Temecula, CA

Temecula Valley is spectacular holiday destination, offering visitors and residents a variety of special events and performances, festive culinary experiences, live entertainment, and stunning decorations. On Dec. 31, the New Year will be ushered in at midnight with a brilliant neon "grape drop" from the top of the City Hall tower.

TEMECULA, Calif., Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Temecula Chilled returns for another holiday season of spectacular decorations, live entertainment, and special events from December 1-31. This year Visit Temecula Valley introduces its new Season's Eatings digital passport. Local makers create a "chilled" food or drink item available throughout December. When an individual orders one of these menu items, they receive points redeemable for prizes. Learn more and sign up at TemeculaChilled.com.

"Temecula offers a wonderful blend of holiday warmth and charm, making it an ideal destination for a festive and relaxing holiday getaway," said Scott A. Wilson, CEO and President of Visit Temecula Valley. "Because we're an easy drive from most major metro areas in Southern California, visitors can enjoy everything this beautiful region has to offer without the hustle and bustle of a large city."

Here are a few spirited suggestions for visitors to consider during December. More information, including hotel and lodging options, can be found here: http://www.visittemeculavalley.com.

Santa's Electric Light Parade: On Friday, Dec. 1, Old Town Temecula is decked with holiday lights and décor in time for the highly anticipated annual parade. Santa will greet everyone with warmth, good will, and festive holiday cheer during this fun family holiday event.

Old Town Temecula: Old Town becomes a nostalgic, charming small town during the holidays with its outdoor ice rink, holiday décor and music, and friendly hospitality. Look for someone in a Temecula Chilled apron giving away free cookies walking along every Monday through Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Find unique gift ideas at the specialty shops, even made-in-Temecula products, and taste some of the creatively delicious Season's Eatings food and drinks.

Southern California Wine Country: Whether you're a seasoned wine enthusiast or first-time visitor, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country offers a picturesque setting with rolling hills, nearly 50 wineries, and 20-plus places to dine. Throughout the holiday season, wine country is transformed into a holiday destination, with stunning decorations, Season's Eatings-themed foods and beverages, holiday markets, special performances, an ice skating rink, and more.

Pechanga Resort Casino: From handmade gingerbread houses ready for purchase to a giant gingerbread display, Pechanga Resort Casino has all the picture-perfect elements to make this holiday season special. An array of holiday decorations adorns the entire property inside and out, with dazzling displays perfect for holiday photos. Chris Isaak's It's Almost Christmas Tour performance is on December 20. Guests can also enjoy a variety of dining options at 12 restaurants.

Temecula on Ice: Lace up your skates and hit the ice in Old Town, directly in front of City Hall. This seasonal attraction is fun for skaters of all ages and skill levels and makes for a perfect family activity!

Holiday Performances: Catch colorful and festive performances at venues like the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, Europa Village, and Pechanga Resort & Casino, among others. From holiday music to beloved stage plays and traditional favorites, live entertainment is offered all month long.

New Year's Eve Grape Drop: Families can ring in the New Year with the annual Grape Drop celebration in Old Town Temecula with ice skating, live music, food vendors, and a countdown at 9:00 p.m. and midnight. Adults can enjoy toasting in the New Year at one of the many celebrations in wine country – but get your tickets early because these parties sell out quickly – or choose one of the many options at Pechanga Resort Casino.

There's something to do every day during Temecula Chilled. For continuous updates and more information, go to: http://www.visittemeculavalley.com

December 1 – Santa's Electric Light Parade, Old Town December 2 – The Nutcracker Ballet, Europa Village December 3 – Dinner with Santa, Lorimar Winery December 4 – Seasons Eatings themed food and drinks Dec. 5 – Jingle Bell Sleigh Ride, Temecula Carriage Company Dec. 6 – Holiday Taste of Old Town Dec. 7 – Chanukah Celebration, Lorimar Winery Dec. 8 – A Christmas Carol, Temecula Old Town Community Theater Dec. 9 – Christmas Around the World, Temecula Valley Museum Dec. 10 – Candlelight Classics, The Merc in Old Town Dec. 11 – Chilled Cookies in Old Town Dec. 12 – Ice Skating, Peltzer Winery Dec. 13 – Temecula Sunset Market, Old Town Dec. 14 – Holiday Shopping in Old Town Dec. 15 – Ugly Sweater Christmas Party, Europa Village Dec. 16 – Holiday Concert, Temecula Valley Symphony Dec. 17 – Hot Air Ballooning Dec. 18 – Gingerbread Display, Pechanga Resort Casino Dec. 19 – Santa's Workshop, Temecula Carriage Company Dec. 20 – Motown Holiday Dance Party, Old Town Blues Club Dec. 21 – Festive Lights in Wine Country Dec. 22 – Christmas Carolers, The Vineyard Rose Restaurant, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa Dec. 23 – Santa at Pennypickle's Workshop, Pechanga Resort Casino, or Promenade Dec. 24 – Holiday Market, Europa Village Dec. 25 – Christmas Dinner in Wine Country Dec. 26 – See the Christmas Decorating Contest Winners, Old Town and Wine Country Dec. 27 – Indulge in a Spa Treatment, Grapeseed Spa, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa Dec. 28 – Temecula on Ice, Old Town Dec. 29 – Holiday in the Park, Vail Lake Village Dec. 30 – Horseback riding, CRC Ranch Dec. 31 – New Year's Eve Grape Drop, Old Town

For more information on holiday events and activities in Temecula, go to TemeculaChilled.com.

