The ukuleles are coming, but not to worry, they’ve come a long way since Arthur Godfrey and Tiny Tim. On the weekend of Oct. 10 -11 Nimbus Arts in St. Helena, in association with Kani Ka Pila and Hawaii Music Live, hosts the inaugural Wine Country Ukulele Festival.

Featured performers include four-time Grammy Award winner Keoki Kahumoku and other masters of the ukulele coming from as far away as Hawaii and Canada to dazzle attendees with their skill.

Ukulele music has entered a new era of popularity and garnered many hard-core fans. The festival is a celebration of the ukulele and the rich cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands, with proceeds to benefit Nimbus Arts, a not-for-profit corporation supporting art and music in the Napa Valley.

Beginning Oct. 10, with a free ukulele performance at the St. Helena Farmers Market, this two-day festival features traditional Hawaiian music and culture, including cooking classes, hula lessons, ukulele workshops, a traditional luau and outstanding ukulele music in a variety of performances over the two days.

In addition, as a preview to the festival, Nimbus Arts is offering several Hawaiian-themed classes and workshops at the end of September to get you in the aloha spirit. Classes start tonight for beginning ukulele. Classes are also offered in hula, ukulele building and ukulele and Hawaiian song instruction, all starting Sept. 22.

For more information on the Nimbus Arts workshops, e-mail info@Nimbusarts.org or visit www.nimbusarts.org. For tickets/registration and more information on the inaugural Wine Country Ukulele Festival, visit www.nimbusarts.org or www.winecountryukefest.com.

Lineup and Schedule of Events:

Friday, Oct. 10

9-11 a.m.

A free ukulele performance at the St. Helena Farmer’s Market in Crane Park. Nimbus Arts will also be on hand with a related craft activity for the little ones. Free.

1-4 p.m.

Sign-up to cook with Grammy-award winning musician Keoki Kahumoku, who is as comfortable in the kitchen as he is on the stage. Students will stir up a traditional Hawaiian menu that includes lomi salmon, kalua pig, laulau, poke, haupia and poi. $35.

 1:30 -2:30 p.m.

Noted ukulele entertainer, Ralph Shaw, the man in the bowler hat, will be performing live at the California Veterans Home in Yountville in a free performance for the men and women residing at the Home.

 

6:30–10 p.m.

Robyn Knuebuhl, daughter of Hawaii’s famed songbird, Emma Veary, will be on hand for an evening of dining and dancing that recalls the Golden Age of Hawaiian music. Other featured performers for the evening include Napa Valley’s own Makai Gents (with local ukulele ring leader Judd Finkelstein) at the Tucker Farm Center

Tickets are $85 per person or $500 for a table for 6. Leis available advance purchase are $30 each.

Saturday, Oct. 11

Ukulele Festival Extraordinaire, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fun for the whole family with free ukulele performances all day long at the Napa Valley College upper valley campus. Choose from dozens of workshops from a host of performers and instructors. Stroll through the international marketplace where you’ll find everything from Hawaiian-style shaved-ice to the finest ukuleles. Learn a little hula or enjoy trying your hand at some arts and crafts. For a full class schedule contact info@nimbusarts.org or go to www.winecountryukefest.com.

Free. An additional $45 workshop day pass allows you to attend any number of classes offered throughout the day; an $85 per family pass will get you into workshops on kid’s ukulele, Hawaiian stories and Keiki hula, building and playing a one-string uke, lei making, Hawaiian crafts and more enlightening activities. Space is limited; register early!

Meet the Artists Luau

5:30 –7:30 p.m.

Dine with the musicians at a traditional Hawaiian luau prepared by Keoki Kahumoku and crew. Music and entertainment will be provided Island-style, so bring your ukuleles and join in. At Nimbus Arts. $25/adults $10/children (12 and under)

The Grand Finale Concert, 8-10 p.m. at Tucker Farm Center.

Herb Ohta, Jr., Keoki Kahumoku, Ralph Shaw and James Hill each bring a different voice and style to this tiny four-stringed instrument. $30/person, $35/at the door.