Festa Primavera, the annual auction and dinner hosted by St. Helena Montessori, will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a Homecoming theme, complete with corsages and a photo booth, to welcome all of the school's supporters. Festa25: Coming Home celebrates St. Helena Montessori's extraordinary history and bright future on its new farm campus.

The event will be chaired by the dynamic team of Janet Pagano and Teresa Raffo, who bring a love of independent education, as well as illustrious backgrounds in fine wine and art, to this milestone event. "Festa is Napa Valley's best kept secret. With its rare and hard to find wines, amazing food and fantastic auction lots, this event is so much fun. It is like a group hug" says Janet Pagano.

Funds raised at this event provide tuition assistance and operations support to the school, including classroom materials and technology, as well as helping to fund the construction of the school's new permanent campus in St. Helena.

Highlights from this year's auction lots include a luxury fly-fishing trip, a photo session with acclaimed Hollywood photographer Greg Gorman, a Pritchard Hill Block Party, and extraordinary wine lots from Napa Valley's most coveted labels.

Dinner will be prepared by Michelin 3-star chef Christopher Kostow of the Restaurant at Meadowood. Chef Kostow will bring his signature California modern flavors to be paired with Napa Valley's premiere wines. Teresa Raffo says, "We are so honored to have Chef Kostow preparing dinner for this important fundraiser. His ongoing work with the adolescent students on their farm-to-table program is one of the many benefits of our new campus and its educational gardens."Celebrated craft mixologist Sam Levy will prepare a signature cocktail for the event.

Post-auction, the party continues with dancing in The Barn. Elena Heil, Head of School at St. Helena Montessori says, "Thanks to the incredible success of Festa, the school is able to able to offer the benefits of a Montessori education to a wide range of families throughout the Napa Valley. We are delighted to see the children of our early students now attending the school. As St. Helena Montessori continues to grow, Festa has never been more important to ensure the school's sustainability."

St. Helena Montessori was founded in 1981 by Mrs. Elena Heil and Mrs. Olga McAdam. In 1985, the school expanded to include a Montessori Elementary Class. In 1987, it was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation and a Board of Directors became the governing body of the school. In 2008, an Adolescent Program / Farm School was added. The Adolescent Program maintains a farm on the school's 20-acre parcel on the east side of St. Helena. This property is slated to become the permanent campus for the entire school. Learn more at www.sthms.org.