The Magic and Spirit of the Holidays Abound in the Heart of the Napa Valley as Residents and Visitors Gather to Celebrate the Season.
Thousands of amber twinkling lights will illuminate the streets of Yountville on Friday, November 25 as the town welcomes the holiday season with the 17th Annual Festival of Lights. Beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing into the evening, Yountville will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland complete with carolers, dancers and delightful holiday characters. When night falls, from 6 to 9 p.m., horse-drawn carriages will escort guests through the streets of Yountville to view the lights.
“This annual holiday celebration is an ideal way for families and friends to enjoy the magic of the season outdoors in one of California’s most unique towns,” said Victoria Baxter, executive director of the Yountville Chamber of Commerce. “All of Yountville’s businesses and residents participate in the event, which provides a distinctive community environment for residents and visitors alike.”
In addition to carolers and dancers, the day’s festivities also include a visit from Santa Claus in the early afternoon, ice-carving demonstrations by skilled artists and an official town-lighting ceremony at dusk. The famed restaurants and wineries of Yountville will also be a part of the festivities, with booths set up along Washington Street boasting an array of culinary delights. Yountville shops will remain open until late to kick-off the holiday shopping season and restaurants will remain open late for dinner guests. Yountville welcomes visitors to enjoy the season through December with horse-drawn carriage rides through town available Saturday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. from the festival kick-off through Saturday, December 10. Admission to the festival is free of charge and this year’s festivities will be held on Washington Street, along a block that will be closed to traffic for the event. Commemorative wine glasses will be sold at the event.
Best known for its country charm and cosmopolitan luxuries, Yountville is a charming one-mile walking town, surrounded by rolling foothills and rich countrysides. Located along the 26-mile route from Napa to Calistoga, the town was founded in 1855 by George C. Yount. In the past two decades, Yountville has gained notoriety as one of the Napa Valley’s premier wine and fine-dining destinations, with more than a dozen wineries and world-renown restaurants. For more information about Yountville or the Festival of Lights, contact the Yountville Chamber of Commerce at (707) 944-0904 or visit www.yountville.com.