Napa Lighted Art Festival Delights Crowds

NAPA, CA — Parking garages were full, street parking was scarce and restaurants were packed over the weekend as hundreds trekked to downtown Napa for the opening of this year's Napa Lighted Art Festival.

The family-friendly, free, walkable outdoor event features 10 lighted art sculptures and four main projected artworks off of iconic buildings such as the First Presbyterian Church, the Native Sons Hall, the historic Napa County Courthouse and the Brown Street Corridor.

"Hands of Time" projected on the First Presbyterian Church is a spectacular display by artist mammasONica and a must-see and hear experience.

Children enjoyed playing at the bottom of "Agua", a three-story waterfall by Luciana Abait, without getting wet.

Over at Dwight Murray Plaza on First Street, children were able to climb up into a giant sculpture of a head by artist Martin Taylor/Chromaforms. On Sunday night, one child did not want to come down from inside the exhibit despite coaxing from mom — to the point that the boy's father had to climb up inside the giant head to retrieve the child and hand him off to his mother.

The Napa Lighted Art Festival, "Art After Dark," runs until Feb. 19. However, the incredible projected artworks using iconic buildings as a canvas ends Sunday, Jan. 29. Hours are from 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 p.m. 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

A family-friendly Lantern Parade will take place on Feb. 11 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the downtown Veterans Park. The short walk will be a loop around downtown and will return to the riverside park with music.

For more information go to Donapa.com/lights.

See a map below of the 2023 Napa Lighted Art Festival.