5 Best Labor Day Festivities in Napa Valley for 2026

Labor Day festivities in Napa Valley coincide with the late summer harvest season. In 2026, the holiday weekend brings winery parties, live music, and harvest-focused dining, giving visitors several ways to build a long weekend around wine-country experiences. 

 

Napa Valley Labor Day Weekend 2026 at a Glance

These events range from a free afternoon of music to a $900 harvest dinner, so compare timing, location, and budget before booking. Most take place in Napa, Yountville, or St. Helena, so location will make a big difference in how you plan your weekend.

#1. CHANDON Labor Day Garden Party in Yountville

CHANDON’s final Garden Party of the season is one of the clearest matches for travelers seeking Labor Day festivities with a Napa feel. On Sunday, September 6, its Yountville garden becomes a relaxed setting for sparkling wine, seasonal food, music, and time outdoors.

What to Expect at the Labor Day Garden Party

The party runs from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Admission is $35, or $30 for Club CHANDON members, and includes a welcome splash; additional wine and seasonal dishes are sold separately. A DJ and lawn games give the afternoon more of a picnic-party feel than a standard tasting appointment.

Local tip: If you want a quieter start, try arriving near opening and plan to linger for lunch rather than rushing off to your next reservation. Since Yountville is small, it’s also easy to combine this with a stroll through town before or after.

#2. Bottles, Banjos & Burritos at RD Winery

The September 5 gathering brings together live banjo music, wine, burritos, and open-air seating in a relaxed setting that doesn’t require a formal reservation or seated winery experience.

What to Expect at Bottles, Banjos & Burritos

The event runs from noon–3 p.m. Admission is free, and you can purchase food and wine. RD is Napa Valley’s first Vietnamese-owned winery and has a relaxed lounge and garden setting, Asian-inspired food pairings, and low- and non-alcoholic options. Its regular Saturday tasting-room hours extend until 7 p.m.

Local tip: You do not need to leave as soon as the music ends if you want to spend more time at the winery. For a separate tasting or food-and-wine pairing, reserve ahead rather than assuming the free event guarantees tasting availability.

#3. Carnivus Maximus XXVI at Crocker & Starr

Carnivus Maximus XXVI marks the 30th-anniversary harvest celebration and the winery’s signature annual event at the historic Crocker & Starr Winery in St. Helena, California. Held over Labor Day weekend as Napa’s harvest season begins, Crocker & Starr will celebrate its 30th Anniversary Harvest on Sunday, September 6th, with an estate-wide gathering featuring wine, food, live music, and games.

What Makes Carnivus Maximus a Napa Harvest Celebration?

From noon–3 p.m., guests can taste current releases alongside rare library magnums and three-liter bottles, with food including oysters, wood-fired pizza, barbecue, paella, cheese, and charcuterie. General admission is $250, while Casali members pay less depending on membership level.

Local tip: Treat this as your main afternoon wine-and-food reservation rather than adding another tasting nearby. Crocker & Starr encourages rideshare or drop-off, which is worth considering if you plan to enjoy the library pours.

#4. Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions: Babyface

For visitors looking for concerts in Napa over Labor Day weekend, Babyface brings a major Sunday-night option to the city. The September 6 performance is outdoors at Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions at The Meritage Resort and Spa.

What to Know About the Babyface Labor Day Weekend Concert

The show begins at 8 p.m. Seating includes reserved Sapphire, Gold, and Silver sections, plus a Bronze Lawn standing area where blankets are allowed but chairs are not. Food and drinks are available onsite, and parking costs $18 in advance or $25 on show day; concert ticket prices vary by seating and availability.

Local tip: The concert is outdoors and runs rain or shine, so bring a light evening layer even after a warm Napa afternoon. If you choose lawn admission, arrive with enough time to find a comfortable spot before the performance begins.

#5. Luminary Harvest Weekend: La Paulée Celebration Dinner

La Paulée is the special-occasion choice among these Labor Day festivities. Held at The Home Ranch at Lawrence Wine Estates in St. Helena, the dinner celebrates the beginning of harvest through a Burgundian-inspired communal feast.

What to Expect at the La Paulée Celebration Dinner

The September 5 dinner runs from 5–9 p.m. and costs $900, or $720 for members. Guests begin with Champagne and passed hors d’oeuvres before a multi-course dinner by chef Shota Nakajima, paired with pre-release and library wines from Heitz Cellar.

Local tip: Make this the centerpiece of Saturday rather than following several afternoon tastings. The event calls for wine-country cocktail attire, so leave enough time to return to your hotel and change before heading to St. Helena.

What to Do on Labor Day Weekend Morning in Napa Valley

Most of these Labor Day weekend events start around midday or later, which leaves your mornings wide open for one of Napa Valley’s most iconic experiences. A hot air balloon ride is the perfect way to begin the day before heading into brunch, an afternoon winery celebration, or an evening concert.

Start With a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

Napa Valley Aloft offers sunrise balloon flights with Yountville check-in at The Estate Yountville. The full experience takes about three to four hours, shared-flight pricing currently starts around $300 per person, and flights generally last 45–60 minutes in the air, with pre-flight pastries and hot beverages included.

Multiple potential launch locations give pilots flexibility to choose a site based on morning conditions. This flexibility can matter because hot air balloon weather can vary across Napa Valley, with fog, visibility, and wind differing between southern Napa, Yountville, and areas farther north.

Local tip: Wear layers and comfortable shoes, and avoid putting a fixed early-morning reservation immediately after the flight. Balloon meeting times shift with sunrise, and the launch location is selected based on that morning’s weather. The Estate Yountville is also an Aloft lodging partner located steps from check-in, which can make the pre-dawn start easier.

• RELATED: What to Wear on a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Napa Valley

How to Plan Labor Day Weekend in Napa Valley

A comfortable itinerary leaves room to enjoy each reservation instead of racing between towns. With events spread between Napa, Yountville, and St. Helena, organizing each day geographically can save a surprising amount of time.

Book Labor Day Events and Accommodations Early

Reserve your highest-priority ticketed event first, then add meals, tastings, and lodging around it. CHANDON, Carnivus Maximus, Babyface, and La Paulée all require tickets or reservations, and the holiday weekend gives you another reason to plan ahead.

Local tip: Yountville is especially convenient if your plans include a sunrise balloon flight and CHANDON. The Estate Yountville sits by Aloft’s check-in location, while Aloft’s Tastefuli partnership can also help guests arrange winery experiences later in the trip.

Plan Around Napa, Yountville, and St. Helena

Pair Napa with RD Winery or Blue Note, Yountville with CHANDON and a hot-air balloon morning, and St. Helena with Crocker & Starr or La Paulée. This keeps more of your Labor Day weekend focused on the experiences rather than repeated drives up and down the valley.

Local tip: Allow more driving time than a map’s ideal estimate, particularly around afternoon reservations. On Sunday, CHANDON and Carnivus Maximus overlap for several hours, so choose one as your main daytime event rather than trying to experience both fully.

• RELATED: Napa Valley Fall: 5 of the Season’s Best Experiences

Frequently Asked Questions About Labor Day in Napa Valley