When the first hot air balloon lifts over Lake Skinner on Friday morning, May 30th, it will be sailing over a Festival that has gained national and international recognition.
The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival launches May 30th – June 1st for its 31st year of promoting the Temecula Valley and its premium wineries.
Temecula is also known for beautiful blue skies that are dotted by hot air balloons at dawn, a motocross community that produces international freestyle champions, top wine country chefs and cuisine and a musical heritage of top concerts. Put it all in one location and the Festival becomes news from Chicago to San Francisco, and Virginia to Seattle. Proof is in the Festival’s attendance and annual reach to the public. Last year 7% of the guests were from out of state, and 50% of the attendance comes from outside of the Inland Empire. In 2013, the event’s message had 42 million impressions nationwide. This included the Chicago Tribune and television stations in Virginia.
This year’s Festival is off and running with a stellar concert lineup, backed by the usual suspects of Temecula’s premium wineries and graceful hot air balloons. New backers have joined the traditional sponsors of County of Riverside, City of Temecula, Pechanga Resort & Casino, Welk Resorts, the Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau and Soboba Foundation. Aligning their marketing goals with the Festival’s marketing machine this year are Air Stream Orange County and Los Angeles, Red Roof Inns, and Subaru.
Marketing partnerships of the Festival this year will include advertising on NBC TV, Clear Channel’s My 104 and Kiss FM, KFrog Stations, Time Warner and Verizon Fios subscribers. “Our mission has remained the same since the Festival incorporated and became a 501 C4 organization: To enhance the charitable, cultural, educational and economic development of the region,” stated executive director Carol Popejoy.
Popejoy, as you may recall, was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) Educational Foundation. She serves with board members representing events and festivals around the world including the National Cherry Festival, Sunfest, Kentucky Derby Festival, and the Indianapolis 500 Festival.
Once a part time job in the 90s, the Festival staff now consists of a team of three who pull all the details together, while hundreds of volunteers and a seven-person volunteer board donate thousands of hours to the cause. Local and regional contractors provide services also creating a boom to the economy.
For the past several years the Festival has won top honors at the IFEA Convention for Festival excellence. This includes three gold pinnacle awards for 2013 in a total of 25 awards over the past eight years. Awards at IFEA and Calfest are based upon results – results which include increases in room occupancy during the Festival weekend.
For 31 years the Festival has combined the valley’s assets into one weekend showcase of massive dawn hot air balloon launches, evening balloon glows, wine tasting from up to 20 wineries, and chef demonstrations that offer recipes while pairing with the valley’s premium wines. Top bands and musicians are in concert on two different stages with the Main Stage sponsored by local 4-Diamond Award Pechanga Resort & Casino. The 2014 concert lineup includes: Justin Moore, Frankie Ballard and Tim Charron on Country Friday, May 30; 3 Doors Down, Gin Blossoms, Nelson and Access Royale Saturday, May 31; and Warrant on the Wine Stage Sunday, June 1, while Jimmy Fitzpatrick presents the Metal Mulisha Freestyle Motocross Demo at the Main Stage.
The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival also highlights the culinary aspects of the region with food and wine pairing, chef demonstrations and beer and food pairing. Friday and Saturday evenings also feature the popular evening balloon glow (weather permitting.)
Check www.tvbwf.com for scheduled times and activities or call (951) 676-6713. Hot air balloon flights, tethers and evening glows are weather permitting only.