Markets and Music Return to Downtown Napa

The returns to the Oxbow District today from 7:30 to noon in the parking lot between the and long-shuttered Copia.

And that means we’ll soon be biting into a white-fleshed fuzzy peach, savoring the sweet crunchiness of an ear of corn, lying on a blanket in Veterans Park listening to talented local musicians and enjoying all the other fun, often free offerings in Napa for months to come.

The Tuesday and Saturday farmers markets will run through October, according to market board member Alicia Raymond.

This year the farmers will accept food stamps and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) vouchers, she said.

Along with fresh, locally grown produce and garden goods, prepared foods from regional chefs and crafts of many kinds, the markets also offer live music, children’s activities and .

President and CEO Craig Smith said is celebrating its 17th season with a May 19 kickoff.

Each Thursday evening through Aug. 4, downtown Napa’s First Street will be closed to traffic from 5 to 9 p.m. to make way for a lively mix of produce vendors, crafts, music, wine and mouth-watering food selections. 

Julie Morales, events manager for Chefs Market, said some changes have been made to the weekly fiesta.

The produce vendors will be located closer to the cooking demonstrations in Coombs Plaza off First Street, where chefs take center stage at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. and offer foodie cards with their recipes.

“It is hoped visitors will go to the produce vendors and buy the ingredients featured on the recipe cards,” said Morales.

Audience members will be able to sample the chefs’ foods with a taste of wine from one of the downtown wine boutiques.

For the first time, Chefs Market patrons can enjoy cuisine from the region’s famous food trucks, which will parked along Randolph Street.

Also new this year is a family center and arts block. “The focus will be on art, fitness and family fun,” Morales said.

Morales estimated that about 100 street vendors will be at the market this season.

Other free events coming up downtown include:

• Napa City Nights, Fridays 6-10 pm., June 3 through Sept. 16: live bands in Veterans Park on Main Street with the Napa River as a backdrop.
• The ninth annual Main Street Reunion Car Show, Saturday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show will feature more than 400 cars. New this year is the addition of motorcycles.
• Blues, Brews & BBQ, Saturday, Aug. 27, noon  to 6 p.m. For the third year, Napans will be able to quench their thirst with about 40 hard-to-find beers and listen to some of the Bay Area’s best blues bands.
• Napa River Wine & Crafts, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 200 artists are expected to converge on downtown Napa offering homemade crafts for sale.

There is also one event that will not be returning: The Napa River Festival has been canceled for lack of funding, according to Bernhard Krevet of festival sponsor Friends of the Napa River.

The city of Napa’s Parks and Recreation department also has plans for your summer, offering a range of fee-based activities including ballroom, Latin and belly dancing -- even fly fishing.

Young adults can take beginning fencing, gymnastics, martial arts and crossfit training.

For children there are cooking classes, story telling/story writing and summer camps offering swimming lessons and the  chance to brush up on math skills.

Free events include movies and teen band nights in Veterans Memorial Park.

Stacie Leach, the department’s coordinator, said offering events, classes and camps improves the quality of life.

“It is important to our standard of living,” she said.

Leach said new programs are constantly being tried that are suggested by participants. “We enjoy getting feedback.”

For more information about classes offered by Napa Parks and Recreation Department, call (707) 257-9529 or go to www.naparec.com.