Napa Valley Events

Running a marathon the length of Napa Valley is such a perfect experience that you almost want the haunting strains of Vangelis music to come down from the skies. For something this good there should be a soundtrack.

The 32nd Annual Napa Valley Marathon course is fast, certified and a Boston qualifier. Racing southward along the fabled Silverado Trail, the terrain rolls gently and mostly feels downhill or flat. The scenery is just gorgeous, past the many wineries amidst wild mustard blooms, with cows and roosters and mist on the hills.

The route is largely closed to traffic and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. Always brilliantly organized, the race has a mass of volunteers to aid runners. Proceeds support local charities and schools, and sponsors are generous, which makes the goody bag very cool!

To run or volunteer, or watch and cheer, visit the event website for full information. Be sure to check maps carefully.

The 26.2-mile race starts in Calistoga on Saturday, March 7 at 7 AM sharp, and the finish line in Napa means it’s time for a fabulous lunch from one of the valley’s gazillion fine eateries.

American folk art dealers and artists will hold a festival in Napa Valley to benefit San Francisco’s Museum of Craft and Folk Art.  For one day only,  dealers and artists are coming together to showcase many wonderful examples of both antique and contemporary American Folk Art.

The festival will be held at Laird Family Estate Winery, 5055 Solano Avenue in Napa, California from 12 Noon until 5 pm.  Adminssion is $7.

Don’t forget that Infineon Raceway will be hosting the 20th annual Wine Country Classic vintage auto race May 29-30 (that’s the weekend after Memorial Day).  See more than 250 classic cars speed around the track in races lasting all weekend.  It’s a terrific event for car buffs of all ages, since you can get an up-close look at a slew of classic cars.

For more information check the Wine Country Classic web site.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is hosting its 7th annual Walk Through the Vineyards on Saturday, June 13 in near-by Rutherford, CA.  This 3K walk includes live music, wine tasting and a silent auction.

Come out and have a good time while supporting cancer research.  See here for online event registration.