Worth Mentioning – October 23, 2025
Worth Mentioning
Yountville Pumpkin Carving Contest
Pumpkins are due on Friday, Oct. 24, for Yountville’s Pumpkin Carving Contest, open to all ages. One pumpkin per person can be entered and must be dropped off at the Community Center between noon and 5 p.m.
Voting will take place at the Halloween Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. Winners will be announced and contacted on Monday, Oct. 27. To keep pumpkins that were entered, pick up them up on Monday, Oct. 27, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. To register, send an email to [email protected] with the carver’s name, age, email and phone number.
Free Community Center Halloween Carnival
Children ages 10 and under — although all ages are welcome — are invited to the free Yountville Halloween Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. A variety of activities including games, crafts, snacks and plenty of non-candy prizes will fill the event. A costume contest takes place at 3:15 p.m. Note: weapons (real or pretend), as well as scary or gory costumes, are not allowed. For safety, all children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration is required.
Ghost stories with Rebecca Yerger
Join local historian Rebecca Yerger at the Calistoga Library for spooky Napa Valley ghost stories, featuring eerie encounters with spirits, phantoms and otherworldly beings on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 2 to 3 p.m.
Yerger is a Napa Valley Native and professional historian, historic preservation consultant and writer.
Online registration is requested at https://napalibrary.libnet.info/event/14374876/. The Calistoga Library is at 1108 Myrtle St., Calistoga.
UpStage Napa Valley PlayFest
UpStage Napa Valley’s fifth Annual PlayFest is being held on weekends through Oct. 26 in Newton Hall at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Helena.
PlayFest features nine short plays written by local and national playwrights. A different series of plays will be held each weekend. This year’s theme is “You never know a good thing until it’s gone.” Plays will be directed by UpStage Napa Valley Artistic Director Sharie Renault and guest director and UpStage alum, Lauren Haugan.
Friday and Saturday night plays are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. General admission is $30 each or $75 for three nights. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. For more information about the nine plays and to purchase tickets, visit www.upstagenapavalley.org/.
UpStage Napa Valley is a nonprofit community theater company that thrives on local talent and support for the arts in Napa Valley.
Grace Episcopal Church is at 1314 Spring St., St. Helena
Inaugural Yountville Halloween Block Party
NoYo is the site of Yountville’s inaugural Halloween Block Party, set for Friday, Oct. 3, from 3 to 10 p.m. The word is that the northern section of Washington St. near Madison St. will be transformed into a spirited Halloween destination.
Washington St. will be closed, open only for foot traffic, Madison and Pedroni streets. Appropriate for all ages, the event will include:
- Live music and dancing with Steady Eddy and the Shakers
- Dog costume contest and pageant presented by Waggin’ Trails Rescue (Sign-up for the contest can be made on site.)
- Special activations, offers and treats from local businesses
- The program will begin at 4:45 p.m. with the Dog Costume Contest at 5 p.m. and live music beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Halloween festivities include spooky treats, drinks, karaoke and lawn games to provide something for everyone. All of Washington St. will be open to revelers before and after the Block Party for family-friendly activities, while some businesses plan to remain open late that night for after-parties.
“We are excited to welcome the community and visitors to this one-of-a-kind event,” said Natalie Leighton, president and CEO of the Yountville Chamber of Commerce. “The Halloween Block Party is a celebration of Yountville’s vibrant spirit and our incredible local businesses.”
Admission to the Halloween Block Party is free and open to the public. Costumes are encouraged!
Cal Fire lifts burn permit suspension
Effective Monday, Oct. 13, the burn permit suspension in the counties of Colusa, Lake, Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties was lifted.
Cal Fire LNU Unit Chief Matt Ryan advised that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days. Agriculture burns must be inspected by Cal Fire prior to burning until the end of the peak fire season. Inspections may be required for burns other than agricultural burns.
Residents wishing to burn must verify it is a permissive burn day prior to burning. Napa County residents can call Bay Area Air Quality Management District at 1-877-466-2876
In Napa County, notify Cal Fire LNU before burning by calling 707-963-4112, along with your county’s local dispatch center.
For more information about burning and for specific requirements and guidelines, visit www.fire.ca.gov/.
Napa County Historical Society exhibition
Napa County Historical Society’s new exhibition, “The Valley Beautiful: Art,” will run from Oct. 10 through March 28, 2026, at the Goodman Library in Napa.
“The Valley Beautiful: Art” is the final installation of the three-part exhibition series (following “The Valley Beautiful: Music” and “The Valley Beautiful: Architecture”), which tells the story of Napa Valley’s beauty and how cultural pride and a sense of community have employed architecture, music and art from the earliest historic times to present day.
The series is sponsored in part by Napa County Arts & Culture Committee Grant, Provident Credit Union and Community Projects.
For more information, visit napahistory.org/. The Goodman Library is at 1219 First St., Napa.
Connected Horse at Sunrise Horse Rescue
Sunrise Horse Rescue in Calistoga is partnering with Connected Horse and Providence Healthcare to provide free workshops this fall to people living with memory loss and their care partners. The last workshop is set for Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Connected Horse coordinates horse-guided workshops for people living with dementia and their care partners. Programs provide innovative equine-assisted sessions that inspire connection and engagement and improve the lives of those impacted by dementia and their care partners.
At the workshops, participants can experience the connection, calm and communication that being with horses can bring. Sunrise Horse Rescue is a nonprofit horse sanctuary that rescues abused and neglected horses. The organization is dedicated to saving horses and providing them with forever homes.
