Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
Photo: Jon Sullivan, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Few images capture Temecula like hot-air balloons rising over the valley at dawn. The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival celebrates that view on a grand scale, filling the sky with color and the festival grounds with wine, food and music.
A Temecula tradition since 1983
According to the festival’s official history, the event began in 1983, bringing together hot-air balloons, wine tasting, culinary presentations and entertainment. It moved to Lake Skinner in 1989, and the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival Association was formed as a nonprofit charitable organization. Decades on, it remains one of the region’s signature events.
The experience
The highlight is the balloon launches, when dozens of envelopes inflate and lift off into the early-morning sky — an unforgettable sight for children and adults alike. Throughout the day, the festival offers wine tasting from Temecula Valley wineries, food and live entertainment. Many visitors plan their day around dawn and dusk, when the balloons are most active and the light is softest.
When and where
The festival takes place at Lake Skinner Regional Park, 37701 Warren Road in Winchester, in the hills northeast of Temecula wine country. It is traditionally held in early summer; the official directions page documents the June 20–22, 2025 edition. Check the official website for the next dates, tickets and parking or shuttle information.
Tips for visiting
- Arrive before dawn for the balloon launches.
- Dress in layers: early mornings are cool, afternoons can be hot.
- Check parking and shuttle details on the official site.
- Plan a designated driver if you will be tasting wine.
Pair it with wine country
Many festival-goers extend the celebration into Temecula’s wineries before or after. A chauffeured 1969 Cadillac is ideal for those wine-country days: a top-down drive past the vineyards, tastings at a few wineries and nobody worrying about the drive back. If you are staying for the weekend, the festival and a chauffeured winery day make a perfect pairing.
Who will love the festival
Families, photographers, wine lovers and anyone who has dreamed of seeing a sky full of balloons will love the Balloon & Wine Festival. It is also a romantic setting for proposals and anniversaries — and if you want to see balloons year-round, Temecula’s commercial balloon rides offer sunrise flights over the vineyards on many mornings.
Planning your visit
Temecula’s festivals and events draw big crowds, so plan early: buy tickets as soon as they go on sale, reserve dinner nearby and book hotels well in advance for major weekends. Check the organizer’s official website for the latest schedule, parking, shuttle and road-closure information, and arrive early to beat traffic. Dress in layers, since Temecula’s days can be warm and evenings cool, and bring water and sun protection for outdoor events. If you plan to taste wine, arrange a ride or designated driver — and because classic-car rentals book up quickly on event weekends, reserve the 1969 Cadillac on DriveShare as soon as your plans are set.
Best time to go
Events draw crowds and fill nearby hotels and restaurants, so book accommodation, dinners and transportation well in advance, and arrive early.
Make a day of it
A sample Temecula day built around Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival:
- Day — Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival.
- Before or after — a chauffeured afternoon at nearby wineries.
- Evening — dinner in Old Town Temecula.
- Late — a top-down ride back to your hotel.
Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival at a glance
| Category | Balloon, wine, food & music festival |
|---|---|
| Address | Lake Skinner Regional Park, 37701 Warren Road, Winchester, CA |
| Area | Lake Skinner, Winchester |
| When | Traditionally early summer (the 2025 edition ran June 20–22); check the official site for the next dates |
| Organizer | Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival Association |
| Good to know | Dawn balloon launches, wine tasting, food and live entertainment |
| Website | temeculavalleyfestival.com |
Getting to Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival in a 1969 Cadillac
Lake Skinner sits in the hills northeast of Temecula wine country. Festival parking and shuttles can be busy, so plan your arrival carefully; for nearby wine-country celebrations before or after, a chauffeured 1969 Cadillac keeps the day easy.
Chauffeured hire is $325 per hour with a three-hour minimum, booked and protected through DriveShare. Tell us where you want to go and we will build the route — Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival plus a winery or two, a sunset stop and a ride home.
Book the '69 Cadillac on DriveShare
More things to do nearby
- 1909 — restaurants
- Baily's Old Town Temecula — restaurants
All things to do in Temecula → · Month-by-month events calendar → · Temecula wineries →
Frequently asked questions
Where is Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival?
Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is at Lake Skinner Regional Park, 37701 Warren Road, Winchester, CA, in Lake Skinner, Winchester.
When is Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival?
Traditionally early summer (the 2025 edition ran June 20–22); check the official site for the next dates. Dates can change from year to year, so confirm on the official website before you plan travel.
What is Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival known for?
The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is known for combining hot-air balloon launches with wine tasting, culinary presentations and entertainment; it began in 1983 and has been held at Lake Skinner since 1989.
Can I arrive at Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival in a classic car?
Yes. 1969 Caddy offers a chauffeured red 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible from $325 per hour (three-hour minimum), booked on DriveShare. We plan the drop-off and pickup around Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival and can add nearby wineries to the same booking.
Arrive at Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival in style.
A chauffeured 1969 Cadillac convertible for your Temecula day — booked on DriveShare.