A year in Temecula, month by month.

Temecula by season

Winter (December–February). Winter is Temecula’s quietest and coolest season, with crisp mornings, green hills after the rains and fewer crowds at the wineries. The season opens with holiday lights and Santa’s Electric Light Parade in Old Town, followed in January by the Pechanga Pow Wow and in February by Barrel Tasting Weekend, when wineries pour from the barrel. A top-down drive is still lovely on sunny afternoons — just bring a jacket.

Spring (March–May). Spring is many visitors’ favorite time: wildflowers on the Santa Rosa Plateau, bud break in the vineyards and mild days ideal for wine tasting. March brings the Pechanga Wine Festival & Chocolate Decadence, and the Temecula Rod Run fills Old Town with classic cars in late April or early May. It is also peak wedding season, so book venues, restaurants and the Cadillac early.

Summer (June–August). Summer days are hot and evenings warm, so plan outdoor activities for mornings and sunsets. The Balloon & Wine Festival traditionally fills the sky over Lake Skinner in early summer, the Fourth of July brings a parade to Old Town and fireworks, and many wineries host evening concerts. Sunrise balloon rides and sunset tastings are the best ways to enjoy the valley in the heat.

Fall (September–November). Fall is harvest season, and wine country is at its busiest and most beautiful. The Champagne Jazz Series at Thornton Winery runs in September and October, the Temecula Valley International Film Festival takes over screens in October and the De Portola Wine Trail celebrates the harvest in November. Warm days and cool evenings make it ideal for an open-top Cadillac tour.

How to plan around an event

For major events, start planning several weeks ahead. Buy tickets as soon as they go on sale, book hotels early, and reserve dinner in Old Town. Check each organizer’s website for parking, shuttles and road closures. If you plan to taste wine, arrange a driver — a chauffeured 1969 Cadillac from $325 per hour, with a three-hour minimum, can take your group from event to winery to dinner without anyone worrying about the drive. Weekly favorites, like the Saturday farmers market and live music at wineries, make easy additions to any weekend.