Music in the Vineyards and the Aeternum choir are bringing back their holiday concert series, Christmas in the Vineyards, for two evening performances on Dec. 11 and 12, 2026, plus a brand-new free concert just for kids. The program returns after debuting in 2025 with two sold-out shows and more than 400 attendees, and this year it grows to three performances across Calistoga and Napa.
According to The Napa Valley Register, the first evening concert is set for Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Brannan Center, 1407 Third St. in Calistoga, with a second evening performance the following night, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church of Napa, 1333 Third St. The program blends instrumental and choral music, including Vivaldi's “Winter” and selections from Handel's “Messiah,” according to a listing on Music in the Vineyards' own events calendar.
A New Free Concert Just for Families
New this year is the Candy Cane Sing-Along, a free 45-minute concert designed for children 12 and younger and their families, also held Dec. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Napa. The children's concert features traditional holiday favorites and audience participation, and organizers ask families to register in advance. Music in the Vineyards' Artistic Directors Daria and Michael Adams said the addition reflects a desire to reach younger audiences alongside the evening shows: “We are delighted to offer a concert this year for the children and families of the Napa Valley, in addition to our two evening performances,” according to Wine Industry Advisor's report on the announcement.
Aeternum's Artistic Director Bailey Cooke echoed that sentiment, saying the choir is glad to bring the holiday program back while expanding its reach to younger listeners. The expansion follows last year's debut, when the event — then just two concerts — drew more than 400 attendees per a news release cited by the outlet, selling out both nights.
Ticket Prices and a Conflicting Youth Policy
For the Dec. 12 evening concert, general admission is listed at $35, with reserved seating in the first three rows priced at $65, per the Register's reporting. Youth pricing, however, appears inconsistently across the organization's own materials: the Register's seed reporting and Wine Industry Advisor both note a $5 youth admission price for attendees under 18 with ID, while the Register reports free admission for those under 18 when accompanied by an adult, limited to two youths per adult. The discrepancy was not resolved in the available materials, so both versions are presented here.
The Register originally reported the inaugural concerts for Dec. 12 and 13, 2025, with the Friday show at First Presbyterian Church and the Saturday show at the then-new Brannan Center — a reversal of this year's Calistoga-first, Napa-second sequence.
Building on a Sold-Out Debut
Last year's ticket structure was nearly identical: general admission at $35 and reserved first-three-row seating at $65, with youth under 18 admitted free when accompanied by an adult, limited to two youths per adult, according to the 2025 Register announcement. Aeternum Artistic Director Bailey Cooke says Music in the Vineyards has long represented musical excellence in the Napa Valley, and organizers say anyone hoping to attend a sold-out show can email the group to be placed on a waitlist. More information and tickets are available at musicinthevineyards.org.
