Wine And Balloon Festival Of Temecula

July 16th, 2009 by Ian Kleine

by Ian Kleine

The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce had planned these lists of festivities way back when it started during 1983. The proprietor of the balloon festival was a certain Mr. Walt Darren, a commercial airline pilot who had a side hobby of being a hot air balloonist. He was the one who proposed the idea of having hot air balloons race through the countryside as part of an effort to bolster the tourism in the area.

Vicky Taylor, president of the Commerce back then had asked Evelyn Harker, event organizer to raise funds for this idea (of which she might have thought of it to be a pretty good idea in itself.) The event organizer had the idea that the whole thing might pull off much more successfully if the other attractions that could be found in the local area were pulled in as a culmination of all the good things that can be found inside Temecula Valley. Things like wines, cheeses, the entertainment and basically, the cuisine of Temecula itself.

The idea was passed on, and more of the people around, as well as several establishments and organizations pitched their support in to try and bolster the event upwards. Funds came in steadily from different areas of the valley, not to mention these were limited to not only finance, but also through volunteer work and free advertising of the event.

The first event launched successfully, spring of 1984. With the small town of only 9000, this event was a big step for the commercialization and the growth of the local community. At least half of the town’s population had arrived (increasing the head count of the area by up to 150% during that time).

The thirty five balloons that were launched are kept in the memories of those who saw it. Some may have made their final flight a few years back, other still going strong and flying like the young ones. But the festival attracts new blood year per year, making sure the tradition never dies.

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