Hidden in plain sight: Yountville’s glass hearts return to town
A quiet morning walk through Yountville in February can once again turn into a moment of surprise and art.
That is the spirit behind “Find Your Heart in Yountville,” the annual public art treasure hunt that returns this weekend for its fourth year, inviting residents and visitors to search for handmade glass hearts tucked “in plain sight” along the town’s outdoor Art Walk.
Presented by the Yountville Arts Commission, the program unfolds over four weekends, Feb. 7–8 through Feb. 28 –March 1, transforming Yountville’s 33-piece Art Walk into a playful, walkable scavenger hunt that bleds art, community and the magic of the season of love.
Each Saturday and Sunday, town leaders and arts commissioners scatter 30 glass hearts throughout the Art Walk, a total of 60 per weekend, encouraging participants to slow down, look closely and engage with public art in a personal way.
The hearts are created by acclaimed local glass artist Janis Adams, who designs, fires, signs and numbers each one by hand. No two are alike.
“Find Your Heart in Yountville has become a joyful February tradition that reflects who we are as a community — welcoming, creative and connected through public art,” said Ronda Schaer, chair of the Yountville Art Walk. “We invite people to experience art beyond gallery walls.”
Suprises worth the search
A bonus is that families get out and walk, people may linger longer at public art sculptures, and longtime residents may see familiar sights a bit differently while looking for the hearts.
Open to all ages and free to the public, the program winds along Washington Street from Madison to California Drive, extending into nearby parks and side streets where the Art Walk’s sculptures are installed. Maps are available at the Yountville Community Center and Welcome Center.
A special highlight arrives on Valentine’s Day weekend, when on Saturday, Feb. 14, a larger yellow-mustard glass heart will be hidden somewhere along the route. The finder will not only get to keep the heart, but also receive a gift by stopping into the Steve Rogers Gallery, at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington St. that day between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
A tradition born over a friendly, arts-minded meet-up
The idea for the heart hunt came to life when two local arts leaders and innovators met.
“Arts Commissioner Noel Resnick and I had coffee to talk through an idea I had — hiding glass hearts along the Art Walk,” Schaer said. “She liked it, and before the conversation went much further, she named it ‘Find Your Heart in Yountville.’ We’ve used that name ever since.”
What started as a small community-focused project has grown into a seasonal tradition that now draws visitors from outside Yountville as well.
“The program was originally created to serve our community,” Schaer said. “But now we see people plan visits around it, bring friends, and spend more time with the sculptures as they search. That shared participation is part of the magic.”
Hearts will hide, rain or shine
Even winter weather has not slowed the hunt. “The heart-hiding goes on,” Schaer said. “Last year it rained two of the four weekends, but no one seemed to notice. We were all having too much fun.”
Behind the scenes, the effort is substantial. Adams produces the hearts over several months, working in segments as kiln space allows. In total, she creates about 280 hearts each year, plus the special Valentine’s Day piece.
The hearts are hidden by members of the Arts Commission along with town leadership, including the town manager and parks and recreation staff. “We all serve this program,” Schaer said.
According to Schaer, who will lead the charge in the hiding of the hearts, other dignitaries that will hide the hearts this year include Yountville Art Commissioners Geoffrey Leigh, Noel Resnick, PJ Hudson, Judy Meredith, David Damico and Linda Faber. From the town of Yountville, Town Manager Brad Raulston, Parks and Recreation Director Samantha Holland and Parks and Recreation Coordinator Katelyn Huss will also be out early on weekends placing hearts for hunters.
Art, kindness and connection
The timing of Find Your Heart in Yountville often overlaps with other February festivities, including the town’s Mardi Gras weekend. Rather than compete, the hunt is one more thing going on in town, adding artistic vibrancy to the Mustard Season. The project also aligns closely with the Yountville Arts Commission’s broader mission.
“Our mission is rooted in enriching the community through the arts,” Schaer said. “These handcrafted, signed and numbered hearts symbolize kindness and human connection. That mirrors our goal of bringing residents and visitors together through art.”
She also credited the Town Council and town leadership for supporting the program. “We couldn’t bring projects like this to the community without that support,” Schaer said.
One heart per hunter
As the program’s popularity has grown, so has one request from organizers: If you find a heart, keep just one. “All of us who scatter hearts know we can be, and often are, followed by heart-seekers,” Schaer said. “If you find one, treasure it. But please leave the others so someone else can experience that same happiness.”
What: Find Your Heart in Yountville
When: Weekends, Feb. 7–8, 14–15, 21–22 and Feb. 28–March 1
Where: Along the Yountville Art Walk, featuring 33 outdoor sculptures
Cost: Free and open to the public
Who: All ages welcome; residents and visitors encouraged to participate
Tip: Arrive early. Hearts are found quickly. Please keep only one heart per person.
