Summerfest 2014 Top 10 Festivals and Special Events in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country
Temecula, CA (PRWEB) March 05, 2014 -- TEMECULA VALLEY Southern California Wine Country, March 4, 2014: “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country celebrates Summerfest from May 30 through Labor Day. Linger on less busy weekdays and wrap midweek around the Balloon & Wine Festival, Old Town Farmers Markets, summer concerts, Father’s Day, Street Painting/Plein Air Art Festival, Fourth of July, Hot Summer Nights, Pechanga Pow Wow, Microbrew, and Competitive Barbecue Festivals,“ encourages Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “More days equal more fun with Sunday-Thursday hotel and resort lower nightly room rates. Enjoy outdoor adventures, seasonal restaurant menus, artisan foods, and wineries’ new releases. Sunny afternoons are cooled by Pacific breezes, stars fill night skies, and ocean mist drapes early mornings.” Welcoming 2 million visitors yearly, the picturesque Temecula Valley is 60 minutes from San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Springs and 90 minutes from Los Angeles and Hollywood.
1-Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival (May 30-31; June 1).
Evening hot air balloon glows are a must-see experience and Monte de Oro “Breakfast with the Balloons” is inspiring. Reserve passenger flights at dawn aboard one of 40-50 hot air balloons floating over wine country. Festival attendees enjoy award-winning wines, food pairings, and concerts (Justin Moore, 3 Doors Down, Gin Blossoms; reserved seats available).
2-Old Town Temecula California-Certified Farmers Market (May 31; June 7-14-21-29; July 5-12-19-26; August 2-9-16-23-30).
A Friday night stay yields Saturday morning convenience to this open air marketplace where locals and travelers can find locally grown tree-ripened cherries, peaches, apricots, and nectarines.
3-Summer Concerts, Signature Wine and Live Music Events in Temecula Valley (June-July-August-through Labor Day).
Thornton Winery Champagne Jazz talent has included Michael McDonald, Kenny G, and Boz Scaggs. Monte de Oro, South Coast, Wiens, and Wilson Creek wineries (Phil Vassar, July 27; The Parrotheads, August 22), and Pechanga Theater (Air Supply, June 7; Wynonna, July 12) have ongoing concerts. Old Town Temecula Theater has the Andrew Lloyd Webber Spectacular on June 22. Wineries (Baily, Bel Vino, Callaway, Cougar, Danza, Europa, Falkner, Keyways, Leoness, Lorimar, Miramonte, Oak Mountain, Ponte, Robert Renzoni, Thornton, Wilson Creek) and Old Town wine-tasting rooms (Curry, Fazeli, Lorimar) host wine and live music events, while the Merc features jazz, country and chamber music.
4-Vintage 2014 Father’s Day: Temecula Valley Wine Country (June 15).
Begin the morning viewing Doffo Winery’s motorcycle collection. Winery dining options abound: enjoy brunch at Creekside Grille and grilled/barbecue fare at Lorimar, Ponte, and Vineyard Rose. Dozens feature wine tasting – why not try Robert Renzoni’s new Villa. Old Town’s Gambling Cowboy, Third Street Smokehouse, and Front Street Bar & Grill are dad pleasing. Also try Temecula Olive Oil/Old Town wine tasting. Evening fine dining is Pechanga’s AAA Four Diamond awarded Great Oak Steakhouse or all new Umi Sushi. Temecula Creek Inn offers “Bunkers & Barrels” overnight packages (whiskey tasting, golf for two), or begin Monday with a hot air balloon flight at dawn (reservations required).
5-Temecula Art Festival, Old Town Temecula Street Painting Festival, Ralph Love Plein Air Festival (June 20-22).
The Art Festival features fine artists’ and talented, young artists’ works. The Street Painting Festival is grand performance art; 140 artists create vibrant murals to 100 square feet/30 square meters. Popular with impressionists (Monet/Renoir), fine artists paint traditional canvases in “plein air” (open air). On Sunday at 3 p.m., view muralists’/painters’ completed works and dine in Old Town, or celebrate Monday with a hot air balloon flight at dawn or a hike in Santa Rosa Plateau.
6-Pechanga Barbeque Festival (June 21).
Competing teams season, sizzle, baste, and slice beef/chicken/pork in the KC Barbeque Society (KCBS) California state championship. Challengers use best grills and cookers, and techniques/tricks. Observing is encouraged as it helps improve cooking skills. Attendees can taste and vote while enjoying live music and the wine and beer garden.
7-Premium Varietal 4th of July: Old Town Parade, Temecula Valley Wine Country, Fireworks.
A Thursday night stay yields a leisurely breakfast before the patriotic parade. Post-parade, dine at winery restaurants (Bel Vino, Leoness, Maurice’s, Monte de Oro). Reserve in advance for award winning wine tasting (Briar Rose, Wiens) or a tour (South Coast). Savor any of many wine-tasting room experiences or enjoy dinner at Café Champagne, Carol’s, Meritage, Shorty’s, Ponte, or Vineyard Rose. Afterward enjoy fireworks at Ronald Reagan Park. Make a Friday night stay memorable by reserving a Saturday morning hot air balloon flight at dawn.
8-Pechanga Pow Wow (July 11-13).
Glimpse richness, depth, and diversity of authentic Native-American culture at one of the largest western U.S. Pow Wows. Thousands celebrate heritage with dancing and drumming performances. Enjoy hundreds of craft/food vendors and legendary fireworks on Saturday night.
9-Hot Summer Nights: Old Town Temecula (July 11-18-25; August 1-8-15-22-29).
Live bands (blues, tribute, Cajun/Zydeco, beach, big band, rock, country) inspire in this vibrant, pedestrian friendly, 12-block, historic shopping and dining district. Shop boutiques and savor bistro fare and award winning wines. Make Friday night stay inspired: reserve a Saturday morning hot air balloon flight at dawn.
10-Pechanga Microbrew Festival (July 19).
Beer enthusiasts welcome thirst-quenching craft brew tastes of dozens of Temecula Valley popular and regional breweries. Pechanga chefs compete in a chili cook-off while attendees savor microbrews, chili, music and entertainment.
Information is believed accurate but is subject to change.
For daily Events Calendar, see VisitTemecula.org.
ABOUT TEMECULA VALLEY AND THE TEMECULA VALLEY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
With natural gifts of climate and geography (Pu’eska Mountain, Rainbow/Santa Margarita Gaps), Temecula Valley is recognized for scenic vineyards, award winning wines, and gracious, friendly wineries as Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. The popular boutique destination also includes Downtown Old Town Temecula, Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula Wine Country Golf Trail, and is home to three time, award-winning California State Winery of the Year, South Coast Winery.
Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors, is online at VisitTemecula.org; Facebook, “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country”; Twitter, @Visit_Temecula; FilmTemecula.com. Temecula Valley Visitors Center in Old Town is adjacent free Parking Garage.
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Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, http://www.temeculacvb.com, (951) 491-6085, [email protected]
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