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 Sk…

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.By Visit Vacaville

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 loca…

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 co…

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 co…

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…

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.…

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 …

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 resid…

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, incarcera…

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…

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 skat…

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 perf…

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 tho…

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. Vacavil…

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 …

Voice actor and sound designer, David W. Collins, takes us on a nostalgic journey to his roots in Vacaville, CA. David reveals how his passion for storytelling and sound design began to blossom during his formative years in this charming Californian town, eventually leading him to work on many Star Wars productions for LucasFilm and Skywalker Sound…

In today's episode, we're exploring the rich history and captivating exhibits of the Vacaville Museum with Sarah Olsen, Executive Director of the museum. Located in the heart of downtown Vacaville, the Vacaville Museum is a cultural landmark dedicated to preserving and celebrating the heritage of Vacaville and all of Solano County. The Vacaville Mu…

Lisa Hilas, President of On Stage Vacaville, returns to Destination Vacaville (Episode 11, Season 1)! On Stage Vacaville's mission "is to advance Vacaville’s cultural arts by engaging and cultivating a broad and diverse array of entertainment for all ages and interests, while supporting our local performance artists". Lisa shares with Melyssa all o…

Vacaville is home to some of the best restaurants in Northern California. One restaurant at the top of the list is Roline's Uniquely Filipino. The restaurant's namesake, Chef Roline Casper, is our guest for this week's episode. Chef Roline sits down with Melyssa to share stories of making food with her grandmother, what to order if you're new to Fi…

Mayor John Carli has served the community and City of Vacaville for over 30 years. His journey began as a police officer before eventually becoming Vacaville's Chief of Police . He retired but felt the call to continue serving his community. That lead to him successfully running to become Vacaville's next Mayor. Mayor Carli sits down with Melyssa i…

Vacaville is home to some of the best outdoor events in Northern California. Creewalk is a concert series that takes place every Friday from 6 PM to 9 PM from June to August. Not only is Creekwalk returning, but there will be a big 4th of July concert for visitors and residents of Vacaville! Kristin Milliken, Recreation Coordinator for the City of …

Brooke Fox returns to Destination Vacaville to talk about the Starbound Theatre and The Saturday Club of Vacaville. Starbound Theatre is an amazing learning and performing center for kids who want to be in the performing arts. Children from the ages of 4 to 17, no matter their skill level or goals, are welcome to attend Starbound Theatre. Founded i…

If you're a golfer visiting California or you call the Golden State home, Northern California is a golfer's paradise. Now Vacaville is taking golfing into the 21st century with PaylorMade Golf Academy! PaylorMade Golf Academy has one the most advanced virtual golf experiences in all of Northern California, and it's in Vacaville. So now it won't mat…

Downtown Vacaville just keeps getting better! The Main Grape, a wine bar with a large and diverse wine collection, opened in 2023. Tonya Dretzka is Co-Owner of The Main Grape, along with her son Blake Dretzka. Tonya sits down with Melyssa to chat about what inspired Tonya and Blake to open The Main Grape, future plans for the wine bar (a giant pati…

Vacaville and Vacaville's Downtown are going through a renaissance. One of the people who will help lead the way is Taylor McDonald, the new Executive Director of Downtown Business Improvement District. Join Melyssa as she learns about Taylor's plans for Downtown Vacaville, his journey to becoming the Executive Director, and why he's so happy to be…

We're kicking off the first episode of 2023 with Don Burrus, the City of Vacaville's Director of Economic Development Services. Don was the first guest on the podcast back in 2021. Join Melyssa and Don as they chat about the amazing developments and businesses coming to Vacaville. Biotech firms are setting up in Vacaville, creating new jobs and oth…

With Visit Vacaville's staff taking a short break for the holidays, Melyssa wanted to wish you all Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year on behalf of everyone at Visit Vacaville!By Visit Vacaville

Alli Harris is the go-to person for cookies in Vacaville and Solano County. Alli's passion for baking started with her helping her grandmother bake when she was a little girl. Now she's a licensed home baker with a business in Downtown Vacaville called Because Carbs. That's not all! Alli recently beat out 10,000 applicants to participate in the Sup…

Solano County residents and tourists have come to love Journey Coffee Co. With locations in Vacaville, Fairfield, One Lake, and Downtown Vacaville, Journey Coffee continues to grow. They recently opened two new venues, Journey Downtown and The Library. Journey Downtown is a performance venue where all people are welcome. The Library is a wine and w…

The Vacaville Ballet Company's mission is to not only delight audiences with amazing performances, but to teach ballet to both children and adults. Join Meghann Rust, Board President of the Vacaville Ballet Company, and Melyssa as they chat about the many ways the dance company contributes to the culture of Vacaville. Destination Vacaville? Let's g…

Melyssa chats with Eric Dakin, Dakin & Dakin's Managing Broker, about new projects and retailers coming to the City of Vacaville. Vacaville is a destination point for shoppers coming from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and the rest of California. It's home to Restoration Hardware, Williams-Sonoma Home, West Elm, and Crate and Barrel. Joining that impres…

Vacaville is home to the oldest standing structure built in Solano County, the historic Peña Adobe. Cricket Kanouff, President of the Peña Adobe Historical Society, joins Melyssa in this episode of Destination Vacaville. They chat about the history of Peña Adobe, fun the entire family can experience at the historical site, and upcoming events plann…

