Art Festival Shuttle Starts Running at 10 AM

Napa, CA · May 23, 2026

The morning mist is clinging to the riverbank this morning, but the buzz near the Oxbow suggests the holiday weekend is officially in gear. If you’re heading toward the Expo, keep an eye out for the first wave of shuttle buses.

📰 The Lead

The 45th Annual Napa Valley Art Festival returns to the Expo today, marking the unofficial start of the summer season. Over 200 West Coast artists are setting up shop, but the real story this year is the new "Emerging Locals" pavilion, which features high school and college artists from across the county.

Organizers expect record crowds over the next three days, prompting the city to activate a dedicated shuttle loop from the downtown parking garages to the Expo gates to ease the inevitable parking crunch. In a significant logistical shift, the festival has also moved to a zero-waste model, requiring all food vendors to use compostable materials. Gates open at 10:00 AM, and the shuttle runs every fifteen minutes until the final booths close for the evening.

🏙️ Local Pulse

  • Pool Season Begins — The municipal swimming center opens for public laps and family recreation starting at noon today.

  • Third Street Congestion — Expect heavy traffic near the Expo grounds through Monday as the holiday weekend festival gets underway.

  • Library Book Sale — The Friends of the Library are hosting a clearance event in the community room with most titles priced under two dollars.

🌫️ Today's Outlook

  • High 71°F · Low 54°F — Fog
    • The morning mist will burn off just in time for your second cup of coffee.

📅 What's On Around Town

  • Napa Farmers Market — 1100 West Street, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM Fresh cherries and live acoustic music to kick off your Saturday morning.

  • Napa Valley Art Festival — Napa Valley Expo, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM Hundreds of artists, local food trucks, and the new student gallery pavilion.

  • Blue Note Summer Sessions — Meritage Resort, 7:00 PM Outdoor jazz under the stars; bring a light jacket for the evening chill.

  • Yountville: Art, Sip & Stroll — Washington Street, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM A short drive north for gallery pop-ups and local wine tastings outdoors.

  • St. Helena: Sunrise Yoga — Crane Park, 7:00 AM (Sunday) Start the holiday Sunday with a free community flow on the grass.

📸 Spotlight & Story

  • The Hatt Building
    • Originally a 19th-century warehouse for coal and grain, this riverfront landmark now anchors the downtown district. Look closely at the brickwork to see the original iron rings once used to moor supply boats directly to the building’s foundation.

Napa Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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