RSS Amplifier

Napa Kids · Jul 1, 2026

The July Dr🎈p | Summer in Napa Valley 🛼

Read inOriginalenesdefrptjaittr
0
Sign in to vote or save

Napa Kids · Napa Kids

We made it - it’s officially summer-time!

July has a different feel than June, doesn’t it? June is all anticipation — school’s out, anything’s possible. July is when summer actually lands. You’ve figured out which parks work at 8am versus 5pm, which kids need more structure than you gave them, and whether your family is a “plan three things a week” family or a “wing it until everyone’s grumpy” family. Both are valid and we’re here for all of it!

This edition is jam packed with events in the valley and around the Bay Area to keep your options fresh! Everything from Independence Day planning to local community days you can plan your weekly dinners around. There’s also a free California State Parks Pass that takes 30 seconds to download and is good all year, so don’t sleep on that one ;)

Lastly, check out the summer bucket list section towards the end — a mix of some easy stuff and a few day trips worth planning around. We hope you find it useful and that it makes its way into your own family traditions in some shape, size, or form 🎁

P.S. Don’t miss out on your FREE CA State Parks Historian Pass!

In honor of Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of American independence, California is offering a special edition California State Parks Historian Passport for free. From now through July 6, Californians can download a Historian Passport for free on ReserveCalifornia.com and use it for unlimited visits to participating parks until the end of 2026.

Upcoming Events

  1. July 1st: Don’t miss The Bubble Lady at 2:30pm, Yountville Community Center

  2. July 1st-5th: Marin County Fair, “Stars, Stripes & Stories,” at the Marin County Fairgrounds. Kids 12 and under get in free on 7/1! Fireworks nightly. San Rafael.

  3. July 8th: Jack and the Beanstalk Puppet Show. 9:30 & 10:45 at Napa Library, and 2:30pm at Yountville Community Center

  4. July 9th: Thursday Crafts: Matisse’s Garden for 7+ and all supplies are provided. 3-4pm. Napa Library.

  5. July 11th: Cotati’s 33rd Annual Kids Day Parade & Festival! All kids can join the parade, free pancake breakfast, games, costumes encouraged. 8am - 3pm, Cotati.

  6. July 12th (& Aug. 9th!): Sunday Funday at Sonoma Botanical Garden. Enjoy hands-on art, family yoga, lawn games, and explore the garden exhibition. 1-4pm, Sonoma Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen.

  7. July 12th: Encanto Sing-a-long at The Castro Theater, San Francisco.

  8. July 13th: Family Movie Night: Bee Movie. Children are welcome to bring a pillow and come in pajamas. Popcorn and refreshments will be provided. Napa Library.

  9. July 15th: Honey Slime. 6+ and all supplies will be provided. 5:30-6:30. Napa Library. Registration required.

  10. July 15th: Backyard Bugs and Beyond. 9:30-12:30 at Napa Library, and 2:30pm-3:15pm at Yountville Library

  11. July 16th: Uncle Jer’s Traveling Bee Show. Great for kids 5+. 3:30-4:30pm. Napa Library.

  12. July 17th Lucha Libro 1:30 pm Yountville Community Center

  13. July 17th-19th: Flynn Creek Circus presents The Cricket & the Wren, a fairytale journey featuring aerialists, jugglers, knife throwers, and comedic punches throughout. Tickets start at $24. Calistoga Fairgrounds.

  14. July 18th: Summer Playdates with Napa Parks and Rec at Fuller Park features puppet shows, music, giant bubbles, arts & crafts, and face painting. 10am - noon, Fuller Park.

  15. July 18th: Bastille Day SF & 250 years of French-American Friendship - hop on the ferry and enjoy the celebration taking place at Embarcadero Plaza, SF, 11am - 6pm.

  16. July 18th: Park-A-Month Volunteer Event! Join Napa Parks & Recreation for a volunteer workday each month at one of our parks or landscape areas. These family-friendly workdays are fun and productive, and help beautify our Napa park system. Trancas Crossing Park, Napa.

  17. July 19th: Japan Week & Day - the annual summer festival of Japanese arts and culture including performances of taiko drumming, awa odori dance, karate, and other traditional art forms like calligraphy, origami, and washi ningyo paper dolls making. SF Japantown, 12pm - 5pm.

  18. July 20th: Kids & Critters Comes to Napa Humane! Join for a hands-on evening where children ages 5-12 will learn how to read animal body language, safely greet new animals, meet animal ambassadors, and more! 5:30-7pm. $10/child, Napa Humane Pet Education Center.

  19. July 22nd: Circus of Smiles at 2:30pm, Yountville Community Center

  20. July 25th: 19th Annual Petaluma Music Festival. Kids 12 and under are free. Great music and family fun including bouncy houses, face painting, petting zoo, toddler zone, arts & crafts, and more! Festival tickets are $68 + fees.