Vacaville is one of the premiere agritourism destinations in California. So when you visit the area, make sure to stop by the family-owned Soul Food Farm. Melyssa sits down to chat with Alexis Koefoed, part of the wife & husband duo that founded Soul Food Farm 20 years ago. Alexis shares the farm's history, the relaxing environment for visitors to …

Vacaville is getting a new park and playground that will be for everyone! Play 4 All Park will be all-inclusive for children and adults of all abilities. It's the first of its kind in Northern California. Our host Melyssa chats with Tom Phillippi, of Phillippi Engineering, about how the park is intentionally designed for anyone of any ability to us…

Destination Vacaville is back with a new season of the podcast! We kick off the second season with Comedian Ben Rice. Ben is the host of Beer 40 Community Tap House's Comedy Night, which is every 3rd Thursday of the month. Ben chats with Melyssa about curating the show, how he got into comedy, and what to expect when you attend Vacaville's premier …

Destination Vacaville returns with a new season in August! Executive Director and Host Melyssa Reeves gives a quick update for the upcoming season of the podcast. Thanks for listening and we look forward to bringing you a new season of the podcast next month. Destination Vacaville? Let's go!By Visit Vacaville

Vacaville is proudly celebrating Pride Month! In celebration of Vacaville's LGBQTIA+ community, DJ Pocket stopped by to chat with Melyssa about community, how to support LGBQTIA+ folks, and information about Pride Ball 2022. It takes place Saturday, June 25 at the Hide-a-Way Lounge & Grill in Vacaville. It's free to attend for anyone 21 and over! S…

Fire Chief Kris Concepcion sits down with Melyssa to enlighten both residents of Vacaville and tourists visiting the city about ways to stay safe during fire season. Chief Concepcion lets us know how to reduce fire risks for residential homes, what to do in the event of a fire emergency, and how to stay informed via the Nixle app system. The Nixle …

Fiesta Days is one of Vacaville's oldest celebrations. Its roots go back to the late 19th Century! Karen Juilfs, the General Chairperson for Fiesta Days, joins Melyssa to share what is happening at this year's event. This year the festival runs from Friday, May 27 to Monday, May 30. There will be live music, lots of delicious foods, beverages, a ca…

Visit Vacaville is happy to announce the return of the beloved Creewalk! Join our host Melyssa as she chats with Kristin Milliken, Recreation Coordinator at City of Vacaville. Kristin updates listeners with summer events at Creekwalk, including concerts dates, entry fees (only $3!, free for kids 12 and under), and fun, cultural events the City of V…

Visit Vacaville Chairman Dave McCallum is the guest on this episode Destination Vacaville! Chairman McCallum has called Vacaville home since moving there as a child. In addition to being the Chairman of Visit Vacaville, he works at KUIC Radio 95.3 (both on and off the air). First, Melyssa and Dave chat about tourism in Vacaville. Next, they let us …

Chief Schmutzler is a 22-year veteran of the Vacaville Police Department and a Northern California native. Chief Schmutzler became Chief of Police in late 2021. Chief Schmutzler and host Melyssa chat about the steps Vacaville Police Department takes to ensure the safety of both residents and tourists, the police department's success with keeping cr…

Paul Mirich, the General Manager of The Rowland Freedom Center, is this week's guest on Destination Vacaville. The Rowland Freedom Center is a museum honoring America's history (and future) in aviation. Join Melyssa and Paul as they discuss the museum's history, Paul's journey to become the General Manager of the museum, and exciting displays for g…

Chris Rico, the new President and CEO of Solano Economic Development Corporation (EDC), sits down with Melyssa for this week's episode of the podcast. Solano EDC helps strengthen Solano County's economy by attracting new jobs, investments, and helping established businesses (and new businesses) stay competitive. Chris chats about his goals for his …

This week Destination Vacaville highlights Ben Lyons, otherwise known as Farmer Ben. Farmer Ben founded his farm, Lockewood Acres, after finding inspiration in a 1954 publication that championed self-sustenance. Lockewood Farms supplies many of the fresh farm-to-fork fruits and vegetables served in many of Vacaville's fine dining establishments. In…

Hello! Destination Vacaville returns with none other than the City of Vacaville's very own Mayor Ron Rowlett. Mayor Ron Rowlett and Melyssa Reeves chat about Vacaville surviving the Great Recession and growing during the pandemic. Next, Mayor Rowlett shares why Vacaville is quickly becoming the center of bio-manufacturing in California. The industr…

Melyssa Reeves chats with Lisa Hilas, President of On Stage Vacaville, in this episode the podcast. On Stage Vacaville helps promote the arts and culturally diverse programming for Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre (Melyssa spoke with Theatre Manager Rachel Morgan in Episode 8). Melyssa and Lisa dive into all that On Stage Vacaville does to help su…

Our host Melyssa Reeves chats with Mark Mazzaferro, Founder of NV Confections. They chat about Mark's leap from working for the City of Vacaville to becoming the maker of a much-in-demand brittle candy. Additionally, they delve in how Mark came up with the name NV Confections (contrary to rumors, it has nothing to do with Napa Valley). NV Confectio…

Colleen Berumen is the guest for this episode Destination Vacaville. Berumen is the Executive Director of Vacaville Solano Services Corporation, which oversees the Opportunity House. Opportunity House is a drug-free shelter providing safe and secure housing along with life-skills training. Our host Melyssa Reeves sits down with Colleen to learn mor…