Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy will make a special appearance at a Halloween fundraiser in Calistoga on October 30 for the Jackson Galaxy Project. The black cat-themed party runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Museion Wines, located at 865 Silverado Trail N, and celebrates overlooked felines.
The venue, co-hosted by Museion Wines and the cat-adoption-inspired wine brand Château Gato, will transform for the evening into a space devoted to black cats, according to the St. Helena Star. Guests can expect Museion and Château Gato wines, food, tarot readings, and music from DJ Parrot, alongside Galaxy himself, who the Star describes as an internationally recognized cat behavior expert. He's slated to speak about the centuries-old mythology surrounding black cats and to share what's ahead for the newly formed Jackson Galaxy Project in St. Helena. VIP ticket holders get a private book signing and meet-and-greet with Galaxy as part of the night.
Jackson Galaxy Project Takes Leadership Role
The fundraiser arrives weeks after the Jackson Galaxy Project assumed leadership of We Care Animal Rescue, a longtime St. Helena shelter. The transition, reported by edhat, came as We Care remained the same nonprofit with the same tax ID, while Greater Good Charities planned to continue collaborating. At the time of the September takeover, the shelter housed roughly 50 cats and six dogs; its cats roam freely without cages except when separation is needed, edhat reports.
We Care Animal Rescue has cared for animals since 1982. Shelter consultant Kristen Hassen stepped in as the Jackson Galaxy Project's executive director in September following the departure of former director Ashley Armstrong, per the same edhat report and confirmed by the Napa Tribune's coverage of the handoff.
Jackson Galaxy and Hassen aren't new collaborators. The pair previously worked together in January 2024 on a large-scale cat welfare push with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services aimed at saving 5,000 felines amid a regional overpopulation crisis.
Why Black Cats, Specifically
The Halloween framing isn't just seasonal decoration. Feline welfare research has documented what shelters call “Black Cat Syndrome,” in which black cats experience longer average shelter stays and slightly lower adoption rates than lighter-coated cats, according to PAWS. The St. Helena Star describes black cats as intelligent, affectionate and often overlooked companions deserving a second chance — the framing driving the event's educational bent.
Dark-furred cats can face minor adoption delays, while evidence for widespread Halloween-related cat abuse or ritual-adoption surges is limited.
Tickets and Access
General admission tickets cost $25, with children under 12 admitted free. VIP tickets run $150 and include the private signing and meet-and-greet with Galaxy. The Silverado Trail venue is in Calistoga.
