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 Gaetano Donizetti’s La fille du régiment seems like a grand opera, certainly when you see singers straining to fill a big auditorium. But in Opéra Royal Château de Versailles’s historically informed production, which reached the Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug Winery on July 18, the show was restored, you might say, to its right size and staged for nimble comedy rather than showstopping vocal moments.

Festival Napa Valley’s Arts for All Gala shattered its fundraising record on July 13, raising an extraordinary $5 million at the sold-out celebration held at Nickel & Nickel winery. Gala Chair Mary Beth Shimmon orchestrated an evening that seamlessly blended world-class entertainment with committed philanthropy, as seven-time Grammy and Oscar winner Jon Batiste delivered a stirring performance against the backdrop of Far Niente’s lush vineyards.

Napa Valley's philanthropic spirit reached new heights on July 13 as the Arts for All Gala at Nickel & Nickel raised a stunning $5 million, cementing Festival Napa Valley's position among America's most successful arts fundraisers.

 Gala chairs Mary Beth and David Shimmon have certainly raised the bar for Festival Napa Valley’s tentpole fundraiser benefiting arts education. This year, the Shimmons and co-hosts including Leslie and Rich Frank helped bring New Orleans to Nickel & Nickel winery in honor of the night’s A-list musical guest, Jon Batiste, who started his career in the Big Easy.

Peck has achieved an unusually wide following for a ballet dancer. Recently, she starred as Eva Cullman in Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Amazon Prime series Étoile, and her latest children’s book, XO Ballerina Big Sis, which was written to encourage young dancers, will be published in October by Penguin Random House. In late June, she married fellow NYCB principal Roman Mejia, with whom she will share the stage at Festival Napa Valley’s ‘Evening of Dance’ on July 19.

The annual summer festival of music, wine and food returns with events at the Culinary Institute of America, Jarvis Conservatory and the Meritage Resort in Napa, Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena, Nickel & Nickel in Oakville, and other locations. Scheduled highlights include the Royal Opera of Versailles performing Donizetti’s “La Fille du régiment,” a documentary film screening of “Flicka,” followed by a Q&A with mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, appearances by Jon Batiste, pianist Forrest Eimold performing works by Gordon Getty and more.

“Instead of just hearing, you’re also getting to see the visual component with that piece,” Peck said. Charles Krug Winery will be the site of Festival Napa Valley’s main stage, which Peck said is an “incredible venue” that allowed her team “so much room to get creative” with filling up the space. Four local vendors will rotate at Charles Krug, which also features a children’s zone in order to better accommodate families. 

Celebrated auctioneer and author Lydia Fenet will lead bidding for the evening, which includes a performance by seven-time GRAMMY® and Oscar®-winner Jon Batiste and a dinner by James Beard Award-winning chef Rogelio Garcia of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley paired with exceptional House of Far Niente wines. 

All the world’s a stage” may be an oft-quoted Shakespearean metaphor, but it couldn’t be more fitting for the arrival of FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY, NorCal wine country’s popular showcase of internationally recognized and emerging talent across classical, jazz, opera, contemporary, and dance, along with unrivaled food, wine, and hospitality experiences throughout its 16-day schedule. The 2025 Summer Season features more than 200 artists, including mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, celebrated French conductor Stéphane Denève, ballet dancer Tiler Peck, the renowned Pacific Symphony, and the North American debut of the Versailles Royal Opera.