For more information about the workshops, or to register, email Melissa Gerard at [email protected] or call 707-815-6258. Sunrise Horse Rescue is at 1400 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga.
Secured property tax bills available
Secured property tax bills for 2025-26 are now available online to view and pay.
To access bills, property owners can enter their assessment parcel number (APN) or property address on the Napa County Property Assessment and Fee Parcel Search web page at https://common2.mptsweb.com/mbc/napa/tax/search/.
Property taxes can be paid online, by mail, in person or by phone. For information and steps to pay using the available methods, visit the Napa County Treasurer-Tax Collector web page at www.countyofnapa.org/1260/How-to-Pay-Your-Property-Taxes/.
The first installment of taxes is due on Nov. 1 and will become delinquent if not paid by Dec. 10. Delinquent payments will incur a 10% penalty. The second installment is due on Feb. 1 and will become delinquent if not paid by April 10. Delinquent payments will incur a 10% penalty plus a $10 fee.
For questions, call the Napa County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office at 707-253-4327 or email [email protected]. The Napa County Tax Collector’s office is at 1195 Third St., Suite 108, Napa, CA 94559.
Lighted Tractor Parade submissions
Rain or moonlight, Calistoga’s annual Lighted Tractor Parade will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 7 to 8 p.m. This year’s route will follow Lincoln Avenue from Stevenson Street to Cedar Street.
The Calistoga Chamber of Commerce is accepting submission for entries, which will be accepted through Nov. 13 on a first-come, first-served basis. The parade is limited to the first 50 complete entries. The fee is $45 for a tractor or vehicle. Entries will receive staging and parade line up information by Nov. 27. Staging will begin at 3:30 p.m. on parade day.
For a list of guidelines and to submit an application, visit https://tinyurl.com/p8wv9kzk/.
Those interested in sponsoring the event can email [email protected]. The Chamber is also seeking volunteers for the holiday parade. All volunteers will receive a boxed dinner. Students will earn community service hours, and volunteers ages 21 and up will receive a Winter in the Wineries Passport, which is good for complimentary tastings at 19 wineries along with special lodging, spa, retail and restaurant deals. Sign up to volunteer by Nov. 18 at https://tinyurl.com/4vhkxv9h/.
Volunteer classroom tutors needed upvalley
UpValley Family Centers is recruiting volunteer tutors to help in classrooms at Calistoga and St. Helena schools.
Volunteers will work one-on-one with students in group settings or classrooms to provide general assistance based on student and teacher needs. Tutoring will take place on campus during school hours at participating schools.
Subject matter includes reading, writing, math and social skills. There is also a need in Calistoga for volunteers willing to lead sports and arts activities during recess and lunch time. Volunteers are asked to commit at least one hour a week throughout the school year.
The nonprofit is also seeking volunteers interested in helping with the following: craft closet organization, event invite and reminder phone calls or yard maintenance.
Those interested in UpValley Family Center volunteer opportunities can fill out a volunteer interest form online at: https://upvalleyfamilycenters.org/volunteer/. For additional questions, email Michael Bozman at: [email protected]/.
Vine Transit expands Route 29-BART service
The Vine Transit has expanded its Route 29 Napa-BART Connector to include Saturday service, offering nine round trips between the Redwood Park & Ride in Napa and the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station.
It is made possible through a partnership between the NVTA, Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the county of Napa. It will operate as a pilot program from August 2025 through June 2026. Both Vine and BART use Clipper Cards.
For more information, call 707-251-2800 or visit https://vinetransit.com/vine-transit-expands-route-29-bart-connection-with-saturday-service/.
Napa Humane expands dog training
Napa Humane has expanded its training programs to create additional opportunities for local dog owners to build lasting bonds with their pets.
New programming includes a manners class for children ages 8 and older to take the lead in dog training, with parents assisting. These include:
- a hybrid class for anxious or fearful dogs, beginning virtually at home before transitioning to in-person sessions;
- a progressive three-class series teaching dogs to come when called, even around distractions;
- a three-class series focusing on polite walking, passing distractions and calm neighborhood manners.
The new classes are in addition to Napa Humane’s other popular classes, which include Puppy Preschool, Basic Manners and Canine Charm School.
By using positive reinforcement methods and keeping class sizes small, the program helps dogs develop practical skills and good manners while giving owners the tools to communicate effectively with their companions.
Registration is open at www.napahumane.org/. Space is limited, and classes fill quickly.
The new training location is at 3285 Old California Way in Napa, next to Napa Humane’s spay/neuter clinic.
New Grand Jury complaint process
Nineteen Napa County residents have been empaneled to the Napa County Civil Grand Jury, and an additional five residents were selected as alternates for a term that runs through June 2026.
The grand jury is responsible for investigating and reporting on the operations, accounts, and records of local government officers and agencies. Grand jurors also have the power to investigate citizen complaints about local government.
The grand jury recently made the citizen complaint process easier to use. Previously, complaints were filled out on a printed form and mailed or emailed to the grand jury. The new online form streamlines that process by eliminating the redundancy of printing and sending via the new digital format. The complaint forms are available in English and Spanish. For grand jury reports and more information, visit: www.napa.courts.ca.gov/general-information/grand-jury/. For additional questions, contact the Napa County Superior Court executive office by phone at 707-299-1110 or by email at [email protected]
