WINCHESTER (CNS) - Citing concerns about the potential spread of novel coronavirus, organizers of the annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival in Winchester announced today that the event will not be held as planned in May, but will instead be delayed to late September.
“While we remain hopeful that the drastic moves made by our state and local governments will curtail the outbreak, the health and safety of the community, festival guests, participants and partners is our number one priority,” festival director Stacey Ellison said.
“It is out of an abundance of caution that we are rescheduling the 2020 event to September. The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival will return to its traditional dates for 2021.”
This year's tentative schedule is Sept. 25-27.
The fest draws tens of thousands of visitors each May and features a carnival, live musical entertainment with a variety of artists on several stages and the celebrated hot air balloon rides, which include nighttime “glows,” when dozens of the lighter-than-air ships flash their burners in the night skies.
There are typically more than 150 vendors from throughout the region, more than a dozen of which are often vintners hosting wine tastings and sales.
Photo: Getty Images