The Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival is held the first weekend in June at Lake Skinner Recreation Area in the heart of Southern California Wine Country. This famous festival features a mix of hot-air balloon displays, live music, wine tastings, gourmet food, arts and crafts, and family-friendly activities. The event typically takes place in mid-June at the scenic Lake Skinner Recreation Area (37701 Warren Rd, Winchester, CA), with grounds open from noon on Friday through evening on Sunday.
Festival Activities & Entertainment
Hot Air Balloons: A signature feature, the festival traditionally includes early-morning hot air balloon launches and tethered rides over the surrounding vineyards and Lake Skinner, weather permitting. Evening “Balloon Glows”—where balloons are inflated and lit from within at sunset, creating a colorful light show—have been a highlight on Friday and Saturday nights. Attendees can book sunrise balloon rides through the official partner, A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure.
Wine and Beer: As a tribute to Temecula’s reputation as a top wine region, the Winery Village offers tastings and pours from numerous local vineyards, including Peltzer and Wilson Creek. Visitors can look forward to grape-stomping contests, a craft beer garden, and themed bars, including the new Citrus Farm, which offers fresh cocktails.
Music and Entertainment: The festival emphasizes country music, with performances across multiple stages. Featured headliners have included Alabama, Cody Jinks, and Walker Hayes, alongside acts such as Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Midland. Line dancing and a mechanical bull round out the festival entertainment.
Food, Shopping, and More: Gourmet food vendors offer festival fare, while artisan crafts, commercial booths, and kid-friendly zones round out the vibe. On-site dry camping with electric/water hookups is available, including festival passes, for a full weekend immersion.
Family Activities: For the younger set, a kids’ fair area for visitors ages 14 and under includes rides, inflatables, a rock-climbing wall, a petting zoo, face painting, and other fun activities.
Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival Tickets
Tickets go on sale in early spring and include general admission, VIP upgrades, and camping bundles. Parking requires advance permits due to high demand, and a mobile app provides real-time updates. Prices start around $99 for general admission.
Discount Tickets For The Festival:
- Military Discount: Active-duty military, veterans, and their families receive 10% off all ticket types with a valid military ID at checkout.
- Advance Purchase Savings: Buying online before the event saves $5–$10 per ticket compared to gate prices.
- Children Free: Kids 12 and under get free general admission with a paying adult.
- Group Rates: Discounts for groups of 20 or more—contact 877-733-3136 for details and pricing.
- Third-Party Options: Resale or ticket platforms sometimes offer additional deals once tickets go on sale, including TicketsBuzz and Tickpick.
- Promo codes: 10–30% off. Check the official site or email list for 2026 codes upon presale launch.
Nearby Points of Interest:
Murrieta Hot Springs Resort is a geothermal oasis known for its natural mineral-rich hot springs. The resort is a luxury spa that blends historic charm with modern wellness amenities. The resort, which reopened in February 2024 after extensive renovations, features over 50 geothermal-fed pools and water features across 46 acres of lush grounds, drawing visitors seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.
Fallbrook, California, is known as the” Avocado Capital of the World.” The area produced olives as its major crop in the 1920s, but by the 1940s, it had become part of the rapidly growing California avocado and floral industry. Today, Fallbrook, California, is a thriving community of about 30,000 people. While the city is most famous for its annual Avocado Festival, there are plenty of things to see and do to make Fallbrook an exciting day trip destination.
Lake Elsinore, California, is situated along Interstate 15, between Corona and Temecula. It is the second-oldest city in Riverside County. Lake Elsinore is maintained at a healthy level of 1,200 feet above sea level and is the largest natural freshwater lake in Southern California. The lake offers year-round opportunities for boating and fishing.