Fans of Napa Valley are invited to join the local community between September 25 and 28 at Napa Valley Rocks! Weekend, four days that will celebrate and showcase what Napa Valley has to offer.   A coalition of chefs, vintners, business owners and residents have joined forces to support earthquake relief efforts and offer an attractive collection of activities to raise awareness that Napa Valley is ready and open for business.  So come sip Napa Valley wines, savor local delicacies, shop at the Valley’s diverse stores, and shake your booty at your choice of many musical performances.

For exercise, your options include everything from casually strolling while shopping to running a half-marathon.  Food and wine opportunities range from peak-of-the-season fruits and vegetables at the Napa Farmers Market to an elaborate wine and food dinner featuring dishes from nine different restaurants including La Toque, Morimoto Napa, and Zuzu.  Musical performances include indoor concerts and outdoor concerts at venues both big and small.

So please come visit the Napa Valley and help bring its economic engine back into high gear.  Either part or all of the proceeds from the paid events will be contributed to the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund.  To learn more about the Fund and/or to make a separate donation, please go here.

Keep reading and we’ll share highlights of the main events over the Napa Valley Rocks! weekend including paid events, free events and community events as well as advice for exploring Napa Valley on your own schedule.

Napa Valley Rocks! Free Events

NAPA NIGHT OUT – Friday, September 26 evening

Grab your friends and family for Napa Night Out, your invitation to shop and stroll through the downtown area enjoying all that Napa has to offer, followed by a free community concert beginning at 6:30 pm at Veterans Park (with performers yet to be announced). Explore the great shopping opportunities downtown such as Cake Plate Boutique, Gordon Heuther Gallery, Marie Lyall Shoes, Napa Cycle Sport, Napa Running Company, Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company, Napa Valley Jewelers, Scott Lyall, Shackford’s Kitchen Store  and The Roost Napa.

COMMUNITY MEET-UP AT THE FARMERS MARKET – Saturday, September 27 at 8am

The Napa Farmers Market offers a place to mingle and share stories as you peruse the best in homegrown fruits and vegetables and locally made food products in the parking lot at Oxbow Public Market (610 First Street, Napa).  Some of the produce vendors we recommend are Big Ranch Farms, Long Meadow Ranch, and The Patch while our favorite food purveyors are Alexis Baking Company, Annie the Baker, The Hummus Guy, and Mi Fiesta Catering Company.  This would also be a good time to explore the phenomenal Oxbow Public Market with vendors such as The Fatted Calf, Five Dot Ranch, Poor House, Ritual Coffee Roasters, Three Twins Ice Cream and Oxbow’s newest addition: Napastäk, an unique chef’s shop and epicurean boutique.

Napa Valley Rocks! Paid Events

NOURISH NAPA – Thursday, September 25 at 6pm

Some of Napa Valley’s top chefs and vintners present Nourish Napa, an exclusive wine and food evening at the Napa Valley Marriott (3425 Solano Avenue, Napa).  Participating chefs include Ken Frank of La Toque, Tyler Rodde of Oenotri, Brian Whitmer of VINeleven, Todd Humphries of Kitchen Door, and Michael Gyetvan of Norman Rose Tavern.  An auction, live entertainment (including Wesla Whitfield), and other surprises ensure this will be an evening to remember. Tickets are $200 per person and are limited so please go here soon to order yours.

Your evening will begin with Sushi by Morimoto Napa at the welcome reception.  Subsequent courses include Escabeche de Camarones (Zuzu), White Corn Soup with Clam & Fennel Salad (Norman Rose Tavern), Pig’s Feet Mille Feuille with Lobster Mushrooms (Angèle), Cavatelli with Garden Squash and Wild Mushrooms (La Toque), Grilled Akaushi Beef with Marinated Tomato and a Soya Butter Sauce (Kitchen Door) and Shannon Ranch Lamb Chop with Spiced Lamb-Stuffed Black Russian Tomato, Garlicky Bloomsdale Spinach and Garden Mint Jus (VINeleven).

Your Nourish Napa dessert options will be Torta al Vino with Local Raspberries (Oenotri) and a Bittersweet Chocolate Hemisphere with Caramel and Lavender Sea Salt (Sweetie Pies). Breads are provided by Model Bakery and there will be a special take-home Goodie Bag from Bouchon Bakery.