Media Contact

Norma Marlowe, Visit Temecula Valley, 951-252-2139, norma@visittemeculavalley.com, www.visittemeculavalley.com

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SOURCE Visit Temecula Valley

TEMECULA — A number of matches between the top Southwestern League girls tennis teams have been incredibly close, and it’s a wonder anyone has nails left to bite.

Temecula Valley and Great Oak squared off for the second time Tuesday afternoon on the former’s home courts. When these two teams played across town last month, Great Oak prevailed via a tiebreaker by five games. The Wolfpack also have two tiebreaker wins over Vista Murrieta, with both matches decided by a single game.

Tuesday’s rematch again was chock full of suspense, but this time a calculator was not needed to determine the winner. Senior Avery Steele swept all three of her sets in singles, and she secured the match-winning point as Temecula Valley held on for a 10-8 victory and forced a tie for first place in the league standings.

Temecula Valley and Great Oak each have a match remaining to play Thursday, but both sides are expected to prevail and ultimately share the league championship. That would mark the fourth consecutive Southwestern League title for Great Oak, while Temecula Valley would celebrate its first league crown since 2015.

“It took every player coming out here and playing with heart instead of playing scared,” Temecula Valley coach Alison Guzman said. “We played to win today.”

Temecula Valley (14-2 overall, 8-1 in league) held a 4-2 lead after the opening rotation. The second rotation proved crucial for the fate of both teams. Two of the sets were decided in a tiebreaker, and two others finished with 7-5 scores. Temecula Valley pulled out three of those wins to increase its lead to 8-4.

Steele is Temecula Valley’s best singles player, but Guzman slotted the senior into the No. 2 spot Tuesday to let her ease her way in the action before taking on Great Oak’s Victoria Herrera, a player Steele has never beaten. Steele posted a 6-2 victory in the opening rotation and then faced Herrera in the second round. Herrera broke Steele’s serve in the first game of that set, but Steele eventually got back on serve and finished strong for a 7-5 victory.

“The entire time it was I’m going to outrun, I’m going to outlast, I’m going to outlive, as (Alexander) Hamilton says,” Steele said, referring to a song from the musical “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda. “It came down to mental toughness and grit … and just fighting until the end, even if there is little left in the tank.”

Temecula Valley’s No. 2 doubles team — Elle VanZanten and Bora Jin — raced to a 5-2 lead in Round 2, but Great Oak’s Samantha Huang and Kaitlyn Riddell rallied and surged ahead 6-5. The set eventually went to a tiebreaker, which VanZanten and Jin took 7-3. Emma Little, who was playing No. 3 singles for Temecula Valley, was locked in a close battle against Brooke Curtis that same rotation. Little managed to hold serve and closed things out for a 7-5 win.

Great Oak (14-2, 8-1) cut the deficit to 9-6 in the third rotation, but Steele put the Golden Bears over the top with a 6-2 victory that completed her sweep.

“Great Oak is a phenomenal team, and the first match was heartbreaking. It was a tough loss,” Steele said. “We decided to come back, do our best and not play as tense as we did the first time. We stayed loose and had more fun with everything. I honestly believe that’s what pushed us across the finish line at the end.”

Little picked up two points in singles for Temecula Valley. The doubles teams of Scarlett Iverson-Kylie Wellman and VanZanten-Jin won two sets apiece, while Sarah Lopez and Mandy Reyes picked up in the fifth doubles points for the Golden Bears.

Ava Flanagan and Ashyln McGreevey led the way for Great Oak with a doubles sweep (6-4, 7-5, 6-2), while Huang and Riddell scored the other doubles point for the Wolfpack. Herrera won two sets in singles, while Curtis and Chloe Lee each picked up a point for the Wolfpack.

“We’ve had a string of matches over the years where we always seemed to find a way to pull out the close ones,” Great Oak coach Ray Fisher said. “That didn’t happen for us today, and I have to give the credit to Temecula Valley. We had our opportunities, but they found a way to win those close ones today.”

TEMECULA, CA — The Edge Fall Festival is coming to Temecula Valley Wine Country, and tickets are still available, organizers say. The festival is planned for Sunday, Oct. 22, at the CRC Ranch at 43101 Anza Road, Temecula. It promises to draw a crowd of dance lovers, from beginners to experts, for the one-day party for anyone who loves the boot-scooting boogie or has ever wanted to embrace social dancing.

The Edge Fall Festival was founded by Adia Nunio and Leslie Perez, two dance professionals for whom dancing and teaching dance is a way of life. They created the event to inspire people to express themselves through dancing in a safe space. If you have a dance partner, bring them! If you don't, dancers will be on hand to help you learn the steps.

