The Napa Lighted Art Festival, one of Napa Valley’s most widely anticipated events of the year, returns to Downtown Napa Jan. 18-Feb. 16. The 2025 festival, a celebration of art using light and light technologies, will be held at various locations around town.
Eleven lighted art sculptures and three projection works on area buildings will be featured during this free walkable event. The sculptures will be on display throughout the entire festival, while the projection works will be shown during the first nine nights, from January 18-26.
Prior to the festival opening, several of the artists will be available to discuss their artistic processes and stories behind their innovative works, as well as answer questions. The meet-the-artists event will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Aerena Gallery, located at 600 Main St.
Take a peek at our handy map and get ready to take a stroll around Downtown Napa for night lights like you’ve never seen before. Festival hours are 6-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 6-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. We’ve highlighted this year’s exhibitions below.
TILT: “PEONIES”
LOCATION: NAPA RIVER INN (500 MAIN ST.)
Specializing in colorful installations inspired by nature and everyday items, TILT is a French team of creators with strong artistic and technical skills. Their work, “Peonies,” one of two TILT exhibits on display during the 2025 festival, features a bouquet of giant flowers that comes to life with a dazzling variety of hues and animation.
TILT: “LAMPOUNETTE”
LOCATION: VETERANS PARK (800 MAIN ST.)
The second installation by the TILT team at the 2025 Napa Lighted Art Festival is titled “Lampounette”: think a 20-foot-high architect’s lamp. This delightful creation is an oversized version of the familiar lamp, with a warm beam shining down on festivalgoers and a bench at its base to sit, relax and ponder one’s next project.
FLORENTINE FARMS: “OBELISK” and “INFINITY TEMPLE”
LOCATION: RIVERFRONT PROMENADE
Napa’s scenic Riverfront Promenade will be the site of two installations created by Florentine Farms founder Stephen Rhoades and crew lead Matthew Marsie. The Vermont team’s 16-foot-tall creation, “Obelisk,” is a mesmerizing beacon of shapes during the day, but at night, the piece comes alive with a glowing, colorful energy sure to delight its audience.
“Infinity Temple,” also on display at the Riverfront Promenade, is another Florentine Farms creation sure to dazzle and amaze. The nearly-16-foot-tall light installation is based on optical illusions and mirrors created at the Vermont studio. Get ready to be captivated by this futuristic and magical design.
WILHELMUSVLUG: “CAMP-FIRE”
LOCATION: OPERA HOUSE PLAZA (970 FIRST ST.)
It’s usually cool in Napa during the first two months of the year, perfect weather to sit by a log fire and enjoy each other’s company. “Camp-Fire,” created by Dutch designer Wilhelmusvlug, looks good enough to warm your hands by. Put away your phone, take a seat on the real logs and enjoy the warmth and light of this bright and whimsical sculpture while enjoying each other’s company.
JOEL EDWARD SISSON: “BARREL BOY AND FAMILY”
LOCATION: DWIGHT MURRAY PLAZA (1100 FIRST ST.)
“Gentle giants” is how Joel Edward Sisson describes his “Barrel Boy and Family” installation. Created using recycled opaque plastic barrels, the artworks are as quirky during the day as they are at night. The artist made his designs to inspire joy, laughter and awe and he encourages visitors to stand on the platforms and have their photo taken with their favorite Barrel Boy figure.
ANTONIN FOURNEAU: “WATERLIGHT GRAFITTI”
LOCATION: FIRST STREET NAPA (1300 FIRST ST.)
One word aptly sums up Antonin Fourneau’s installation at the Napa Lighted Art Festival: “COOL!” Imagine a ginormous Etch-a-Sketch in which you use water to make thousands of LEDs light up. The exhibit is the ideal interactive display, where anyone from age 1 to 100 can make their own creative artwork, no matter how much artistic talent they may or may not have.
DARRELL E. ANSTED AND KATIE D’ARCANGELO: “DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE”
LOCATION: PEARL STREET BUS DEPOT (1151 PEARL ST.)
Sculpture artist Darrell E. Ansted and oil painter/sculptor Katie D’Arcangelo – both based in Colorado – combined their talents to create the exhibit, “Down the Rabbit Hole.” A tunnel of 8-foot-high steel rings leads to a LED interactive dance floor and a 10-foot-tall stainless steel rabbit. Celebrate the wonder of exploration in this fun colorfully lit exhibit.
