Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival to feature ‘Pala Spirit’ balloon

The handicapped accessible “Pala Spirit” hot air balloon, which will be featured at the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival, May 19-21, floats over an orchard. Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation provided the balloon thanks to a donation from

TEMECULA – The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is set to kick off Friday through Sunday, May 19-21, and will celebrate its 40th anniversary. This year’s festival will feature a second handicapped accessible hot air balloon that was donated by Pala Casino Spa Resort.

Through a relationship that was fostered during last year’s Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, Pala Casino donated the funds to Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation for a handicapped accessible hot air balloon. The new balloon, referred to as “Pala Spirit,” is a 120,000-cubic-foot balloon featuring the Pala Casino logo. The six-person basket was custom made with a viewing window and VIP chair for any person that cannot stand for the duration of a balloon flight.

The “Pala Spirit” balloon has been spotted flying over the Temecula Valley and the most recent flight was Wednesday, April 5, with passengers Sam and Jill from England. It had always been Sam’s dream to take a ride in a hot air balloon, he said, but being in a wheelchair, the options were limited. Sam’s family contacted Reach For the Stars and arranged a sunrise flight, making Sam’s dream come true.

Along with the “Pala Spirit” balloon, nearly 30 hot air balloons will take flight into the blue skies overlooking Lake Skinner and the Temecula Valley during the annual three-day festival.

Attendees can visit booths from the festival’s sponsors, including Elite Sponsor Pala Casino Spa Resort, Platinum Sponsors SoCal Toyota and Stella Artois; Gold Sponsors Hyatt Vacation Club and the city of Temecula. The festival will feature additional sponsors, including 100% Chiropractic Care, American Medical Response, Hampton Inn & Suites, Kaiser Permanente, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Anheuser-Busch and many more.

Visitors can enjoy hot air balloon rides, festival foods, wine, beer and live performances from chart-topping artists.

Pala’s Main Stage shows

Headlining the Pala Casino Main Stage Friday, May 19, will be multi-platinum, American rock band REO Speedwagon along with

Pala Casino Spa Resort to present Thundercat

May 13

Night Ranger and John Waite. On the Wine Stage, attendees will hear Colt Ford, Moonshine Bandits and Kanan Road Band.

Headlining the Pala Casino Main Stage Saturday, May 20, will be Grammy Award winner, country superstar Brad Paisley along with Sara Evans, Tenille Arts and Brandon Calhoon. The Wine Stage will feature The Lacs, George Shingleton, Twisted Gypsy, Parade Wave, Pulp Vixen and Billy Williams.

Headlining the Pala Casino Main Stage Sunday, May 21, will be 2011 American Idol winner and award-winning country music artist Scotty McCreery, Dylan Scott, Callista Clark and Brandon Calhoon. Featured on the Wine Stage will be The English Beat, Daring Greatly, Cassie B and Billy Williams.

Ticket sales

To purchase two-day country combo tickets, VIP packages, single-day tickets, three-day packages, parking passes, beverage tickets and to book a hot air balloon ride, visit http://www.tvbwf.com. For tickets, contact 951-2345559 or tvbwf@completetick -

Sam smiles as he awaits a flight Wednesday, April 5, in the handicapped accessible chair in the “Pala Spirit” balloon, which was donated by Pala Casino Spa Resort through Reach for the Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation in time for the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival. etsolutions.com . For general information, email info@tvbwf. com. All concerts included with festival admission. Lineup subject to change.

The festival will take place at Lake Skinner Regional Park/Recreation Area, 37701 Warren Road, in Winchester.

Reach For The Stars Hot Air Balloon Foundation is a rec - ognized nonprofit that has the mission of sharing the joy and excitement of hot air ballooning with people of all abilities. They can accommodate a wheelchair, walker and person with special needs. For more information about accessible hot air balloon flights, visit http:// www.reach4thestars.org. Submitted by Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival.

Rose Sparkle Punch recipe is one of 280 recipes to be in free Holiday Cookbook

PALA – Pala Casino Spa Resort will present American bassist, singer, producer and songwriter Thundercat Saturday, May 13, performing live outdoors at the Starlight Theater.

Thundercat, who is performed by Stephen Bruner, released his most recent album, “It Is What It Is,” in spring 2020. The record won Best Progressive R&B Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards and features musical contributions from Ty Dolla $ign, Childish Gambino, Lil B, Kamasi Washington, Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, BADBADNOTGOOD, Louis Cole, Pedro Martins and Zack Fox. Thundercat produced the record with his longtime partner Flying Lotus, who was Grammynominated in the “Producer of the Year” category for his work on the album.

“It Is What It Is” follows Bruner’s game-changing third album “Drunk” from 2017, completed his transition from virtuoso bassist to bona fide star and cemented his reputation as a unique voice that transcends genre.

“This album is about love, loss,

Valley News/Courtesy photo life and the ups and downs that come with that,” Bruner said about “It Is What It Is.”

Outside of his solo work, Thundercat keeps busy across numerous genres. In 2021, his dreamy vocals and masterful bass playing feature on “Black Gold,” the theme song for the Netflix original anime “Yasuke,” soundtracked by Flying Lotus. In addition, Thundercat recently collaborated on releases from Silk Sonic – Bruno Mars & Anderson Paak – HAIM, H.E.R. and Kaytranada, as well as contributing an original song for the final season and soundtrack from HBO’s “Insecure.”

The show will start at 8 p.m. Tickets prices are $35, $45 and $65 and are on sale at the Pala Box Office, 877-946-7252, 800514-3849, http://www.palacasino. com or http://www.etix.com. Must be 21 or older to attend. The show is one of a lineup of headliner and tribute concerts that will be held at the Starlight Theater and Events Center.

Submitted by Pala Casino Spa Resort.

Judith Bell Food Editor

Please do yourselves, neighbors, family and friends a big favor: tell them they can have our free Holiday Cookbook with their new subscription to the the Valley News.

Rose Sparkle Punch is one of my favorites. It is attractive, tasty, affordable and flexible. Depending on the occasion and number of persons attending, the recipe can be doubled…even quadrupled. And, for whatever reason, a nonalcoholic rosé wine could replace the alcoholic wine. This will be in the free Holiday Cookbook.

This is not a purist’s punch.

It is an ideal choice for family affairs and even small business entertainment. When my husband, Herb Ketcham, and John Lackens founded

Rose Sparkle Punch

• 2 (12-oz.) pkg. frozen sliced strawberries, thawed

• ½ cup sugar

• 2 bottles rosé wine

• 2 (6-oz.) cans frozen lemonade concentrate the Minneapolis architectural firm The Architectural Alliance, I was pushed into catering their first event and know that we served this punch. It was a hit then and has continued to be served at many of the firm’s events over the years.

Early admin assistant Cindy Sterling Ellsworth said everyone remembers this punch and most have the recipe in their private collection “for family events.”

• 1 large bottle sparkling water In a bowl, combine strawberries, sugar and one bottle of wine. Cover and let stand at room temperature for at least one hour. Turn mixture, straining if desired, into a punch bowl. Stir in frozen lemonade concentrate. Stir until completely thawed. Add the remaining bottle of wine. Pour in sparkling water. Add a block of ice or ice cubes and serve at once. Makes 3 quarts.