TEMECULA, CA — The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival returns the weekend of June 20, bringing with it a legendary country band lineup, barbecues, carnival fare at the Lake Skinner Recreation Area in Temecula Valley Wine Country.
The event will look a little different in 2025, Patch has learned, as it is under new ownership. The folks at Events.com say they have plans to make it one of the best years yet.
One of the biggest changes this year is that the only balloons at the festival will be filled for the daily sunset glow, an Events.com spokesperson told Patch.
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There are opportunities to hire hot air balloon rides privately, they say; however, the morning balloon launch will not take off this year. Instead, they have plans for bigger stages, full bars and hidden gems throughout the festival.
Stages will be different in 2025, as will the look and feel of the event, which is going 100% country. (Visit Temecula Valley Photo)
The long-running event was first held in 1983 on a strip of land near the intersection of Rancho Vista and Margarita Roads. That event featured hot air balloons, wine and cheese as well as minimal stage performances to entertain the crowds, typically in the last weekend of May or first weekend of June. Since then, it has grown into a massive event, drawing up to 30,000 people annually to the Lake Skinner Recreation Area in Winchester. In 2025, the event will open later in the year than ever before.
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Events.com took over the annual festival, announced in March, and has introduced some changes as it puts its stamp on the event. Stephen Partridge, President of Events.com, discussed the upcoming festival with Patch.
“The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is one of the region’s longest-running festivals and has been a longstanding cornerstone of Southern California’s vibrant cultural landscape,” he said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of its continued growth.”
Festival Layout, Set List And Times For Performances:
When you attend the festival, you may notice that the venue arrangement has changed.
“There will be two main stages, instead of one main stage and one smaller local artists stage,” Esther Shepherd of Events.com told Patch. “Big-name, national performing artists will play on both main stages.”
A third stage will also be present in the Outpost Honky Tonk, she said.
“This huge new Honky Tonk will offer a large stage, line dancing, saloon style bars, mechanical bull riding, redneck horseshoes and other games as well as great BBQ food and more,” she said.
There will also be a speakeasy-style Dive bar.
Other aspects of the event have changed, including the length of camp stays (now longer) and a more country-oriented musical lineup, which was not disclosed until mid-May. The list of performing artists is long, and a full lineup and set times remain forthcoming.
The events.com show has leaned heavily into country music, unlike years past, which included country, rock and soul. This year, the main acts include Alabama, Big & Rich, Kylie Morgan, Cody Jinks, Moonlight, The Steeldivers, and Western Medicine, and others still to be announced.
On social media, fans of the festival have questioned the absence of the typical 80s rock, jazz and soul from the weekend.
“The country genre was by far the most requested and attended concerts in years past,” Shepherd told Patch. “We’ve had quite a few folks happy that the country genre was extended across all three days.”
No Hot Air Balloon Flights From Festival Grounds During Event:
Another change with the festival is the absence of hot air balloon takeoffs from the festival grounds in the mornings, Patch has learned.
Hot air balloon glows will occur in the evening, according to the event staff, with the following balloons set to inflate and glow:
ToyotaRemaxWonder BreadCosmic CrispCathedral City Visitor & Convention Bureau
Guests who wish to fly high over Temecula Valley Wine Country will need to make separate arrangements through a local balloon company. They have partnered with one of Temecula’s largest, A Grape Escape, and flight reservations are still available.
Hot air balloon rides typically last about an hour as you rise hundreds of feet in the air, providing guests with scenic vistas of the valley, Cleveland National Forest to the west and mountains to the north and east. Perhaps, a glimpse of the glistening Pacific Ocean, if you’re lucky.
However, those flights will not launch from the festival at Lake Skinner.
“When you book your hot air balloon ride, you’ll be told where to meet up with your flight,” owner Charise Manning told Patch.
Advanced reservations for balloon rides are required.
Another change is the removal of tethered balloon flights during the event.
The “Hot Air Balloon Glows” sunset event will take place on both Friday and Saturday nights, weather permitting.
What we know about food and camping at the festival:
On the ground, during the festival, “dozens of vendors will be on hand, including wineries that will provide samples of local wine,” an Events.com news release said.
Wineries that have committed for the weekend include:
Peltzer WineryEuropa Village Wineries & ResortOak Mountain WineryPamec WineryUltimate Vineyard & Maurice Car’rie WineryWilson Creek Winery & Vineyards
There will also be a full bar, according to Events.com.
“In the past, it was just wine and craft beer,” Shepherd said. “We still have that, and a great wine tasting village with grape stomping contests, as well, but also now we have a full bar of spirits throughout the festival.”
Fair fare expected at the festival. Photo via Visit Temecula Valley.
Meanwhile, full-hookup camp sites are sold out, although dry camping spots remain available. Some attendees may set up tents or bring trailers at a location within the Lake Skinner fairgrounds. Check-in for the camp sites is as follows, per the website:
Thursday campers can check in between 2 and 7:30 p.m.Friday campers can check in between 6 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.All campers must check out on Monday by 11 a.m.
There will be carnival rides, dancing and an array of adult beverages to enjoy throughout the weekend.
Tickets And Weekend Passes
General Admission for a one-day ticket starts at $99, while a three-day pass starts at $289. VIP tickets for one day cost $350, while a three-day pass starts at $750.
Those with a military ID can get 10 percent off on any ticket level.
Learn more and purchase tickets here. Parking fees are in addition to the admission price. More information, including concert times, can be found at temeculavalleyfestival.com.
The Non-Profit History Of The Festival Will Continue:
The TVBWF has generated “millions of dollars for the local economy, with festival proceeds benefiting community organizations, including school programs, military groups, and Dollars for Scholars,” according to a statement released by Events.com.
Under new ownership, a spokesperson says the festival will “continue to honor its longstanding commitment to the Temecula Valley community by expanding support for local programs and initiatives that bring value to the area.”
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