploration,” from 10 to 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 7 via Zoom. Presenter is Andreas Mueller-Schubert, chief marketing strategist and co-owner of WSI Next Gen Marketing. The webinar is free for chamber members, cost is $10 for non-members. Registration details here.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
Collabria Care 17th Annual Gala, Friday September 8 at 6:30.