"You don't need to bring a dance partner at all. Our dance classes are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all, whether you come solo or with a group of friends," the website for the event reads. "We have a rotating system during classes to ensure that everyone can dance with different partners, and we'll fill in any gaps as needed."

Wear broken-in shoes, and bring your phone charger, sunscreen, sunglasses, and cowboy hat, they suggest.

The location is a prime place for a full-day dance event, according to Perez.

"We fell in love with the space at the CRC Ranch, Leslie Perez told Patch. Wide open and airy, there will be seven different dance floors across the ranch, space for friends and family to learn and show off their talents to live country music.

There will be live country music at the event, with bands from Orange County and San Diego playing familiar songs. There will be:

Come also for fall festival fun events: horseback riding, axe throwing, cowboy church, cornhole, lawn games, raffle, tug-a-war, water balloon toss, face painting, canvas painting, BYOP pumpkin decorating (bring your own pumpkin), campfire jam session, costume parade, and contest.

Guests of the festival are scheduled to come from as far as Florida, Arizona, Idaho, and Tennessee. "I'd never imagined that I had friends from all over the country, but dance and these festivals bring everyone together," Perez said. "We love to unite people from everywhere as we share the love of dance."

Learn more about the event: www.theedgedanceevent.com.

Buy tickets and parking passes for the event HERE. The CRC Ranch is located at 43101 Anza Road, Temecula.

The blaze, dubbed the Stanley Fire, was reported at 1:26 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Stanley and Red Mountain roads in Sage.

Patch Staff

Posted Tue, Oct 17, 2023 at 2:04 pm PT|

SAGE, CA — A brush fire that broke out Tuesday in Sage, less than a mile west of the San Bernardino National Forest, scorched roughly five acres before it was stopped.

The non-injury blaze was reported at about 1:25 p.m. in the area of Stanley and Red Mountain roads, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames moving southeast at a moderate rate through medium vegetation.

Two properties were in the path of the brusher, but Cal Fire air tankers initiated runs that prevented the flames from reaching the structures, according to reports from the scene.

By 2:50 p.m., three tankers and a water-dropping helicopter had succeeded in halting the fire's spread toward the national forest, only a half-mile away.

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ground crews were making progress establishing lines around the blaze and were expected to achieve full containment by 4 p.m.

Sheriff's deputies shut down the intersection of Stanley and Sage roads for public safety.The cause of the fire was under investigation.

—City News Service

ORIGINAL POST:

SAGE, CA — A brush fire was burning Tuesday east of Murrieta and Temecula, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The 5-acre blaze, dubbed the Stanley Fire, was reported at 1:26 p.m. in the area of Stanley and Red Mountain roads in Sage, the agency said.

An air response was requested.

The area is remote and sparsely populated. There were no immediate reports of injuries or evacuations.

Sheriff's deputies were expected to shut down the intersection of Stanley and Sage roads for public safety.

There was no immediate word on how the blaze might have started.

—Toni McAllister

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"We must do everything we can to help empower and uplift students and encourage them to finish their high school education ... ." —Sen. Roth

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A bill that authorizes the creation of the fourth National Guard Youth Challenge Program was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week.

State Sen. Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) introduced SB 228 earlier this year, which called for the establishment of an NGYCP in western Riverside County that will serve teens across the state. The Challenge Program's mission is to "intervene in and reclaim the lives of" 16- to 18-year-old high school dropouts. The mission includes producing NGYCP graduates who have "the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens."

Roth said the former Navy Operational Support Center Moreno Valley located at March Air Reserve Base was identified as a potential site for the Challenge Program. The California Military Department assessed the building for use as a Challenge Program and determined the location is suitable but requires significant modification and renovations, according to Roth's office.

Roth secured $500,000 in the state budget for a site location study. The study will validate the feasibility of continuing with the project at the base and future construction costs.

The Challenge Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1993. The National Guard Bureau is responsible for executing the Challenge Program, and the California Military Department is a participant through a cooperative agreement. As a result, the Challenge Program is funded by federal and state dollars, making tuition free to eligible youth.

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

To date, there are just three Challenge sites currently operating in California: Lathrop, Los Alamitos and San Luis Obispo. Though the planned Riverside County site would serve local youth, SB 228 mandates the facility also accommodate teens across the state.

Senate Bill 228 calls for at least a 22-week residential program and a 12-month post-residential mentoring period via the Riverside County site. The program would be conducted in partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education, according to Roth's office.

"We must do everything we can to help empower and uplift students and encourage them to finish their high school education and Challenge Academies have a long and successful history of doing that,” Roth said. “I thank the Governor for signing our legislation to authorize a Challenge Academy in western Riverside County. This coupled with the $500,000 I secured in the state budget for a site location study means we are on our way!"

According to data Roth's office culled from the California Department of Education, more than 47,000 California high school students dropped out of school in 2020-2021.

For local dropouts or those not progressing toward graduation, the Challenge Program would provide an alternative educational opportunity set in a quasi-military environment. Historically, over one-third of Challenge graduates receive their high school diploma during the residential or post-residential phase of the program, according to Roth's office.

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