Known for winemaking and ballooning, Temecula Valley combines these two signature activities at the annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival (www.tvbwf.com). The 2022 event, which is slated for June 3-5, will not only feature the usual ballooning and wine tasting activities, but it will also offer festival-goers the opportunity to try out wheelchair-accessible ballooning.

The Festival

Held at Lake Skinner Regional Park in Winchester, the festival kicks off on Friday evening with a traditional balloon glow. Gates open at 3 PM, and after sunset the colorful balloons will be inflated and then remain aglow for patrons to admire. On Saturday and Sunday mornings 50-some balloons will make a mass ascension just before dawn. And balloon glows will dazzle guests each evening.

Wine tasting will be available throughout the festival at the Wine Tasting Stage, and guests can also sample craft beer in the Beer Garden. Add in an international food court, DJ entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, and live music on two stages, and you’ve got a fun filled weekend.

Advance purchase admission tickets for the festival are available at www.tvbwf.com/tickets. Walk-up admission is also available at the gate; however there’s a $10 discount for advance purchase.

Wheelchair-Accessible Ballooning

Tethered balloon rides will be available at the festival, and Reach for the Stars (www.reach4thestars.org) will provide wheelchair-accessible ones. Unlike a free flight, the balloon remains anchored to the ground with ropes during a tethered experience. After passengers board they are slowly raised up to a height of 50 to 75 feet, where they hover for a few minutes before descending. The balloon is always anchored with ropes during a tethered ride. It’s a very safe activity, and a great introduction to wheelchair-accessible ballooning.

Reach for the Stars has a gondola with a fold down door, so wheelchair users can roll aboard. This is also a good choice for anybody who can’t physically climb into the gondola. Additionally, there’s a wheelchair-height window in the gondola, so wheelchair-users can get a good view in a seated position.

When they’re not attending festivals or camps, the folks at Reach for the Stars also offer free-flight balloon rides. These one-hour flights usually launch from Perris Valley, and they can accommodate one wheelchair-user and one or two companions. (emerginghorizons.com/accessible-balloon-soars-over-socal).

The wheelchair-accessible tethered rides at the festival begin around 7:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday. They will operate for approximately two hours, weather permitting. Tickets are available online for $15, or at the site for $20 (cash only). That said, because of the limited availability, it’s best to purchase them in advance to assure yourself a spot. So come on out and try wheelchair-accessible ballooning at the 2022 Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival.