New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Uncorking a three-day weekend of the finest sights, sounds and tastes the Temecula Valley offers, the 33rd Annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival flies high May 20-22 with top rock, alternative rock, and country bands in concert, a spectrum of iridescent colorful hot air balloons during dawn launches and evening balloon glows, and tasty sensations for the most persnickety palate.
Held at Lake Skinner Recreational Area, the Festival highlights Southern California's fine wine region with wine tasting, food and wine pairings with gourmet cuisine. Not to be outdone, the local growing microbrew industry offers microbrew and craft brews, while food and beer pairings teach guests to cook with beer as an ingredient.
Main Stage Concerts at the Festival include
Phil Vassar and
Parmalee on Friday night, Jimmy Eat World,
Neon Trees and Chalk FarM on Saturday and
Rodney Atkins and Kristian Bush on Sunday.
The Wine Garden stage features local bands that competed on I-Heart Radio's Local Rising Stars contest for a spot at the Festival, and other regional acts. Los Angeles Dance Party DJs Pasho and Orion create the party atmosphere after Friday and Saturday night's balloon glows. Sunday in the Wine Gardens features a tribute to The
Eagles by the band Hotel California.
Vassar's musical career includes eight albums, two ASCAP Songwriter of the Year trophies, Billboard Country Songwriter of the Year, countless hits as a singer and songwriter and a mantle full of awards. Known for the hits "Carlene," "Last Day of My Life, " "American Child, " Vassar topped the charts with "
In A Real Love" and the perennial favorite "Just Another Day in Paradise."
Parmalee, a Country Rock band hailing from North Carolina, took their name from the tiny, southern town of Parmele, NC. The band's debut single, "Musta Had A Good Time," was #1 for four-consecutive weeks on SiriusXM's The Highway "Hot 30 LIVE" countdown. Their album "Feels Like Carolina," earned critical praise from "People Magazine," "USA Today," and "Billboard."
Parmalee made recording history when "
Carolina" became the longest climbing single by a duo or group in the 24-year history of the Billboard Country Airplay Chart.
Cosmic Cosplay spices up the ever-popular Friday evening Balloon Glow. A 30-minute show* (illuminated, and anchored), these hot air balloons glow to the musical beats of "Star Wars," "Star Trek" and beyond. This is an interactive event where the crowd cheers and pleas for the "glow" while balloons appear to dance to the beat. Cosplay characters will be dressed in everything from
Storm Troopers to Klingons, and Ewoks to Aliens. Up to 200 pre-registered Cosplay participants are expected. Los Angeles Deejay Pasha packs high energy into the dance party after the "glow" using his own blend of party tune mixes.
Saturday and Sunday mornings feature the mass hot air balloon launch from the Festival.* Get there by 6 a.m. to see these graceful giants ascend as hot air balloons can only fly in the early mornings, with low winds and high visibility.
Saturday's music includes Jimmy Eat World, Neon Trees, Chalk FarM and Meesha Black. Jimmy Eat World, (alternative/rock), is fresh from the studio cutting a new album and headlining the Festival's Main Stage Saturday. The group made their breakthrough in 2001 with the platinum-selling album "Bleed American," spawning four top hits and #1 on the charts with "The Middle." The single was featured on the video games "Rock Band 2" and "Guitar Hero World Tour." Their sixth album, "
Chase This Light" became the groups highest charting album, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.
Neon Trees, a band formed by Murrieta neighbors Tyler
Glenn and Chris Allan, is best known for their melodic rock tunes that crossover to pop. They first broke into the charts in 2010 with the hit songs "
Animal" and "1983" from the album "Habits." Their 2012 album produced hits "
Everybody Talks" and "Lessons in Love." "Sleeping With a Friend," from the 2014 album "
Pop Psychology" earned the group a
Radio Industry Association of
America Gold.
Platinum-selling
Rodney Atkins headlines the Festival's Country Funday Sunday. Atkins has a string of hits including the 2012 BMI Song of the Year "Take A Back Road," and the most played 2006 Song of the Year "These Are My People." His No.1 hit "Cleaning This Gun," off the album "If You're Going Through Hell," was featured in the movie "The Bourne Legacy."
Sunday also features special guest Kristian Bush, one half of platinum-selling country duo Sugarland. Bush has left his mark on music for more than two decades. His debut solo album, Southern Gravity, released in April 2015, featured the Top 20 single "Trailer Hitch." As Sugarland, Bush's awards include 2009-11 CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, 2011 CMT
Music Awards Duo Video of the Year "Stuck Like Glue," and 2009 Grammy Awards Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group, "Stay."
The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is produced by a non-profit association in the heart of Temecula Valley Wine Country. Sponsored by the City of Temecula, Economic Development Agency of Riverside, and Riverside County Parks, the Festival offers guests the opportunity to sample from up to 20 Southern California Wine Country wineries while experiencing the splendor of blue skies, gentle breezes and the beauty of Lake Skinner which is surrounded by a multi-species reserve.
