Napa Valley Events

Some things in life are so good that you start speaking French spontaneously. Such a time is the flowering of the vines, a magical time of pollination and fertilization that determines what kind of crop is being created. Vintners hold their breath and mutter in all languages, praying for perfect climate through the days.

French wins out eventually of course, as it will whenever a party arises. To prove it, the Trefethen family are celebrating this year’s flowering of the vines with Fête de la Fleur, and we’re all invited.

As if the Trefethen Family’s beautiful estate and tour of their sustainable operation weren’t reason enough to visit, our hosts have laid on music from the legendary California Malibu’s, savory bites and wood-fired pizza, and their award-winning 2005 Reserve Cabernet sauvignon.

It’s this Saturday, May 22, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Tickets are $45 for non-members. RSVP is requested at 800-556-4847. Trefethen Family Vineyards is just outside of Napa: click here for directions from our hotel.

The Napa Valley Wine Train may just be the coolest way ever invented to treat your special someone to a romantic dinner. Moonlight upstairs in the elegant Vista Dome rail car. Five-course gourmet dinner. Rolling along under the stars. Can we stop talking now?

This Friday is a full moon, in fact the Full Pink Moon, named from the moss pink wildflowers that bloom earliest in spring. Celebrate on the Wine Train, as the Vista Dome’s panoramic views take on the magic of silver moonlight.

The Full Pink Moon run is this Friday, April 30 at 5:30 - 9:30 PM. Cost is $154 per person. You’ll want to book early, there’s room for 24 couples.

The train starts in downtown Napa and travels the length of the valley to St. Helena and back again. Click for more information and to reserve seats, and for directions to the station.

Marvin Hamlisch must be the world’s most awarded composer. He’s had us humming tunes for generations, with his spellbinding movie scores and show songs. He’s written over 600 compositions, a list of classic numbers ranging from Barbra Streisand shows to Matt Damon films.

Celebrate this New Year’s Eve with a Broadway flourish as Marvin Hamlisch entertains at the Napa Valley Opera House. Playing piano and accompanied by two renowned Broadway singers, Hamlisch serves up the perfect musical mix for this special evening.

There’s a festive party in the Café Theatre after the performance, with dancing, dessert and champagne to see in the new year. The Opera House also has deals arranged for dinner before the show at restaurants within strolling distance. Click here for full details on the event.

The Opera House is at 1030 Main Street in Napa. It’s just 9 miles up the road from our hotel, click here for directions.

The Wine Country harbors many caves, perfect as cellars but also with incredible acoustics for voice and music. Every Christmas season multi-instrumentalist Dave Auerbach brings a variety of rare instruments into selected caves for his annual Carols in the Caves event.

This year “The Improvisator” brings his show to the gorgeous Hans Fahden vineyard, regaling us in a candle-lit mountaintop cave with dulcimers, drums, harps, flutes, accordion and more. The audience is invited to join in, and the cave lends every voice resonance. At the end every guest leaves reverberating with the Christmas spirit.

With a wine-sipping break during the performance, the event is both festive and moving. Check some video clips here, here and here.

The 24th offering of this annual tradition occurs at 2 PM on Saturday, December 19th. This event is not for children under the age of 10 please. Tickets are $50, available here or by calling 707-224-4222.

The vineyard is located at 4855 Petrified Forest Road, Calistoga. It’s an hour’s drive from our hotel, directions are here.

We’ve always been fascinated by the ukelele. Maybe watching Tiny Tim sing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” back in the 60s warped our psychies forever.

Apparently we’re not alone, as hundreds of uke-lovers will flock to the Napa Valley for the Wine Country Ukelele Festival the weekend of October 9.

The festival runs all weekend and includes a Friday evening hula party at Judd’s Hill Vineyard, live music Saturday and Sunday at Beringer Vineyards, plus workshops and lessons. See the festival web site for a complete schedule.

The event promises to be a lot of fun and is sure to put a smile on your face.

Call it bad programming or call it roots music heaven, but both the Lincoln Theater in Yountville and the Napa Valley Opera House in Napa will host Zydeco bands on the evening of Saturday, September 12.

The Opera House will be hosting a Zydeco Dance with Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys at 8 PM, with dance lessons starting at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $30 and available through the Opera House web site.

The Lincoln Theater in near-by Yountville will host the legendary Buckwheat Zydeco and his band at 8 PM. Tickets are $25-$30 and can be purchased through the Lincoln Theater web site.

There’ll be lots of pickin’ and grinnin’ Saturday, September 12 at the 4th Annual Old Time Bluegrass Festival. The festival features Laurie Lewis & Nina Gerber and Susie Glaze & the Hilonesome Band, plus arts & crafts, kids activities and local food.

The festival runs from 10:00 AM till 6:30 PM at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, 8853 Highway 53 at Anderson Ranch Parkway. Tickets a $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Kids 12 and under get free admission.

Visit the festival web site for more info.

Celebrate Labor Day with a couple of New Orleans music legends Dr. John, plus the Neville Brothers. Both acts will perform at the Napa Valley Opera House on Saturday, September 7 starting at 7 PM. It’s a chance to end the summer with some good music and that great Mardi Gras vibe. Tickets are $95 - $110.

The Opera House will also be hosting a Labor Day BBQ at the Oxbow Public Market just before the show. Tickets for the BBQ are sold separately.

Visit the Napa Valley Opera House for more info.

Harvest season starts off with a bang on Saturday, August 22 at the Napa Valley Grapegrower’s Harvest STOMP. It’s one of the biggest parties of the year in Napa Valley. The event features food from local chefs and great music by Belle Monroe & Her Brewgrass Boys plus country band Red Meat.

The event takes place at the Gamble Ranch in near-by Oakville. Click here for directions. Tickets are $100 per person. Visit the Napa Valley Grapegrowers site for more info.

Napa Valley Holiday Inn & Suites is proud to be a sponsor of this great event.

Sterling Vineyards will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a one-night only “Summer of ‘69″ party on Saturday, August 22. The 60’s-themed party will feature food & wine stations from local businesses, mod 60s memorabilia and live 60s music.

The event runs from 6:30 to 10 PM. Tickets cost $69 and advanced reservations are required. For more info, visit the Sterling Vineyards web site.