WinterFest Inspires New Traditions in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country through February 28, 2011

TEMECULA VALLEY, CA- WinterFest in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country includes festivities such as a flurry-of-snow show that continues nightly, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through December 18. Portraits with Santa follow through December 24.

Meanwhile, Pennypickle's Workshop - Temecula Children's Museum explores international time travel with the Science of Santa. Thereafter, Santa hosts gift appeals, weekends through December 19.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Shining nightly to January 2, 2011 the twinkle of tens of thousands of holiday lights inspires fascination in Old Town Temecula and Temecula Valley Wine Country. Old Town's glow: along Front Street from Moreno Road to Second Street. Wine Country vantage points: Rancho California at Anza Road, and the southern DePortola Wine Trail.

HOLIDAY SHOWS, CONCERTS, AND EVENTS
The Nutcracker ballet will grace Old Town Temecula Community Theater December 14, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, and 24. A Christmas Carol, the singing and dancing story of Scrooge, is December 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

December 2, is the Holiday Tree Lighting in Old Town Temecula Town Square. December 3, the illuminated, nighttime, Holiday Electric Light Parade travels through Old Town.

The Southwest Women's Holiday Concert is at Old Town Temecula Community Theater, December 4 and 5. Next door at The MERC, Candlelight Classics feature yuletide favorites, December 4, 5, and 12.

Pennypickle's Workshop hosts events for children in December: 10, Winter Wonderland, real snow to play in;17 and 18, Polar Express,movie and hands-on activities; and 31, New Year's Eve at Noon.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Temecula Valley features three fantastic, holiday shopping destinations each with distinctive character: Old Town Temecula, Promenade Temecula, and the gift shops of Temecula Valley Wine Country. A shopper's delight, these make Temecula a popular, multi-day stay-over for holiday shopping accomplished in one great, all-inclusive mission.

Old Town Temecula's 60+ specialty stores feature gifts perfect for fashionistas; food and wine, and art and décor enthusiasts; and collectors and crafters of many kinds. Anchored by stores like Macy's, Promenade Temecula has retailers like Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Express, the Gap and Disney Store. The pleasures of Wine Country's 15 gift shops range from gift-boxed wine, gorgeous gift baskets and grapevine reindeer, to glassware, wine accessories and holiday ornaments.

ICE SKATING
Returning bigger for 2010, will be the popular ice-skating rink installed in Old Town Temecula's Town Square, mid-December through January 2.

NEW YEAR'S EVE
Old Town Temecula's New Year's Eve Celebration is Southern California's alternate for New York City. Instead of TIME'S Square, it's TOWN Square. Instead of countdown for the drop of an apple or a ball, it's The Great Temecula Grape Drop: an illuminated bunch 7 feet tall by 4 feet wide.

DECEMBER, JANUARY, AND FEBRUARY IN OLD TOWN TEMECULA
Throughout WinterFest, snowbirds, vacationers and day-trippers can delight in Old Town Temecula. Alive with holiday cheer in December, Old Town also shares its character and charms throughout January and February.

The MERC features live jazz, Thursdays; popular bands, Fridays; country music, Saturdays; and classical, Sundays. Next door, every-seat-a-great-seat, Old Town Temecula Community Theater hosts shows like Tribute to Harry James, troubadour Joe Henry, Nai Ni Chen Dance Company and The Miracle Worker.

Old Town is also for discovering the 60+ unique shops and 19 great restaurants serving excellent California, Continental, Italian, Mexican, and Mediterranean cuisine, plus steaks, burgers, barbecue and gourmet hot dogs. Pennypickle's Workshop features fun, learning experiences; Old Town's reverence for the past is at Temecula Valley History Museum; and Saturday's Farmers Market is the best in the valley.

DECEMBER, JANUARY, AND FEBRUARY IN TEMECULA VALLEY WINE COUNTRY
Throughout WinterFest, Temecula Valley Wine Country offers lots of choices. Thirty+ wine-tasting rooms will be happy with holiday laughter almost daily. Most close on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but open Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve; and many open on New Year's Day.

In January and February, warm-and-welcoming Wine Country has daily hours to savor award-winning wines and experience specialty tastings like wine with artisan cheese and wine with chocolate truffle. For dining: six excellent restaurants and many wineries with picnic fare. Wineries also host happy hours; craft fairs; and live music.

Temecula is centrally located 60 miles north of San Diego, 65 miles southwest of Palm Desert and southeast of Orange County, and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles. The casual, picturesque valley celebrates WinterFest daily November 25 to February 28. VisitTemecula.org or call 888-363-2852.