Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival

Breaking all records for the past three years, Temecula Valley's 1995 Balloon & Wine Festival enjoyed a double dose of balloon-dotted skies Saturday and Sunday. The 12th annual Balloon & Wine Festival was held at Lake Skinner in Temecula, California on April 28, 29 and 30.

The weekend began Friday night when the gates opened at 5 p.m. for a spectacular evening balloon dance. Nine balloons participated in the "Valley Glow" as their pilots ignited the balloon burners, illuminating the night sky with excitement. "Green Eggs" enhanced the evening with musical entertainment on the main stage.

As the sun rose Saturday, there were still remains of fog in the valley to worry Festival general manager, Michelle Harris. But the fog was no match for the brilliant sun this year, and it burned off in time to launch the first colorful balloon by 8:00 a.m.

Forty-eight hot air balloons ascended over the crystal blue waters of Lake Skinner Saturday and Sunday. Two waves were necessary to accommodate the balloons that participated in the weekend's "hare and hound" competition.

The first "hare" balloon to lead the pack Saturday was "Midas," piloted by Mike Palumbo. Second was, "Blue Moon," piloted by Sam Slaughter. Mike and Sam traded hare positions Sunday. Both balloons were supplied by Pacific Horizon Balloon Tours out of Rancho Santa Fe, California, owned by Jim Bilotta.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Temecula
• Balloon
• &
• Wine
• Festival
• inland
• valley
• news

[champenois5144]

la country, le western, les balloon c'était des journées formidables