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.

When you’re 130 years old you get to celebrate in any way you want. If you’re the Napa Valley Opera House you offer a performance by internationally acclaimed soprano Ruth Ann Swenson. And of course you follow it with a party.

Accompanied by Whitney Crist on piano, Ms. Swenson will honor the tradition of Luisa Tatrazzini, the world-famous Italian soprano who graced the Opera House stage in the early 1900’s.

The party in the Café Theatre will offer festivities, dessert, sparkling wine and a display of rarely seen historic photos and memorabilia.

The celebration is January 30 at 7 PM. It’s $75 for the performance only, $130 to include the party. Remember the Opera House has been selling-out crowds since January, 1880, and click here to book your tickets and for more information.

The Napa Valley Opera House is at 1030 Main Street in Napa. It’s just 9 miles 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.

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.

In just four years the Festival del Sole has become one of the world’s hottest classical music festivals. The nine-day festival opens with a gala concert tomorrow evening at the Napa Valley Opera House. That will be followed by daily classical concerts at different venues around Napa, including the Jarvis Conservatory, the Lincoln Theater and the stunning Castello di Amorosa. In between concerts you can experience special Vintner’s Luncheons at local wineries.

See the full event schedule at the festival’s web site. Concert ticket prices range from $35-$125.

All festival venues are just a short drive from our hotel. See directions to Napa Valley Opera House, Jarvis Conservatory and Castello di Amorosa.

Break out the disco ball and put on your dancing shoes. 70s hit-makers KC & The Sunshine Band are playing outdoors at the Robert Mondavi Winery on Saturday, July 25th.

General admission tickets are $75. Get more info and buy tickets at the Napa Valley Opera House

Legendary folk singer Joan Baez comes to Napa, CA on Monday, July 6. A 50-year veteran of the folk music scene and an outspoken advocate of social issues, Baez is one of the most distinctive voices to come out of 60s music.

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through the Napa Valley Opera House web site.

The Opera House is a nice, intimate setting to see musical acts. It’s located in downtown Napa, just 9 miles from our hotel.

4th of July celebrations need a special kind of music, and what could be better than listening to New Orleans Jazz played by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band? The ensemble will be playing outdoors at the Robert Mondavi Winery as part of their summer festival series. And of course there will be a fireworks show.

For more information, visit the click here.

The July 4th weekend is busy, so we recommend booking tickets now and booking your hotel room as well. The Robert Mondavi Winery is located in Oakville, just 20 miles up the road from our hotel.

New Wave old timers the B-52s are coming to the Napa Valley. The quartet, famous for hits like “Love Shack” and “Rock Lobster,” will be playing an outdoor concert at the Robert Mondavi Winery on Saturday, June 27 at 7 PM.

Tickets aren’t cheap (general admission is $100 a person), but the B-52s put on a good show and may be the funnest band to play in the Valley in quite a while.

For more info, visit the Napa Valley Opera House web site.

The Robert Mondavi Winery is located in Oakville, just 20 miles up the road from our hotel.

The Count Basie Orchestra, one of the great Swing Era jazz bands, will be playing in Yountville on Saturday, May 23 at the Lincoln Theater.   Count Basie may be gone, but his 17-piece band carries on his tradition of great music, winning a total of 17 Grammy awards. 

Tickets at $29 - $59 and are available through the Lincoln Theater web site.