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In December, the Napa Valley Wine Train becomes the Santa Wine Train.

Last year, a friend of ours started this little thing called Cheers! St Helena.

He calls it a “Friendship Celebration” and a “Main Street Toast to Friends & Wine.” I can’t even imagine all the work he’s put into it, and all of the hoops he’s had to jump through.

See, our little wine country town is very, well, careful. And I am glad it is so.

And Cheers! St Helena, what with the 100+ fabulous wineries pouring their wine in all the wonderful establishments downtown, the live music, the street closures, the street performers, the face-painting, the sidewalk food vendors–and, of course, the Wine Train actually (gasp!) letting off passengers–is rather revolutionary. In a good way. In the best way.

Did I mention you get to walk around town sipping fabulous wines from premier Napa Valley wineries (out of another friend’s govino glasses no less)?

But more importantly you get to really, truly experience our town.

I’d never been in most of our shops and boutiques until Cheers! St Helena. And I most certainly didn’t spend much money in these shops; I always thought we were priced out. But, I’ve found that the prices aren’t really all that much more than elsewhere. Plus, it makes me happy to be spending money–even if it is more–locally and supporting our community.

By the way, Tom bought me the most beautiful locket at Daisy.