A local's calendar, Southwest Riverside County
September in Temecula Valley
Harvest season, which around here means the calendar tilts hard toward wine country. Grape stomps, symphony on the lawn, a tacos and tequila festival, and a free Saturday market or two. Sorted by city.
Running All Month
Two things that do not need a date on the calendar.
- Sep 1 to 30Temecula Valley Wine Month. Special tastings, releases and events across the valley's wineries all month. temeculawines.org
- Sep 15 to 30Peltzer Pumpkin Farm & Harvest Festival. The pumpkin patch, train, petting zoo and corn maze open for the season. peltzerfarms.com
Temecula
6 eventsOld Town, the Promenade and Pechanga. The winery events have their own section below.
National Preparedness Fair
Saturday, 12 to 4 pm
Local emergency and disaster-service organizations set up at the Promenade with practical ways to get a household ready. Useful, and a change from the usual weekend festival.
Promenade Temecula · temeculaca.gov
September 11 Remembrance, 25th Anniversary
Friday, 6 to 7 pm
A community ceremony outside City Hall with remarks, a video presentation and music from the Great Oak High School Jazz Ensemble. A remembrance, not an entertainment event.
Temecula City Hall · temeculaca.gov
Don Friesen at Pechanga
Thursday through Saturday, Sep 17 to 19 · Live at the Loft
Two-time San Francisco International Comedy Competition winner, working marriage, parenting, technology and suburban life. Pechanga runs a dinner and a show package through participating restaurants.
Pechanga Resort Casino · pechanga.com
Pechanga Tacos & Tequila Festival
Saturday · VIP 11 am, general admission 1 pm · GA $120, VIP $160
Unlimited tacos and tequila, desserts, live music and performances at the Summit Events Center. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley. Designated driver tickets are available through the box office.
Pechanga Summit Events Center · pechanga.com
A Tribute to ABBA
Thursday, 8 pm
A full evening of the familiar catalog in Pechanga's 1,200-seat theater. An easy midweek concert without driving to San Diego or Orange County.
Pechanga Theater · pechanga.com
TEDxTemecula: What If?
Saturday, from 10 am
A local TEDx program built around the theme "What If?" For anyone wanting something more thoughtful than another festival.
Old Town Temecula Community Theater · temeculaca.gov
Temecula Wine Country
9 eventsHarvest season, so this is where most of the month lives. Nearly all of it is 21 and over.
Endless Summer: Beach Boys Tribute
Friday, 6 to 10 pm · $35 · Ages 18+
Surf City Allstars headline with Jack French opening, and Peltzer Provisions serving food. General admission is standing room with limited first-come seating, and outside chairs and drinks are not permitted.
Peltzer Family Cellars · temeculawines.org
Jeffrey Osborne and Marqueal Jordan
Saturday, 7 to 9:30 pm
The Champagne Jazz Series continues outdoors at Thornton. A polished date night where the setting does half the work.
Thornton Winery · thorntonwine.com
Latin Nights at Europa Village
Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30 pm · $10 general admission · Ages 21+
René Latin Soul brings salsa, bachata and cumbia, with empanadas, tacos, margaritas, sangria and wine available. One of the least expensive adult nights out this month.
Europa Village · temeculawines.org
Wilson Creek Grape Stomp
Saturday, 6 to 9:30 pm · $100, or $90.90 for wine club members
The ticket covers a harvest buffet, one drink ticket, a live band and the winery's grape stomp competition. The full dinner-and-harvest version rather than a quick photo stop.
Wilson Creek Winery · temeculawines.org
Free Country Line Dancing
Saturday, 6 to 8 pm · Ages 21+
Line dancing in the air-conditioned barrel room, which in September is the selling point. Food, wine and beer available. Free admission, reservations recommended.
Cougar Vineyard & Winery · temeculawines.org
The Great Taste of Europa
Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm · Ages 21+
More than 50 wines, a beer and spirits garden, European-inspired food and entertainment. One of the largest wine country events of the month. Cashless and adults only, no children, infants or strollers.
Europa Village · europavillage.com
Redneck Rodeo at Wiens Cellars
Saturday, 6:30 to 8:30 pm · $10 advance
Closing out the summer concert season with honky-tonk, barbecue and a casual vineyard setting. One of the lowest-priced ticketed shows of the month.
Wiens Cellars · temeculawines.org
Lorimar Harvest Festival
Sunday, 3 to 7 pm · $10, children 12 and under free with RSVP
Live music, local vendors, kids' activities, crafts, games, fall photos and a grape stomp photo opportunity on the vineyard lawn. The harvest atmosphere without the price of a full dinner event, and the best family value on the September calendar.
Lorimar Winery · lorimarwinery.com
Symphony All'aperto III
Sunday, 7 to 9 pm · $65 general admission
The Temecula Valley Symphony performs outdoors at Vienza. A $125 dinner package and premium options are offered. Probably the most distinctive setting for live music all month.
