Destination Vacaville

Discover one of Vacaville’s favorite local hangouts in this episode of the Destination Vacaville Podcast. Kyle sits down with Danny Jackson, owner of The Brass Tap - Vacaville , to talk about craft beer, community events, and an upcoming Uncle Nearest Tennessee Whiskey tasting experience featuring Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler. From rotating local craft beers to whiskey tastings, sports, and...

Local artist Carla J. Lawson discusses Crowned , her first museum exhibition at the Vacaville Museum . The show explores traditional African hairstyles as symbols of heritage, identity, and survival, using sculpture, painting, and mixed media. Carla shares the historical meaning behind the braids and forms featured in the exhibit, her process of creating companion sculpture and painting pieces, an...

Santa catches up with Destination Vacaville to chat about all the holiday merriment coming to town. Stay in the know—and don’t miss a thing this season. Santa’s watching!

In episode four of our five-part series spotlighting the chefs behind Visit Vacaville’s Farm to Table Dinner 2025, host Alyssa Pardini sits down with Chef Matt Andrews—owner and operator of Frosty’s, and a culinary talent whose heart is as big as his flavors. Hailing from the small Northern California town of Dixon, Matt’s love for food was sparked in his grandmother’s kitchen, where simple, hones...

In episode three of our five-part series spotlighting the chefs behind Visit Vacaville’s Farm to Table Dinner 2025, host Alyssa Pardini sits down with Chef Kyle Young—a culinary talent known for blending classic techniques with modern creativity. With experience across fine dining and boutique kitchens, Chef Kyle brings a bold yet thoughtful approach to local, seasonal ingredients. Passionate abou...

In the second episode of our five-part series spotlighting the chefs behind Visit Vacaville’s Farm to Table Dinner 2025, host Alyssa Pardini sits down with Chef Tim Saenz of Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company . With roots in San Diego’s top kitchens—including The Addison, Jeune et Jolie, and The Marine Room—Chef Tim brings serious culinary chops and a deep love for fresh seafood and local ingredients. ...

In the first episode of our five-part series featuring the chefs from Visit Vacaville’s Farm to Table Dinner 2025, host Alyssa Pardini sits down with Chef Megan Smith of Ironwood American Bistro . Megan shares the inspiration behind her vibrant salad course, made with local produce, foraged fennel pollen, and garden-fresh chive blossoms. She also talks about her culinary journey and how she now fo...

A quick preview of our upcoming series featuring the talented chefs behind Vacaville’s 2025 Farm to Table Dinner. 

In this episode of Destination Vacaville , host Alyssa Pardini sits down with sculptor Martin Taylor to discuss his incredible journey into creating metal origami sculptures. Martin shares how his passion for industrial design evolved into an art career, starting with inflatable art pieces at Burning Man and leading to his latest work, " Touch the Sky ." This beautiful sculpture now grac...

In this episode, Visit Vacaville sits down with San Francisco-based artist Wendy Ackrell to discuss her stunning sculpture, the Labyrinthine Heart—a powerful tribute to compassion, community, and the unifying force of art. 

In this festive episode, we dive into Vacaville Fiesta Days , the city's biggest celebration of the year! Join us as we sit down with a special guest Karen Julif to uncover what visitors can expect—from delicious local eats and vibrant street food to live music, classic car shows, carnival rides, and community parades. Whether you're a longtime local or first-time visitor, you'll ge...

In this episode, Alyssa talks with Leslie Silver, the Director of the Downtown Business Improvement District, about Vacaville's thriving downtown . They discuss the return of the Farmer's Market , community events like car shows and music festivals, and how these gatherings introduce visitors to local businesses. Learn how these activities enhance community spirit and support local comme...

Debbie Egidio, President of the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce , shares how the Chamber fuels local business growth through events like the Night of Champions Gala, the Cowtown Classic Golf Tournament, and Lemonade Day Vacaville. Learn about their mission of fostering a healthy business environment, the monthly mixers open to all, and the array of committees supporting young professionals and the T...