Wineries contributing towards the evening include Farella Estate, The Hess Collection, Miner Family Winery, O’Brien Estate Winery, Priest Ranch, Prager Winery & Port Works, Schramsberg Vineyards and Robert Sinskey Vineyards.

ENTERTAINMENT AT SILO’S – September 26 and 27 at 8 pm

On Friday, Napa’s intimate music room Silo’s (530 Main Street, Napa, 707-251-5833) will feature performers French Girls and The Bell Boys and on Saturday, Grass Child and Kristen Van Dyke.  French Girls is a garage rock band from Willits and you can sneak a listen to their song “The Medicated Youth” by going here.  Currently based in Sacramento, The Bell Boys blend some of their favorite genres into a fresh sound and you can listen to “Controlled by the Radio” by going here.

Grass Child is a collaborative effort between five veteran performers whose most recent release Marinade can be heard here (start with “Down Here”).  Kristen Van Dyke (and the bunnies) is a folk-influenced performer from Napa whose music can be sampled here (aim for “Nothing’s What it Seems” first).

NAPA HALF MARATHON – Sunday, September 28 at 7am

This half-marathon starts and finishes at Skyline Park (2201 Imola Avenue, Napa) and winds through Napa County with vineyards and spectacular vistas throughout the course.  Race day check-in and registration is at 6 am or, if you prefer, you can pick up your packets from 10 am to 6 pm on September 26 or 27 at Athletic Feat (3377 Solano Ave, Napa). For complete details and to register in advance ($80 per person) please go here (same-day registration, if available, will be $90 per person).

NAPA VALLEY ROCKS! CONCERT – Sunday, September 28 from 12pm – 5pm

Napa Valley Expo (575 3^rd Street, Napa) will host the Napa Valley Rocks! Concert, a family-friendly event featuring Kellie Fuller as the Mistress of Ceremonies, Bob St. Laurent as Master of Ceremonies, and entertainers Michael Franti & Spearhead plus Afrolicious and Grass Child. Tickets are $20 per person (although children under the age of 1 are free) and tickets can be purchased in advance by going here.  In and out privileges will be allowed.

This is a cash-only event and no outside food or beverages will be permitted, although food and drinks will be available for purchase.  Local restaurants and food trucks expected to be at the Napa Rocks! Concert are Ben & Jerry’s, Ca’ Momi, DivCo Dogs, Mark’s the Spot, Smokey’s BBQ, and Tacos Esperanza.  Wine will be provided by Napa Valley Vintners.  Beer options will include Napa Smith Brewery, Napa Point Brewing, and Lagunitas. There are many things not allowed onto the grounds during the event (pets, coolers, high-back chairs, etc.) so please go here for all of the details before you show up at the front gate.

NAPA VALLEY ROCKS! AFTER PARTY – Sunday, September 28 at 5 pm

After the Napa Rocks! Concert the fun continues at an After Party at City Winery (1300 Main Street, Napa).   With doors opening at 5 pm and the show starting at 6:30 pm, musical entertainment features The Buttercream Gang, Davenport, The Deadlies, The Iron Heart, and Pion 2 Zion. Tickets will be $20 per person at the door, or you can easily purchase tickets in advance for only $10 by going here.

Napa Valley Rocks! Community Event

THE COMMUNITY MOSIAC – now until September 30

Verve Napa Valley and The Grand Hand Gallery are organizing a Community Art Project to develop a mosaic and permanent memorial based on items which were broken in the earthquake. The project will create a unified art piece which will eventually be installed in downtown Napa. If you would like to contribute, items can be dropped off at The Grand Hand Gallery (1136 Main Street, Napa) between now and September 30.

Napa Valley Rocks! The Entire Valley

SELF-EXPLORATION – any time you want

Even outside of the Napa Valley Rocks! weekend events, the Napa Valley is full of enticing views, activities, and other attractions.  If you feel like doing some exploration on your own, you can click on the “Favorites by Wine Region” button on the navigation bar above and follow the drop-down menus to see our favorite wineries and restaurants in the Valley.

The Napa Valley Rocks! weekend is a collaboration of efforts to help Napa residents and businesses, and for complete details on the all of the activities (and see if there are any new ones) please go here. The Napa Valley Rocks! Coalition is an all volunteer group created through the generous contributions of time and resources by BottleRock Napa Valley, Napa Valley Expo, Napa Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Napa Association. Nearly everyone involved is donating their time and resources to maximize the financial benefit for quake relief efforts.