First Thursdays

OXBOW COMMONS, DOWNTOWN NAPA 5-9PM  JUNE - OCTOBER | ADMISSION IS FREE

By Kathleen Reynolds

The inaugural “First Thursdays” took place at the Oxbow Commons on May 1, and if it’s any indication of things to come, it’s going to be a great summer for families in Downtown Napa. “We heard lots of good feedback about the evening,” said Bill LaLiberte, the Executive Director of the Downtown Napa Association (DNA), which organizes and runs the event.

The DNA modeled First Thursdays after the old Chefs Market, which for twenty years was the unofficial beginning of summer and the thing to do in Napa with the whole family on a Thursday night. When it ended six years ago, lots of people called the Downtown Napa Association (DNA), disappointed. “I’d only been with the DNA for a couple of weeks when somebody asked me when I was bringing the Chefs Market back,” said Bill, “I don’t think I even had business cards yet.”

Bill got his business cards, and now Napa gets First Thursdays. “It was great to see so many locals and so many families there,” he said of the May event. “The Oxbow Commons has a large grassy area for games and for kids to just run around. You couldn’t do that at Chefs Market. Too much pavement.”

“First Thursdays” will be held the first Thursday of the month through October 2 this year. Long-time Chefs Market manager, Julie Morales and her team from TEAM Morales are again running the event, so you know it will be done right. All the activities will take place in the Oxbow Commons off McKinstry Street, a space that naturally lends itself to events.

“Non-profit groups will be out there every week, each hosting some kind of activity geared towards children,” said Bill. Attendees can enjoy a meal at their favorite downtown restaurant or visit the food trucks and specialty food purveyors who will be there every Thursday. Farmers from the Napa Farmers Market will offer fresh produce and artists will display their creations. As was always the case with Chefs Market, the DNA will host beverage booths, featuring several different local tasting rooms each week, as well as, craft beers and beers from Napa breweries. “We’re committed to the community feel from the old days. People loved it, so why change it?”

And, course, there will be music. “We’ll open each First Thursday with something different – a garage band, local dance troop or some other kind of performance,” said LaLiberte. If you’re just there for the music, you are going to love First Thursdays – two different bands will perform each evening, providing lots of opportunity to listen and/or dance the night away.

When Chefs Market first started almost thirty years ago, Downtown Napa was pretty dead at night. Closing four blocks on First Street was easy, and the costs involved were minimal. Over the years, the popularity of downtown made it harder and harder to justify closing the street, plus the rising insurance costs alone, as well as all the other set up costs, made it impossible to keep the party going there.

The Oxbow Commons, with its mix of open grassy space and amphitheater-like set up is the perfect place to restart the fun.

First Thursdays is from 5:00 to 9:00 PM and admission is free. It’s all possible thanks to the sponsors: DoNapa, all downtown property owners through their Property and Business Improvement District (PBID), and Napa lodging establishments through the Tourist Information District (TID). Come join the fun!