Join us on this week's episode of "Destination Vacaville" as we delve into the details of the Farm to Table Dinner, happening on Friday, May 10th, 2024, at Andrews Park in Vacaville's Downtown. We'll chat with Melyssa Reeves, the visionary founder of the event, and Delany Holden, a key organizer, to learn about the inspirations behind this culinary celebration and what gue...

For this episode, Alyssa chats with two special guests from the Vacaville PAL (Police Activities League): Rafael, the student PAL Teens President, and Andrea Gonzalez, a passionate Youth Development Senior Program Coordinator. Discover how PAL, serving Vacaville for over 28 years, offers many engaging activities for children and teens aged 7 to 18. From year-round programs to exciting summer activ...

Discover the vibrant world of Vacaville's art scene with Cristie Baron, Owner of Joyful Art Studio . As a seasoned participant in the community, Cristie brings creativity to life through her studio. From being selected for " Cows on Parade " to nurturing budding artists of all ages, Joyful Art Studio is a hub of inspiration. Join us as we explore how Cristie's passion ignites t...

Discover the heart of Vacaville's vibrant art scene in this episode as we explore the Vacaville Art League and Gallery . Join us as we chat with Barb Musial, Manager of the gallery, about how this space not only showcases the city's artistic talent but also serves as a lively hub for local creatives to connect and collaborate. Whether you're a resident seeking inspiration or a touri...

The celebration of "I Love Vacaville Week" continues by shining a spotlight on My Friend’s House , a youth shelter dedicated to equipping, empowering, and encouraging the youth in Vacaville. By meeting the immediate needs of homeless and at-risk youth aged 12-24, they strive to prevent them from falling victim to drugs, gangs, trafficking, incarceration, or homelessness. The programs off...

To celebrate "I Love Vacaville Week", we invited Dr. KP of the  Solano SPCA to chat about the shelter. Join us as Dr. KP shares the remarkable stories of animal adoptions and the dedicated volunteers making a difference in the lives of Vacaville residents and pets in need of new homes. From heartwarming tales of rehabilitation to vaccination clinics to the annual Paws for a Cause , disco...

Bundle up and lace up those skates, because the Winter Wonderland event at Vacaville Ice Sports  is happening from December 15 to January 7!! Glide around the rink, surrounded by twinkling lights and festive decorations that will have you feeling like you stepped into a holiday postcard. Whether you're a seasoned skater or just finding your ice skating legs, this event is the perfect blend of...

Destination Vacaville is brought to you by Visit Vacaville, the city's official destination marketing organization. Join Alyssa Pardini, President and CEO of Visit Vacaville, as she introduces listeners to the people and places that make visiting Vacaville such a unique travel experience, like seasonal adventures; agriculture tourism; family activities; culinary delights; wine country; and mo...

In this heartfelt and bittersweet episode, we bid farewell and safe travels to Melyssa Reeves, the CEO and President of Visit Vacaville.  Melyssa spent the past 16 years helping build community in Vacaville as well as championing the city as a tourism destination. Melyssa shares how her life's been forever changed by her work and why now is the perfect time to hand her role over to someone ne...

Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or in search of the perfect contractor, the Solano County Home and Garden Show is your go-to event for all things home and garden. CEO Shawna Arzadon shares all of the fun and exciting events and exhibits that'll be on display at the Home and Garden Show. Be sure to grab your gardening gloves and plug in those power tools for an episode that'...

Vacaville's vibrant outdoor music scene is flourishing in Downtown Vacaville.  Discover the unique venue, Vacaville's Town Square, where some of Northern California's favorite bands will be playing every Thursday night. The evening will be filled with palpable energy that transforms an ordinary night into an unforgettable musical experience. Vacaville's Town Square is located i...

High Noon is one busy band. High Noon recently released Swell , a six-song EP. The band played Napa's famous BottleRock Festival and along with several tour dates planned. Not only that, the band has a deep-rooted connection to Vacaville through Brandon Cherry, High Noon's drummer. Brandon delves into the captivating journey of High Noon, exploring their unique sound, described as a &quo...