Temecula Hot Air Balloon Festival
Good Times
Above and Below the Clouds

The Temecula Hot Air Balloon Festival takes spectators to new heights, even if they’re not one of the lucky ones that get to enjoy their very own journey through the sky aboard one of the many colorful vessels featured during this unforgettable event.

Temecula Valley Hot Air Balloon & Wine Festival

June 3rd, 4th and 5th 2011.

While the dates and times of annual Temecula festivals are subject to change with each coming year, the Temecula Hot Air Balloon Festival is usually held in June. Click here for the official TVBWF page or call 951-676-6713. With the Best Temecula Guide it’s always easy to stay on top of all the festivals around town by just checking in with our Temecula Events Calendar. Subscribing to our free email newsletter (‘Tales of Temecula’) is another great way to make sure you get all the details about local happenings and events about town.

With entertainment to please the entire family, delicious wines to keep adults merrymaking, fun activities for the kids and a wide variety of good food to tempt even the pickiest member of the family – it’s no wonder that the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival is one of the most popular get-togethers in the whole region.

A Look Back at How it All Got Started

The first Temecula Hot Air Balloon Festival took place in 1983 – though at the time it was referred to as the Rancho California Balloon and Wine Festival.

The festival was the brainchild of commercial airline pilot and balloon enthusiast, Walt Darren, who teamed up with experienced event organizer and fundraiser Evelyn Harker to breath life into his vision and turn it into a smashing success. Together, they were able to organize an event that centered on Darren’s love of ballooning, but added in wine tasting, entertainment and plenty of delicious culinary offerings for a full-circle event and the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival was born!

Over the years, the number of participating wineries and vendors has grown, as have the crowds of wine and balloon-loving spectators, resulting in numerous venue changes to accommodate the ever-increasing throngs of participants.

The festival has also entrusted great bands like the Beach Boys, Little Anthony and the Imperials and the Coasters with the job of keeping the excitement level of the festival grounds at a maximum – a challenge they have made the most of!

Temecula Balloon Festival Features

A visit to the Temecula Balloon Festival is a treat for the entire family, or anyone looking to have some fun and do something a little out of the ordinary. Many come for the wine but find themselves returning year after year, hooked on the sight of the festival’s multicolored Kings and Queens of the air filling the skies.

All of the festivities (excluding food, beverage, and other outside purchases of course) are included in the price of admission and some examples of what you can enjoy at the event are:

Friday Night Festivities: Usually Friday nights are set aside for the unveiling of the Food Court, arts and crafts vendors, Commercial Court, and the Kids Faire. And, of course, the tasting of California’s best never stops in the wine garden.

Wine Tasting:

Wonderful local wines and beer are available at booths located in the main stage arena as well as wherever the wine garden is situated.

Kids Faire:

The festival’s younger guests have just as much fun as their parents – if not more! – as a separate funzone gives kids under the age of 14 the chance to romp about on giant inflatables, reach heights of their own on a rock climbing wall, commune with critters at the petting zoo, get their faces painted and take part in other kid-friendly activities.

Just remember that some activities do require a nominal fee.

Balloon Launches:

When the weather permits, hot air balloons take off at 6:30am, returning to enthusiastic cheers around 8:30am. You can also arrange for balloon rides, but keep in mind that this awesome adventure is only possible for those who have reserved in advance by calling 1-800-965-2122.

Food Court:

Get your appetite ready before coming and, whatever you do, don’t pack a lunch! You’ll be sorry you did when comparing your soggy, squashed sandwich to the overloaded plates of freshly cooked Greek, Mexican, Chinese and Italian  cuisine you’ll see everyone else chowing down on! There is plenty of in-between-meals snacking to be done as well, like on irresistible sweet kettlecorn or refreshing ice cream and other amusement park favorites.

Tickets

There are plenty of tickets for the Temecula Balloon Festival so there’s no need worrying that they will run out before you get a chance to secure your attendance.

Festival admission tickets are available at specified locations about town, as well as at the entrance ticket booth.

Although the dates and times of annual Temecula festivals are subject to change with each coming year, you can safely plan to visit the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival in June at Lake Skinner – which, by the way, is not only great for kayaking and fishing, but provides a great BBQ and picnic area.

With best-temecula-guide.com, it’s always easy to stay on top of the festivals you’re interested in with the use of our handy one-glance events calendar. Subscribing to our free email newsletter (‘Tales of Temecula’) is another great way to get details on all the events and happenings around the