The valley flips to holiday mode this month, and the calendar is already filling up. Here's the short list I'd actually plan around, whether you live here or you're visiting to see what the fuss is about.
The Meritage Resort's winter setup is the big one: Napa Valley's largest outdoor ice skating rink, private rinkside cabins, fire pits, and a holiday pop-up bar called Holly Jolly Hideaway at Sora Napa. It all kicks off November 19 at 875 Bordeaux Way. Book the cabins early; they go.
Yountville's holiday season runs from November 22 through January 1 with over 100 events packed into six weeks: wine tastings, crafting workshops, gift shopping, cooking classes, and open houses. The town does lights better than anywhere else in the valley. Pick a weeknight if you want parking.
Carneros Resort and Spa is doing "Thanksgiving at Home" takeout feasts the week of Thanksgiving (Diestel turkey, sides, Parker House rolls), plus hands-on pie-making workshops November 7 and 14 if you'd rather show off than outsource.
The downtown parade is coming; float applications are due to the city by November 17. It's the small-town-America kind of parade where you know half the people on the floats. Watch the city's page for the date.
People ask me all the time what living here is actually like. This is it: the off-season isn't off. If you're visiting this month and catch yourself doing the math on a move, I'm happy to be your reality check on neighborhoods and numbers.
Sources: City of Napa Holiday Parade page, Yountville holiday events calendar, and Carneros Resort and Meritage Resort event listings (all accessed Nov 2, 2026).
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.