The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a termination of contract for the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival due to unpaid bills on Tuesday, potentially signaling the end of a nearly 40-year run for the wildly popular Inland Empire event spotlighting the region's vast wine industry.
The unanimous decision came after a formal request from the Regional Parks & Open-Space District to cancel the contract that organizers of the annual event had agreed upon in 2023.
"Termination will result in the immediate return of the Lake Skinner Recreation to public use during the annual dates previously reserved for the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival," a statement said on Tuesday's board agenda.
General view of the atmosphere during the Balloon Glow at Temecula Valley Balloon And Wine Festival on June 3, 2017 in Temecula, California. Daniel Knighton / Getty Images
According to Riverside County officials, a multi-year agreement was reached between Balloon & Wine Festival organizers and the county in 2023. It was slated to run until 2027, but an invoice seeking $73,883 for the use of the Lake Skinner Recreation Area in 2025 went unpaid. Despite past-due invoices being sent in October and November, officials said that they never received a response. Supervisors said that the sum owed is now $76,100 after the addition of interest and penalties.
The Ballon & Wine Festival has been an annual staple dating back to 1983, typically blending the region's renowned wineries and hot air balloons, which can be found in the Temecula skyline on any given morning, with local vendors and music acts. Past performances include The Beach Boys, Alabama, Stone Temple Pilots, Sugar Ray, Blake Shelton, Peter Frampton, The All-American Rejects, REO Speedwagon, Brad Paisley and many more.
The event's website hasn't been updated since the 2025 event, which was held from June 20 to 22.
Neither the city of Temecula nor members of the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival Association have yet responded to a request for comment on the board's decision. CBS LA has also reached out to the Riverside County Park and Open-Space District, but has not yet heard back.
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