AutumnFest 2010 in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country:…
VisitTemecula.org is announcing a cornucopia of autumn events and activities in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. The casual, picturesque valley—including three distinctive destinations within minutes of each other: Downtown Old Town Temecula, Pechanga Resort & Casino, and Temecula Valley Wine Country—celebrates AutumnFest daily September 8 through November 24.
“The Temecula Valley is Southern Californiaâs best backyard; great events and activities are non-stop,” Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO, shares enthusiastically. “Nowhere else in Southern California can autumn’s abundance be experienced the way it can with the variety of events unique to Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country.”
AutumnFest Temecula Valley Wine Country Events
September Events
Throughout September, visitors can celebrate California Wine Month—Temecula style: with friendly appreciation for the valley’s great wines, winemakers, and winemaking families. A specially priced wine-country passport lets visitors choose when and which wineries to visit. Meanwhile, restaurants of Old Town Temecula, Pechanga Resort & Casino, and Temecula Valley Wine Country feature seasonally inspired menus and local vintages.
September 15-19, thousands of movie and music buffs from Hollywood and around the world will come together for the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival. Over the five days, 150+ independent, U.S. and international, features, short films, documentaries, student films, and animation will be screened; and more than 15 specially chosen, independent, diverse, music talents will perform. Closing-night, black-tie-gala honorees will include Kenny Loggins with Award of Excellence for Outstanding Career Achievement in Music. All events open to the public; tickets available August 30.
A broad audience will enjoy the rhythm and zeal of Temecula Gospel Fest 2010 at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, September 24 and 25. Featured artists include Jean Johnson Witherspoon from The Color Purple; Lillian Crawford; Gentry McCreary, Sr.; Mighty Women of Gospel; and The Shield of Faith Choir.
October Events
On October 2, hundreds of quilts and thousands of yards of fabric will turn Old Town Temecula into a colorful autumn display with the Outdoor Quilt Show. Then, October 8 and 9, the Temecula Fall Rod Run will bring hundreds of classic pre-1974 vehicles and thousands of automotive enthusiasts together.
October 17, thousands will participate in the Komen Inland Empire Race for the Cure® with coed 5K runs/walks, a 1-mile fun run/walk, a kids-only run, and an expo; this is the Inland Empire regionâs only such event.
Motorcycle and music fans will rally for the Help Ride Bike & Music Festival, October 23. Live entertainment will include Gilby Clark from Guns N’ Roses; Lucas Nelson; The Blasters; Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats; and others.
November Events
On November 6 and 7, Harvest Celebration Barrel Tasting guests will visit wineries to experience food pairings with exclusive, barrel and tank samplings of finished and unfinished wines not available to the public.
Also in Old Town Temecula
Autumn shows and performances at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater will be as varied as Smokin’ Joe Kubek with Bnois King, the California Chamber Orchestra, City Ballet of Los Angeles, and a Live Tribute to the Beatles.
Children of all ages will delight in fun sessions at Pennypickles Workshop – Temecula Children’s Museum. In October, Museum Gone Mad events include icky science and a haunted museum. Meanwhile, Old Town’s reverence for the past will be on display at the Temecula Valley History Museum with the exceptional photographic exhibit, Life at the Vail Ranch (August 15 through October 24).
The Old Town Temecula Certified Farmers Market, Saturday mornings, is the best in the valley. Shopping and dining are also great, daily Old Town activities: 60+ specialty stores offer unique merchandise, and 19 independent restaurants provide one-of-a-kind dining, from upscale to Southern Californiaâs best barbecue.
Also at Pechanga Resort & Casino
Headline acts (Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Vince Gil, George Lopez, Kathy Griffin, Kenny Loggins, and others) will perform at the Pechanga Showroom Theater. More entertainment: Silk the Club—one of the largest Vegas-style nightclubs in Southern California; the Comedy Club; Cabaret Lounge; and rooftop Eagle’s Nest.
As California’s largest, the gaming excitement is 24/7 at Pechanga Casino. More than 130 table games and 3,700 Vegas-style slot machines complement a poker room and high-limit gaming area.
Catering to many tastes, Pechanga Resort offers eight great dining options including international cuisines and gourmet restaurants. A championship golf course is the resort’s newest addition; Journey meanders across the Pechanga River and takes full advantage of the awe-inspiring terrain.
Also in Temecula Valley Wine Country
With the excitement of grape harvest and potential to experience “crush” (especially weekdays), September through mid-October are perfect for visiting the 30+ wineries of Temecula Valley Wine Country. Many will also hold harvest celebrations and grape stomps, and live concerts featuring Berlin, Kenny G, The Rippingtons, and others.
Autumn dining venues in Temecula Valley Wine Country are many. Six wineries feature excellent restaurants and others offer casual picnic fare. Wineries also host Friday happy hours; weekend craft fairs; and live music on weekend afternoons.
Fitting for AutumnFest, Temecula Valley is also home to The Peltzer Pumpkin Farm (daily, September 18 to October 31) and Big Horse Feed and Corona Ranch & Land Companyâs Corn Maze (weekends, October 9 to 31).
To learn more about Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country please go to www.VisitTemecula.org or call 888/363-2852.
