Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival Soars This Weekend

In 1967, the sappy sixties soft contemporary music group, The 5th Dimension, released “Up, Up and Away” – an easy listening bore about hot air ballooning that somehow managed to gain popularity in numerous countries like the US, Australia and the UK before eventually (and inexplicably) winning dozens of awards, including “Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year” at the 1968 Grammys.

Also award-winning and sharing the same theme, the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival (TVBWF) is way cooler than that song.

Easily the biggest and most anticipated annual event in the valley, TVBWF packs Lake Skinner Recreation Area with tens of thousands of guests itching to partake in the festival’s culinary creations and potent potables, sunrise balloon sails across wine country and other adult as well as family activities; all while enjoying great entertainment from some of the music industry’s biggest names and hottest up-and-comers.

The festival fun begins on Friday, May 29th and continues through Sunday. Because of the 3:00 pm opening, Friday’s schedule will consist only of food and wine tastings and a balloon glow at sundown. On Saturday and Sunday, the gates open bright and early to get ready for 6:30 am balloon launches and activities continue throughout the day.

All three days are packed with stellar entertainment on two stages. Main Stage headliners include country super-group Gloriana (Friday,) American Idol runner up turned rock star, Daughtry, and the Plain White T’s of “Hey There, Delilah” fame (Saturday) and country crooner Chris Young (Sunday). Several other great bands and solo artists round out the weekend’s line up so be sure to check the festival’s official website at for a full entertainment schedule. (Read my interview with Gloriana’s Mike Gossin here.)

Those who are familiar with the TVBWF know that the event is a food and wine-lovers paradise, with selections from some of the valley’s most highly-acclaimed restaurants and wineries, both from Temecula wine country and beyond. (A full list of wineries is included on the TVBWF website).

For the kids, the TVBWF includes rides, inflatables, pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo and much more so no need to scramble for a sitter. Kid-friendly food like hot dogs, pizza and ice cream will be available for hungry little ones.

Finally, for those looking to kick off their balloon festival experience with a ride in the festival’s namesake mode of transportation, flights must be booked in advance. Check the festival website for more details on how you can be enjoying the festival from above the clouds.

General admission prices range from $15.00 to $28.00 per person, depending on the day and can be purchased in advance online. Some specialty packages for culinary experiences, priority concert seating, etc. are still available but going fast.

There is simply too much going on at the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival to include in just one story. This is simply a means to wet your palate and encourage you to check out the TVBWF website for full schedules, prices, sponsors, activities, flight reservations and all other information about this jam-packed three-day extravaganza that simply defines what the Temecula Valley is all about.

You could even download The 5th Dimension’s “Up, Up and Away” off iTunes and listen to it in the car while waiting in the inevitably long parking line, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Seriously, it’s a really weird song.

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