Boots, Balloons & RosƩ All Day: This Temecula Music Fest Is Your Summer Weekend Dream
This isnāt just another wine-soaked weekend in Temeculaāitās three days of twangy anthems, late-night balloon glows, and boots scootinā beneath the stars. From June 20ā22, the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is serving up a full pour of country music magic, with headliners like ALABAMA, Walker Hayes, and Cody Jinks turning up the heat. If your summer plans include line dancing, wine tasting, or catching sunsets while āFancy Likeā blasts in the background, this is the festival that checks every box. Equal parts country concert, wine loverās paradise, and dreamy hot air balloon spectacleāitās SoCalās answer to a perfect weekend. Hereās why this yearās lakeside bash is about to be the talk of the valley.
Three Days. One Epic Lineup.
Weāre not talking fringe acts. Weāre talking ALABAMA headlining the stage, reminding everyone why theyāre country royalty. These legends basically invented stadium sing-alongs, and now theyāre bringing āDixieland Delightā straight to the valley. Backing them up? A stacked lineup of modern trailblazers and boot-stomping crowd favorites: Cody Jinks, Walker Hayes, Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson, Midland, Russell Dickerson, Jamey Johnson, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Wyatt Flores, to name a few.
āWe love to find that tie between the legends and those emerging artists that grew up idolizing them,ā says the team behind the festival. āThat is what brings generations of musicians together, and in turn brings generations of fans together for a magical weekend.ā
From honkytonk nostalgia to TikTok-famous bangers, the lineup reads like a Spotify playlist designed for tailgate turn-ups and sunset singalongs.
Want to take it all in from up front? The Golden Corral passes give you pit access, while VIP Bungalows come with private tents, prime stage views, and four VIP tickets. Festival flexibility meets luxury weekend status.
Local Vines, Festival Finds
This isnāt just any concert-in-a-field situation. Youāre in Temecula Valley wine country, honey. That means tastings from premier local wineries all weekend long, from bright Chardonnays to bold Syrahs that go perfectly with your smoked brisket sandwich. The curated wine village is crafted by the experts.
āOur non-profit organization partner, The Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival Organization, has worked for over 40 years curating those relationships and creating this showcase opportunity to highlight the local brands, and their importance to the Temecula Valley community.ā
And if youāre more hops than grapes, the craft beer garden has you covered. Pair that glass of rosĆ© with a lakeside sunset and suddenly youāre in a country music videoāminus the heartbreak.
Balloon Vibes Are Sky-High
While country tunes take center stage, the balloon experiences deliver the festivalās most magical moments. Think sun-drenched morning launches drifting over the lake or the ultra-Instagrammable Balloon Glow lighting up the night. You donāt have to be in the basket to feel the wonderāthough you can book a ride if youāre feeling extra adventurous. Full balloon rides are now offered through A Grape Escape, with sunrise flights starting at $209 if youāre ready to soar. This adventure includes a shared 60ā75 minute scenic flight (with 8ā16 passengers), complete with mimosas, champagne and a souvenir flight certificate. Plus, enjoy a 20% discount on La Scappatella private label champagne to toast the experience. Prefer to keep your feet closer to the dance floor? That works too. Thereās a dedicated space for two-stepping, golden hour grooves, and soaking up the view while grounded in all the right ways.
Where the Party Never Packs Up
Thatās right. Pitch a tent, park your RV, or glamp it up for the full festival immersion. On-site camping at Lake Skinner means you wake up to lake views, beat the parking lines, and get to stumble back to your site after dancing under the stars. Pro tip from the crew: āOpt in for the Thursday night add-on, so you can get in there quicker and be all set up to completely enjoy the full Friday. In the past, Friday was more of a late-afternoon start, but this year it is a full day starting at noon.ā
āAs campers, you get an RFID wristband and your own entranceāso you can come and go from the main festival grounds to your campsite as often as you like.ā
Go in with friends, claim your territory, and turn it into a Western-style campsite complete with charcuterie boards and cowboy hats on tiki torches. Donāt forget sunscreen. And maybe a portable fan.
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Hot Air and High Spirits
Picture it: a dedicated line dance floor, couples two-stepping in the golden hour light, food trucks slinging loaded BBQ fries, and families catching balloon launches with picnic blankets and toddlers in boots.
āItās a laid-back festival on campgrounds at the lake, with great country music across three full days, a fun honkytonk with games and dancing, a wine tasting village showcasing the local wineries, arts and activations, over 100 craft vendors, and lots of local food options and a full bar,ā says the festival team.
Itās part vineyard retreat, part country music escape, and entirely unforgettable. The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival brings together everything that makes summer festivals irresistible. The great music, local flavor, and that feeling that youāre exactly where youāre supposed to be. New this year? Events.com is behind the scenes powering the magic. Their tech is streamlining everything from ticketing to operations. They will ensure its easy for you to float through the weekend like a total pro.
Need one more reason to say yes? Country fans with a valid military ID get 10% off tickets. Around here, honoring service is just part of the rhythm.
Saddle upāthis oneās gonna be big. Tickets are already on sale through TemeculaValleyFestival.com, and campsites fill up fast. So dust off your boots, grab your wine glass, and get ready to soak in Southern Californiaās most scenic country music celebration. See you at the lake.
A California local, Kathleen Hokit grew up on a farm but spent every chance she could at the beach. After earning her graduate degree in the social sciences in Finland, she built a 17+ year career writing and editing across lifestyle, entertainment, and culture. A longtime magazine lover, she now lives the dream as part of the editorial team at LOCALE. When sheās not on deadline, sheās hiking or sneaking in a beach day with her husband and son. Kathleen loves all things artāfrom writing and photography to spending time on the dance floor, where she teaches ballet to everyone from tiny tots to grown-ups on their pas de bourrĆ©e path.