TYLER FUQUA CREATIONS: “MECHAN 1000”
LOCATION: OXBOW PUBLIC MARKET (610 & 644 FIRST ST.)
A giant metal robot named “Mechan 1000” towers over visitors at Oxbow Public Market. Tyler FuQua Creations in Oregon created this 15-foot-tall robot from the future (or maybe the past?), featuring hundreds of color-changing lights, a pulsing heart chamber and a silver finish. The robot is one of a series of giant beings created by the talented artists.
NICHOLAS LAVELLA: “FENCES”
LOCATION: NAPA YARD (585 FIRST ST.)
An installation that responds to audience movement is what one can expect at Nicholas Lavella’s “Fences” creation. The 7-foot-tall LED display features almost 9,000 LEDs, which track the position of viewers and create colorful shapes based on their movement. The Philadelphia-based artist designed the artwork so that viewers’ patterns can layer over each other, resulting in a truly special moment.
JACQUES LESEC: “FULL METAL POPPY”
LOCATION: NAPA YARD (585 FIRST ST.)
Also showcased at Napa Yard, the 25-foot-tall “Full Metal Poppy” sculpture by Napa-based artist Jacques Lesec appears like a sketch in motion. With programmable LED lights that trace the outlines of the vase and flower petals, the artwork provides a new, fresh look at the flower’s organic form.
LESLIE EPSZTEIN AND CAMILLE GROSS: “ELEMENTA”
LOCATION: FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (1333 THIRD ST.)
One of three projection works during this year’s festival, “Elementa” evokes the four elements of science defined by the Greeks that deal with the origin of the universe: Earth, Water, Air and Fire. The five-minute dreamlike work finishes with the fifth and highest element, Aether, which is the substance composing the celestial bodies. Created by French artists Leslie Epsztein and Camille Gross, the beautiful work is projected on the church’s exterior.
SVITLANA REINISH: “THE DREAM FACTORY”
LOCATION: HISTORIC NAPA COUNTY COURTHOUSE (825 BROWN ST.)
Ukrainian media artist, art director and theatre designer Svitlana Reinish specializes in projection mapping artwork, and “The Dream Factory” endeavor is a prime example of her unique design capabilities. Projected on the Historic Napa County Courthouse, the artwork features abstract fragments shaped into visions and stories, each a piece of a dream waiting to unfold.
WENDY YU: “ACTS OF HOLDING DANCE”
LOCATION: NATIVE SONS BUILDING (937 COOMBS ST.)
Available for the first 9 nights only
Urban media designer Wendy Yu created this projection artwork using dance to emphasize a constant movement from present to past. The Australian-based artist employs 3D animation, motion tracking and more to display “Acts of Holding Dance” on the Native Sons Building, although she has recreated it in various locations around the world to highlight local dancers and dance community leaders.
OTHER BRIGHT IDEAS FOR FUN
Youth Storytime
When: 5:00–6:00 PM, Saturday, February 1st
Where: 1151 Pearl Street
Bring the kids and settle in for a magical evening of storytelling at the Napa Lighted Art Festival. Our friends from Napa Bookmine will host a free Storytime event, reading delightful short stories to spark young imaginations. While you’re there, explore Down the Rabbit Hole, this year’s enchanting art installation, and maybe even snag a new book to take home.
Glow Party
When: 6:00–8:00 PM, Saturday, February 8th
Where: 1151 Pearl Street
Admission: Free
Get ready to shine at the Glow Party, a vibrant celebration of art, music, and fun for the whole family. Dance the night away with the disco bunny at Down the Rabbit Hole, an incredible installation created by Colorado artists Darrell E. Ansted and Katie D’Arcangelo.
Sponsored by the Children’s Museum of Napa Valley, this family-friendly “art after dark” experience is the perfect chance to light up the night. Dress up in your glowiest attire and bring your favorite light-up accessories for extra sparkle.
ALWAYS FUN
Whether you’re a local or visitor to Downtown Napa, you’ll want to take your time seeing the amazing festival displays. There are a variety of lodging options, from cozy inns to resorts. While here, make sure to visit some of the incredible outdoor areas, museums, restaurants, walkable areas and, of course, wine-tasting rooms. Make your plans to visit this exciting Northern California destination soon!
