The five-square-mile, 6,000-resident city of St. Helena that sits at the heart of Napa Valley will mark150 years since its founding in March this year.

To commemorate the milestone and honor St. Helena’s history and heritage, the city has planned a yearlong celebration. This includes big community gatherings like a block party and a parade as well as smaller events scheduled according to themes chosen for each month of the year.

At a city council meeting Tuesday, staff presented updates on the planned celebrations that seek to reflect St. Helena’s past, present and future.

“A community planning committee was formed in the summer of 2024,” Ashley Sylvester, interim director of community services, said. “And they were given the daunting task of creating a framework for this yearlong series of events, programs and activities. They have met with city staff, community stakeholders and businesses to develop an exciting plan.”

The committee, led by St. Helena residents Caroline Palmisano and Jeanmarie Wolf, includes representatives of the St. Helena Historical Society, St. Helena Unified School District, Chamber of Commerce, nonprofit Suscol Intertribal Council, and others. They have planned five major events through the year:

• March 21: An old-fashioned fundraiser titled “From Boot Stomping to Grape Stomping” has been organized at Native Sons Hall. Tickets are now on sale for this adults-only event that will raise funds for the block party scheduled in September.
• March 24: To mark the official date of incorporation, a sesquicentennial plaque will be unveiled at Lyman Park or City Hall.
• July 4:To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence and 150 years since St. Helena was incorporated, the committee is planning to “double” the city’s regular Fourth of July celebrations this year.
• Sept. 5: Library Lane and Adams Street will transform into a family-friendly block party with food, music and wine.
• Sept. 5 or 25:A parade down Main Street, with participation from community groups and local businesses, is being planned either as an expansion of the existing homecoming one organized by the school district on Sept. 25 or as a separate one before the block party on Sept. 5.

The planning committee is also scheduling events, lectures and social gatherings through the year to match the monthly themes. For example, February will focus on the area’s first residents and indigenous history, June will celebrate St. Helena’s agriculture and August will be centered on the wine industry.

Committee members and city staff have met with hotels and wineries in the area to work on a cohesive strategy to spark tourism and economic development opportunities during the year of celebration. The programs aim to simultaneously celebrate the local community and draw visitors from outside, staff said at the meeting Tuesday.

The committee is expected to return to city council at regular intervals through the yearlong celebration to provide updates, ask for direction and seek required approvals.