Local brewers debut at Temecula balloon and wine festival

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, and organizers are mixing things up a bit by including several of the valley’s breweries in the festivities.

Aftershock Brewing, Black Market Brewing Co., Brew-Ligion, Ironfire Brewing Company, Refuge Brewery and Wiens Brewing will be sampling and pouring at this year’s event.

The festival continues from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. tomorrow (June 1) and 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (June 2) at Lake Skinner Recreation Area, 37701 Warren Road, Winchester.

General admission, which also includes general concert admission, is $25 for adults on Saturday and $17 for adults on Sunday. Kids six to 12 are $5 either day. Kids five and younger are admitted free. General admission tickets are available here.

Six two-ounce wine tasting tickets are $15, which includes a specialty glass to keep. Step up to reserve wines for $25. Extra wine tasting tickets are available for $2, while a full glass is $8.

Four-ounce local brew tasters are $4, with full glasses available for $8.

There will also be wine and beer pairing lunches and dinners on Saturday and a wine pairing lunch on Sunday. Saturday’s pairing events cost $73, which includes festival and concert admission. Sunday’s wine pairing lunch costs $65, which also includes festival and concert admission.

The beer pairing includes foods made with beer, prepared by chefs from the Riverside Chapter of the American Culinary Federation. Tickets are available here.

For more information, including concert information, click here.