My bad.
Let’s address the elephant in the inbox: I think that was my first missed Lowdown ever.
Sorry to everyone who missed it as part of their routine, and thank you to everyone who reached out. It genuinely does not feel quite right to say “I’m fine” and then disappear, but what, a girl can’t take a sick day?
Just had some stuff to take care of and then got sick on top of it, but we are here.
Today will just be a quick run-through of what is going on for the Fourth of July around Napa and nearby towns, and then we will be fully back on Monday.
Promise ;)
Trivia: Which American president was born on July 4th?
Fourth of July, Town by Town
If you are trying to figure out where to go for the Fourth, the answer kind of depends on what kind of Fourth you want.
Napa has the modern drone-show version, Sonoma has the classic small-town postcard version, Yountville has the calmer picnic version, St. Helena is doing the early-bird version, and Vallejo is apparently doing every version at once.
Napa
Napa 4th of July Parade
Napa starts the day with the classic downtown parade, which is probably the most straightforward hometown Fourth option on the list. Floats, local groups, and the kind of thing that makes downtown feel like an actual town for a morning.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, 9:30 a.m.
Location: Downtown Napa, along 2nd and 3rd Streets
Oxbow Commons Celebration
After the parade, the main Napa celebration moves over to Oxbow Commons for the afternoon and evening. Expect live music, food, a kids zone with inflatables and carnival games, and magic shows.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, 3 to 10 p.m.
Location: Oxbow Commons, Napa
Napa Drone Show
Napa is doing drones instead of traditional fireworks again.The show is set for 9:30 p.m., with recommended viewing around Oxbow Commons, the 1st and 3rd Street Bridge sidewalks, Veterans Memorial Park, China Point, and the Riverfront Green / Promenade.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, 9:30 to 9:45 p.m.
Location: Over Oxbow Commons / downtown Napa viewing areas
St. Helena
St. Helena Third of July Celebration
St. Helena is getting a head start with a Third of July celebration at Crane Park, because apparently even Independence Day gets a soft opening now. This one has family activities, live music, food vendors, and a double milestone: St. Helena’s 150th anniversary and America’s 250th.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Friday, July 3, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Crane Park, 360 Crane Ave., St. Helena
Yountville
Yountville Fourth of July Celebration
Yountville is doing the calmer park version of the Fourth, which might be exactly what some people need. There will be live music, food and beverages, family activities, lawn games, face painting, and complimentary Ben & Jerry’s while supplies last.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: Veterans Memorial Park, 6465 Washington St., Yountville
Vallejo
Vallejo’s 171st July 4th Parade
Vallejo starts with a big downtown parade, which has been doing this long enough to earn the “171st” in the title. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and runs through downtown, so this is the morning anchor if you are looking outside Napa proper.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Downtown Vallejo, 300 Georgia Street, Vallejo
Mad Hatter July 4th Waterfront Festival
The Mad Hatter Waterfront Festival is the most Vallejo-sounding thing on this entire list, in a good way. It includes a maritime dog parade, vendor market, food, entertainment, and evening fireworks, which is a lot of Fourth in one place.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, day-long celebration
Location: Barbara Kondylis Waterfront Park / Vallejo Waterfront
Spirit Ship Celebration on Mare Island
Mare Island has its own evening celebration, marking America’s 250th birthday and Vallejo’s 175th anniversary. Expect live music from The Floorshakers, magic, food trucks, drinks, a kids zone, and a custom drone light show to close the night.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Mare Island Promenade / Coal Sheds, 860 Nimitz Ave., Vallejo
Six Flags Star-Spangled Nights
Six Flags is doing its own drone-show version of the holiday on both July 3 and July 4. This is the bigger, louder, theme-park option if your group wants rides, crowds, and a synchronized drone show at the end of it.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, drone show at 9:15 p.m.
Location: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo
Sonoma
Sonoma Fourth of July Parade
Sonoma is doing the classic small-town version, starting with a parade around the historic Plaza. This is probably the postcard option: town square, community groups, flags, families, and the whole thing.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.
Location: Sonoma Plaza
Sonoma Plaza Celebration
After the parade, Sonoma keeps things going around the Plaza with an old-fashioned festival. Expect food, drinks, games, and booths run by local nonprofits, with proceeds supporting Sonoma’s nonprofit community.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Sonoma Plaza
Sonoma Fireworks
Sonoma closes the night with fireworks above General Vallejo’s Field, which is the traditional version if drones are not doing it for you. The city describes it as a long-running Sonoma tradition, so this is the classic fireworks pick.
Details
Day, Date, Time: Saturday, July 4, fireworks at dusk
Location: Above General Vallejo’s Field, Sonoma
And the answer to today’s trivia:
Calvin Coolidge, born on July 4, 1872.
Again, sorry for missing the last one, and sorry for the abbreviated Friday Game Plan today. I did take a quick look around and, honestly, did not see a ton outside of the Fourth of July stuff, so that is where most of the planned events seem to be this weekend.
We will be back in the full swing of things next week with way more helpful stuff, events, and the usual local odds and ends.
Wishing you all great health and a safe Fourth of July.
See you Monday.