A Season to Live Glass Full 

LIVE PERFORMANCES

Temecula Valley Wine Country, Old Town Temecula, and Pechanga Resort Casino have live performances during the month of December. Live music plays at many of the wineries, and don’t miss live outdoor performances of The Nutcracker at Europa Village December 2-5. There is also a 3-course dinner option before the show.

Winter Wonderland, A Holiday Concert, at Europa Village will be on Dec 12. There will be a choir, orchestra and Dickens carolers. This is an outdoor event among the vines and stars with wine, hors d’oeuvres, and photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus.

A Christmas Carol live performance based on Charles Dicken’s popular novel will be performed at Old Town Temecula Community Theater December 4-12. Also, Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners will play on December 5 at Pechanga Resort Casino.
 

EVENTS + ACTIVITIES

Temecula Valley is Event-Full with events and activities all through the month of December. Vail Headquarters will host a Temecula Chilled Holiday Market on December 10 with family fun activities and photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus. On December 11 they will host Thistle & Sage Fa La La La Vegan Holiday Event which includes vegan eats, shopping, photos with Santa Paus, live music, crafts, and a screening of ELF. Then the Ramble On Holiday Car Show will be December 17-18 showcasing at least 20 VW automobiles.

The City of Temecula will host Chilled at the Park on December 18 at Ronald Reagan Sports Park. This event will feature magical entertainment, an ugly sweater contest, a kids zone, food vendors, and a firework display at 7:45 pm.

Deck the Malls holiday market at Promenade Temecula on December 11 is an opportunity to shop local. Families can expect photos and children’s activities. December 4 is Taste of the Season to honor military veterans and their families. There will also be a food drive for military families. This is a free holiday event open to the public to enjoy food, drinks, kid’s crafts, and family fun. Merry Little Market December 17-19 is a local vendor market at Promenade Temecula, great for holiday shopping.

Temecula Holiday Artesian Market – Sip & Shop will be a holiday pop-up market at Batch Mead on Dec 12.

A sparkling, festive Old Town will be full of celebrations and special holiday treats. The City of Temecula will offer ice skating from December 10 through January 2 at Town Square Park, next to the beautifully decorated Christmas tree, perfect for family photos. Santa visits are available every weekend through December 19 at Pennypickle’s Workshop.

At Pechanga Resort Casino visitors can see a giant gingerbread and chocolate village in the hotel lobby made by their in-house bakery. Elaborate holiday décor adorns the property including 48 Christmas trees in a variety of colors, red poinsettias throughout the casino, a 30-foot lit tree near the north fountain, glitter deer, giant presents, and snowflakes. There is also a series of Chilled drinks at Blends Coffee & Wine Bar as well as Pechanga bars. Santa visits will be from December 12-14. Pechanga is a resort casino full of spaces to celebrate and gather this holiday season.

A wine country full of chilly ice rinks and cozy inns offers a month full of things to do. Peltzer Christmas on the Farm features an ice rink, local food trucks, live music, and wine. Santa’s Wine Country Workshop by Temecula Carriage Company will provide a private horse-drawn carriage to Santa’s open-air gingerbread workshop and a visit with Santa. Longshadow Christmas Gala on December 3-4 includes mulled wine, spiced cider, hot chocolate, peppermint taffy toss, live musical performances, Christmas vocal and dance performances, and more.

From exquisite decorations to a gingerbread masterpiece, to gifts inspired by international travel, and holiday music, Europa Village is the quintessential destination to celebrate the season. The Gingerbread Village, created by Executive Chef Hany Ali and his team, will be open for viewing from December 1 through January 2.

Other festive events include ‘Tis The Season to Get Ugly, Karaoke Ugly Sweater Party on December 10 at Masia de la Vinya Winery. Sip, Shop & Jingle on Dec 3 at Danza del Sol where there will be holiday shopping, a food truck, and live music. Somerset Winery’s Motown Christmas will be December 18. It will be a holiday tribute featuring the music of Motown, accompanied by a live band, Christmas carols, and dancing.

A Yalda Celebration at Fazeli Cellars will honor the winter solstice on the longest night of the year, December 16. This Persian winery will take part in this ancient celebration with food, drinks, and poetry readings.
 

HOLIDAY FEASTS

Santa Dinner at Lorimar Winery will be on December 5. The event includes cookie decorating, Santa goodie bags for children, Santa reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, photos with Santa, and more. Café Champagne at Thornton Winery will serve a Christmas Dinner on December 25. There will be a Christmas Eve Dinner at The Gambling Cowboy by owner and chef Rene Ehmcke.

Europa Village will offer a Holiday Brunch Buffet through December 26 and a Christmas Eve Family-Style Dinner on December 24. The Vineyard Rose Restaurant will offer an A La Carte Christmas Feast on December 24 & 25. Guests will be treated to a winter-inspired celebratory Christmas meal prepared by Executive Chef José Esparza and his culinary team. A Christmas Feast To Go is available at E.A.T. Marketplace and Pechanga Resort Casino.
 

NYE CELEBRATIONS

The annual New Year’s Eve Grape Drop is back in Old Town Temecula with countdowns at 9:00 pm and midnight outside City Hall. There will be a free fun zone with face painters, carnival games, a giant slide, ice skating, live music, and dancing. 

Wilson Creek Winery will hold their popular annual New Year’s Eve Party which includes an elegant night with a three-course meal, dessert bar, dancing, and more. A Fire & Ice Party at Fazeli Cellars will have live entertainment, dinner, cocktails, DJ, and dancing while bringing in the new year.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a dinner service by Chef Jose Esparza at The Vineyard Rose Restaurant offering a 70’s inspired New Year’s Eve prix fixe dinner. The resort will also celebrate with a live musical performance by Sebastian Sidi then a DJ/comedian Johnny Herrera, dancing, and a late-night small bite buffet.

The Gambling Cowboy will serve a New Year’s Eve Dinner on December 31 with an evening of music, magic, and more. Lorimar Winery will serve a buffet dinner with live music on the patio and a DJ inside. The Lorimar Ball drop will be followed by a sparkling toast.