Copyright Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Calistoga’s fairgrounds — recently revived with sprint car races, a carnival and other events — are about to get even louder. The city, which purchased the 70-acre property from Napa County for $2 million last year, has been working to bring it back to life. Starting in October 2026, a new annual multiday rock festival will take over the site under a five-year agreement between the city and local promoter Ripe Productions LLC. The City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 4, approved the exclusive license, allowing Ripe Productions to stage a two- or three-day rock festival each fall. In return, the city will collect a base fee of $12,500 per event day, plus a percentage of ticket sales once attendance exceeds 3,500 — rising to 7% for all ticket sales above 6,000. The festival is also expected to help revitalize the fairgrounds and draw more visitors and business to Calistoga, according to city staff. Council members largely supported the deal, calling it a way to generate new energy and revenue for the city. “Bringing this to Calistoga, especially with all the support the promoter has from the community, I think it’s going to be a good thing for us,” Council member Irais Lopez-Ortega said. Council member Lisa Gift abstained from the vote, saying the five-year exclusive agreement could limit future opportunities at the fairgrounds. She urged a shorter term or a narrower exclusivity window, but others said a longer commitment is necessary to help the festival gain traction. “BottleRock didn’t happen overnight,” said Calistoga resident and music producer Gary Himelfarb, who’s organizing the event with local winemaker Seth Cripe. The pair plan to launch with a two-day lineup in 2026, expanding to three days in later years. Under the deal, no other multiday rock festivals can be held at the fairgrounds during the five-year term, though single-day rock concerts or festivals featuring other genres will still be allowed. The festival marks another step in the city’s effort to reactivate the fairgrounds and attract new events to the property.