  21. July 25 & 26th: Life in Space Festival at the SF Exploratorium. 11am - 4pm.

  22. July 26th: Storytime with the Russian River Sisters! The Sisters will be spinning enchanting tales that will whisk you away to magical lands, there will be rock hunts, BBQ, and costumes are encouraged. 1-2:30pm, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve at Smokey’s Den, Guerneville.

  23. July 29th: The Magic Entertainment of John Gardenier at 2:30pm, Yountville Community Center

  24. July 30th: Petaluma’s annual The Great Summer Sidewalk Sale is on! Head down and support the local downtown businesses and nab some great deals at the same time.

  25. July 30th-Aug 3rd: Space Week at Chabot is a great destination for space curious kids. Oakland

  26. July 31st: Movie in the Vineyard: The Sandlot. Non-members $40, kids under 21 are free. Laird Family Estate, Napa.

  27. July 31st: Yountville’s Annual Camp Out. Grab some friends and make it a new tradition. Tickets include tent space, s’mores, continental breakfast, movie (Elio).

  1. Ongoing Fun Napa Library Summer Reading Adventure — this year's theme is "Plant a Seed, Read." Reading log rewards become available July 11th through August 8th — stop by your local branch or log online.

  2. Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse continues every Wednesday at 9:30am, $1.75 tickets, through Aug. 13.

  3. July Weekends: Lavender U-pick

  4. Napa County Fair, August 6th-9th. Presale tickets are on sale now!

  5. Sonoma County Fair, August 7th-16th. Presale tickets are on sale now!

  6. Boring Farm Organic Raspberry U-Picking, Sebastopol, every Saturday — reservations required, and it remains one of the fastest memory-makers of the summer.

  7. Napa County Library Events Calendar

This year’s Fourth of July isn’t just any Fourth — it’s the semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. But don’t worry, you don’t look a day over 150!

9am: The Rotary Club of Napa Fourth of July Parade kicks things off and will make the loop around 2nd and 3rd streets between School and Brown.

3pm - 10pm: The Oxbow Commons Festival with a Kids Zone featuring inflatables, carnival games and magic shows (until 8 pm), live music and more. A FREE bike valet will be available.

9:30pm: Sky Elements will dazzle the sky with their 400-drone show. Top viewing spots include: Oxbow Commons, the 1st and 3rd Street Bridge sidewalks, Veterans Memorial Park, China Point, and the Riverfront Green and Promenade.

Calistoga

  • 11am: Parade down Lincoln Ave and if you’re looking to sweeten the deal, book a viewing spot at The Village Calistoga and enjoy a relaxed front-row spot to watch the parade, open play for the kids, freeze pops, and cool drinks (tickets here).

  • 7pm - 10pm: Join the community at Pioneer Park for a Laser Light Show beginning at 9pm. Bring blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy this family-friendly event.

St. Helena (July 3rd & 4th)

  • 5:30 - 8:30pm: On July 3rd head to Crane Park for family activities, live music, and food vendors.

  • 5:30pm: Bring a picnic on July 4th and enjoy this local tradition featuring patriotic classics performed by the Saint Helena Community Band.

Yountville
American Canyon

  • 3pm: The parade kicks off along Elliott Drive

  • 4pm - 8pm: Community festival with live music, food vendors, and family activities.

  • at dusk: the valley’s only traditional fireworks display will begin!

  • 10am - 12pm: Parade around the plaza

  • 8am - 5pm: Plaza Celebration including live music, local vendors, food & drinks provided by the Sonoma Valley Volunteer Firefighters and Professional Firefighters Union 3593, family activities, and a kid-friendly splash zone.

  • At dusk: Firework display

Santa Rosa

  • 10am - 1pm: Head to Courthouse Square for We The People 250th Birthday Bash featuring live music, speakers, family-friendly activities. This event is sponsored by a number of local and national organizations including Vidas, KBBF radio station, Indivisible Sonoma County, and Code Pink.

  • 5pm - 9:15pm: Red, White and Pillow Fights will be taking place at the Sonoma Fairgrounds. The event will feature a lot of fun, live DJ and singers, a special presentation by the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard, kids activities, local food, and more! Read more about the local history around this event.

  • 4:30 - 10pm: Santa Rosa Symphony Transcendence Theatre Company presents the 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is a family-friendly performance bringing a mix of Broadway hits and patriotic classics to the stage, followed by a fireworks display. Kid Zone is open between 4:30 - 7pm, with carnival games, bounce houses, food, music and more. Half-price lawn seats are available for kids 12 and under. Tickets start at $46.

Kenwood
Petaluma

  • 8:30 - 10pm: If you’re looking for something a little different, Floathouse Petaluma is hosting its 3rd annual Floathouse Fireworks Paddle along the Petaluma River. Tickets are $60 and include popcorn and the show.