Europa Village · europavillage.com
One planning note for September 19
Three major events land on the same Saturday: Tacos and Tequila at Pechanga, the Great Taste of Europa, and Orchard Summer Fest in Murrieta. Expect heavier traffic around Pechanga Parkway, Rancho California Road and wine country. Give yourself more time than the map suggests, especially with a timed entry.
Murrieta
4 eventsHistoric downtown and Town Square do most of the lifting, and most of it is free.
Murrieta Market Nights
Thursday, 5 to 9 pm
Local vendor booths, food trucks, artisan displays, live music and family activities through historic downtown. An easy local evening that does not require buying a ticket.
Historic Downtown Murrieta · murrietaca.gov
September 11 Remembrance, 25th Anniversary
Friday, 5:30 pm
Murrieta's community ceremony, held earlier in the evening than Temecula's so it is possible to attend both.
City of Murrieta · murrietaca.gov
Orchard Summer Fest
Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm
A free family festival at Town Square Park and Amphitheater. The best no-ticket family event on the whole September calendar.
Murrieta Town Square · murrietaca.gov
Self-Care Sunsets at Murrieta Hot Springs
Sunday, 4 to 8 pm
Local artisans and small businesses focused on health, wellness and lifestyle, set at the hot springs.
Murrieta Hot Springs
Menifee
5 eventsA lighter month here. The city has not posted its full September calendar yet, so this is worth checking again in a week.
Stand-Up Comedy at Grey Iron Brewing
Friday and Saturday, Sep 11 and 12
Local comedy nights at the brewery. Check the venue for lineup and start times.
Grey Iron Brewing Company
Art-A-Faire Pop-Up Paint Night
Friday, 5:30 to 8:30 pm
A guided paint night run by the city at the senior center, open to the community.
Kay Ceniceros Senior Center · cityofmenifee.us
Bulky Item Drop Off
Saturday, 8 am to 12 pm, or until the bins are full
Not a festival, but genuinely useful. A free chance to clear out the garage, which is worth knowing about if you are getting a house ready to list.
Heritage High School · cityofmenifee.us
Stand-Up Comedy at Grey Iron Brewing
Friday
Another comedy night at the brewery. Check the venue for the lineup.
Grey Iron Brewing Company
Live Pro Wrestling
Saturday, 5:30 pm
Live pro wrestling at the brewery. Loud, cheap and a genuinely different Saturday night.
Grey Iron Brewing Company
Questions People Ask
The short answers.
What is happening in Temecula this September?
September is harvest season, so most of the calendar sits in wine country. The biggest events are the Wilson Creek Grape Stomp on September 12, the Great Taste of Europa on September 19, the Pechanga Tacos and Tequila Festival the same day, and Symphony All'aperto outdoors at Europa Village on September 27. In Old Town, TEDxTemecula runs September 26.
What free events are happening in Temecula Valley in September 2026?
Several. Murrieta Market Nights on September 3, the National Preparedness Fair at Promenade Temecula on September 5, the September 11 Remembrance ceremonies in both Murrieta and Temecula, free country line dancing at Cougar Vineyard on September 12, and Orchard Summer Fest at Murrieta Town Square on September 19. Menifee also runs a free Bulky Item Drop Off on September 19.
When is Temecula Valley Wine Month?
All of September. Wineries across the valley run special tastings, releases and events for the full month, and it lines up with harvest, which is why so many grape stomps and harvest dinners land in the same few weekends. Check temeculawines.org for the current participating list, since individual winery events are added throughout the month.
What is the best family event in Temecula Valley this month?
Orchard Summer Fest at Murrieta Town Square on September 19 is the best free option, running 10 am to 3 pm. For a harvest experience with kids, the Lorimar Harvest Festival on September 27 is $10 with children 12 and under free with an RSVP, and includes a grape stomp photo opportunity. The Peltzer Pumpkin Farm also opens for the season on September 15.
Are Temecula wine country events 21 and over?
Most of them, yes. The Great Taste of Europa is adults only and does not admit children, infants or strollers, and it is cashless. Latin Nights at Europa Village and the line dancing at Cougar are both 21+, and the Beach Boys tribute at Peltzer is 18+. The family exceptions are the Lorimar Harvest Festival and the Peltzer Pumpkin Farm. Age limits and outside-chair policies are enforced at these venues, so check the event page before you go.
Know about something that belongs on this list?
If there is an event in Temecula, Murrieta or Menifee that should be here, send it over and it goes in next month's roundup.
And if part of what you love about an area is what actually happens in it, that is worth talking about before you decide where to buy. Happy to set up a private home search site filtered to the areas and price range that fit, so new listings come to you instead of the other way around.
kyle@buyorsellsocal.com
Lauren@buyorsellsocal.com
Buy Or Sell SoCal Homes
Dates, times and prices come from the event organizers and do change. Check the event site before you head out, especially for anything ticketed. Menifee's city calendar had not posted full September details at the time this was compiled.
