Yountville Mardi Gras parade draws thousands, crowns top entries in second annual celebration
For the second year in a row, Yountville traded Cabernet red for the purple, gold and green colors of Carnival, transforming the Washington Street corridor into a slice of the Big Easy for a day.
The town hosted its second annual Mardi Gras Parade and Block Party this past Saturday, drawing an estimated 3,000 spectators — up from about 2,500 last year — for an afternoon of New Orleans-style pageantry, food and live music.
The festivities began at 1 p.m. with a parade that traveled north along Washington Street from California Drive to Madison Street. Spectators lined the route as floats, costumed participants, plenty of pups and musicians made their way through town, tossing beads and candy, while creating a festive mood for the afternoon.
“In the Mardi Gras parade, we had 29 entries this year and 19 last year,” Yountville Parks and Recreation Director Samatha Holland said, noting the steady growth of the event. “The parade was terrific and started on time, which is always our goal.”
Holland credited the Napa County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which brought more than 25 members to assist with the parade route and street closures.
“We could not do it without CERT,” Holland said, “which is such an amazing resource for Napa County.” She added that the group, led by Mary Tabbert of American Canyon, also supports other Yountville events, including the upcoming Art, Sip and Stroll.
Parade announcers Parks and Recreation Advisory Commissioner Theresa Bremer and Ranch Market Too owner Arik Housley introduced entries from the main parade stand on Washington Street in front of the Yountville Community Center. Parade judges were Billie Hewitt, Fred Espinoza and Andrei Espinoza.
The award-winning parade entries included:
- Best Overall Entry: Yountville Arts Commission
- Most Creative: Hospitality Hounds of Yountville
- Best Vehicle: Bill Ewert, Napa Model A’s 1928 Boat Tail Speedster
- Most on Theme: The Veterans Home of Yountville
Charming the judges were the Yountville Hospitality Hounds, who performed a “synchronized sit” at the announcer’s booth, gaining cheers from the crowd.
After the parade concluded, the celebration shifted to the block party in NoYo that ran until 4 p.m. Pancha’s was lively inside and out, while live music, food vendors and children’s activities lined the street.
The Gumbo Band headlined the event, performing on the Yountville Town Council float during the parade, and throughout the afternoon and at the block party.
“The Block Party was a success, and the businesses were bustling,” Holland said.
With attendance up and participation growing, the celebration appears to be taking root as a winter tradition with February now officially deemed the annual month of “Yountville Days.” Organizers are already looking ahead to next year, when the event is expected to return on Feb. 6, 2027.