Monte Rio, Russian River

  • 12pm - 4pm: Head to the river for its annual Big Rocky Games event on July 3rd & 4th. The event features rubber duck races, Hula-Hoop contest, water balloon tosses and more family-friendly games at Monte Rio Beach.

For a complete Bay Area 4th of July Parade, Firework, and Events list, check out this awesome compilation by Ronnies Awesome List.

🧡 Tag Napa Kids in your pics! We love to see how you celebrate!

If you’ve been curious to see what all the hype is about, this fall is sure to thrill! Whether you call it entertainment, enrichment, or life skills training Studio G has got something for every young performer.

  • Registration is now open for Studio G’s 2026–2027 season.

  • Programs include Matilda Jr., High School Musical Jr., Triple Threat, and Design & Tech Theatre.

  • Classes are intentionally kept small to provide personalized instruction and meaningful performance opportunities.

  • Productions are performed at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center.

  • Classes are already filling quickly, and enrollment is limited, so don’t wait!

  • Register today at www.studiognapa.com and let the spotlight find your child this fall! 🎭

Napa Kids began as a little passion project to uncover local events, connect families, and support local businesses 💛 If you’ve been enjoying what we share we’d be so grateful if you considered supporting us with a small donation, it helps us keep the fun (and the info!) coming!

Pledge your support!

One of our favorite annual traditions to create a Summer Bucket List full of a range of activities that are high on our excitement lists. We try to focus on creating a mix of local and quintessential summertime things, like lemonade stands and long bike rides, as well as a few big ticket items that we can plan and look forward to together — maybe a day trip to float on the Russian River or a weekend at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

There are a few tricks and habits that we’ve nailed down over the years and are easy to weave into the mix and make it more fun for the slow and the fast days:

  1. Include any extra exciting items that you know are coming up that maybe the kids aren’t privy to yet. For example, a floating obstacle course made our list this year and I happen to know there’s one available during our vacation this year. That made it easy to add to the list with confidence.

  2. Another feature is skill development, which helps take advantage of “boring” days by encouraging and celebrating their summer wins and efforts. That might look like riding a bike, mastering the monkey bars, or learning to tie their shoes for the younger crowd and for bigger kids it could be getting comfortable riding down the ramps at the skate park, completing a favorite book series, or learning to do the splits after committing to a daily stretching regimen.

  3. Make it educational — whatever your kids are into right now, I guarantee there’s something within 3 hours that will encourage deeper learning experiences. My kids are really curious about sea animals and marine life right now so we recently took a quick 1:15 minute drive out to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito (which is free to visit!) and got to explore their interactive conservation displays and observe their current rescue residents: about 30 seals and sea lions. Mega mom points!

  4. Memorialize the moment when you capture one of the bucket list items! We started taking polaroids when we tick off an item and tape it up on the oversized “list” we made. So far it’s been a good reminder of all the fun we’re having together, despite those inevitable borrrrring days ;)

  • Goatlandia Farm Animal Sanctuary, Sebastopol — a guided tour where the kids meet rescued goats (the namesakes), pigs, horses, and peacocks. Vegan picnic lunch options available, gift shop included.

  • Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve, Guerneville — when Muir Woods feels too crowded, this is the towering, centuries-old redwood alternative with easy trails, a visitor center, and free admission.

  • Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville — a nearly 100-year-old Russian River beach tradition. Rent a paddle boat or inner tube, grab a snack from the snack bar, and let the day unfold the way Sonoma summers have for generations.

  • The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito — the world’s largest marine mammal hospital offers a genuinely fascinating, free, self-guided visit where kids can see real rescued seals and sea lions in rehab.

  • Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa — for the Peanuts-obsessed kid (or adult), a deep dive into the storytelling behind one of the most beloved comic strips ever drawn. Oh, next door is the Snoopy Ice Skating Rink with open skate hours, as well as down the road from the Children’s Museum of Sonoma.

  • Spirit Guides sculpture exhibition, Sonoma County — eight larger-than-life sculptures inspired by the Zapotec calendar, depicting hybrid animal spirit guides. On view through September 7th, and genuinely striking in person.

  • Spring Lake Water Park, Santa Rosa — this semi-hidden lake features a swimming area, a floating water park, climbing walls … safe bet for a range of ages and interests!

  • A’s at Sutter Health Park, Sacramento — Catch one of the “Oakland” A’s last games in California before their big move to Las Vegas for the 2027 season. Games are played in the evenings so there’s plenty of time to hit the riverfront or checkout a local museum while you’re up there!

Last but not least… your friendly reminder on these sweet, sweet summer series’ around the valley 🤘 Make this your dinner to-go or picnic meal night, and start catching those summertime feels! Grab some friends, some wheels, and let the good times roll.

Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Sundays

No posts

Read the original on napakids.substack.com ↗

Comments

Nothing yet. Say the first thing.

    Sign in to join the conversation.