Summerfest Tour of Temecula Valley (Old Town and Wine Country) | #TemeculaValleyFAM @Visit_Temecula

Most recently a group of bloggers and I went on a Tour of Temecula with Visit Temecula Valley. We took a walking tour of Old Town Temecula, visited a couple of their wineries, and attended a Balloon Glow for their annual Balloon & Wine Festival. I haven't been to Old Town Temecula, and I really wanted to see what their Balloon & Wine Festival was all about. Believe it or not, in one afternoon we were able to visit seven stops within our "Walking Tour of Temecula" (all right before we checked in at our hotel). It was eventful, nonetheless, and we were in for a full day of fun!

Hello Kitty's Supercute Friendship Festival Coming to LA (June 12-14)! | #HKFestival #HelloCity @HelloKittyFest

The iconic Hello Kitty, created to inspire happiness around the world, is going on her first ever live North American tour: Hello Kitty’s Supercute Friendship Festival! Hello Kitty and her supercute friends Dear Daniel®, My Melody®, Badtz-Maru®, Keroppi®, Chococat® and PurinTM will feature in live performances and DJ-driven dance sequences, as well as interactive exhibits, animation, art, fashion, photo opportunities, event-exclusive merchandise and more!

Hello Kitty's Supercute Friendship Festival - Photo Courtesy of Sanrio.

Aquarium of the Pacific's 6th Annual Urban Ocean Festival | #UrbanOcean

Disclosure: We attended a media preview.

Aquarium of the Pacific's 6th Annual Urban Ocean Festival is this weekend, and they're featuring a Trashin' Fashion Show, a Boat Cruise with Harbor Breeze Cruises, art exhibit, games, mural painting, poetry, live music, sustainable seafood cooking demos by SAVOR... and more!

Trashin' Fashion Show

The designers of the Trashin' Fashion Show used recycled materials. All the designs are eco-friendly because they are reducing the waste in the landfills. The winner of the Trashin' Fashion Show will win a $500 cash prize.

RECAP: LA's Food & Wine Festival 2014 | @lafoodwine #lafw14

We were provided with media access. 

On August 24th, Leyna and I took a trip to downtown LA for the Lexus Grand Tasting Event at the 4th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival. Upon entering the event, we were handed wine glasses and let loose to explore two rooms. It was a whirlwind of featured chefs and vineyards from all over the world!

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Huntington Beach Food, Art and Music Festival Sept 5-7! | @HBFoodArtMusic #HBfest

We will receive tickets to this event. 

Huntington Beach's first ever Food, Art, and Music Festival will be here September 5th through 7th! You can come and rock out to live music, feast on award winning ribs, or check out art. We're giving away two sets of Golden Circle Passes to two lucky readers! More info below!

PREVIEW: Festival of Arts, Pageant of the Masters | Here July 6 - Aug 30! @FestivalPageant #FestivalPageant

Get Ready! The new season of Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach will be here July 6th thru August 30th!

This year's theme is The Art Detective. 

The Festival of Art’s world famous theatrical celebration of art in tableaux vivants – “living pictures” – will reveal how lost treasures were discovered, where crimes of passion were uncovered (or covered up) and how creative riddles were unraveled, with a gallery of the world’s great masterpieces providing the clues! 

COUPON: 9th Annual International Children's Day Festival @AquariumPacific April 4-5!

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s ninth annual International Children’s Day Festival is a special festival for kids celebrating the amazing talents of children of all cultures featuring dance performances by:

• West African, 
• Mexican, 
• Pacific Islander, 
• Cambodian, 
• Chinese, 
• Korean, 
• Japanese, and 
• Persian dancers.

Also featured will be a children’s choir and martial arts demonstrations. 

2013 Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival and Tips for Next Year | @PoLALobsterFest #LALobsterFest

Over the weekend, my friend Jenn and I were at The Port of Los Angeles LobsterFest held in Ports O' Call Village in San Pedro. A large inflatable lobster arch welcomed us.

Expect to stand in a long line to get your lobster. Tip: If you upgrade to First Class, not only will it go to local non-profits, it will take you to a shorter line for food and the bar with a private dining area by the water. (So worth it!)

Oktoberfest at The Phoenix Club Anaheim (Sept 13th - Oct 27th) | @PhoenixClubCA #PartyLikeAGerman #Giveaway ends 9/13

Oktoberfest is coming to the The Phoenix Club Anaheim weekends starting September 13th! They're the longest running Oktoberfest in SoCal (51 years!) and known as the most authentic and family-friendly Oktoberfest in SoCal.

Traditional Opening Parade and Keg tapping is on Sunday, Sept 15th.

Entertainment includes:

• Live Oohm Pah bands from Germany,

• Folk dance groups - 
• Die Gemutlichen Schuhplattler, 
• The Youth Dance Group (children ages 3-18 performing traditional folk dances),

• “Skip the Balloon Man” and “Twist and Shout” variety acts,

• Free Polka Lessons for all ages every Saturday at 3:00 pm,

• Daily activities specifically for children include a playground with a bounce house. Sunday is officially Family Day. 

• Shooting Gallery (will be open for prize shooting on Saturdays and Sundays beginning Sept 21- Oct 27), and

• German vendors selling folk ware, souvenirs, gingerbread hearts, and more.

SUNDAY IS FAMILY DAY:

• Playground with Bounce House, 

• Choo-Choo rides or fire engine hay rides and face painting (Noon to 4:00 pm), and

• Pony rides provided at the neighboring Rancho Del Rio Stables for $5.00 (October Sundays only).

30th Annual Temecula Valley's Balloon & Wine Fest May 31-June 2 |@TemeculaVBWine @SocalWineCntry

The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival celebrates 30 years this weekend starting Friday with more than 20 Temecula Valley wineries and over 40 hot air balloons!

Photo Courtesy of TemeculaCalifornia.com

This exhilarating Southern California Wine Country event lifts spirits and people with plenty of tasty sensations, hot air balloon flights at dawn, evening picnicking beneath the towering colorful orbs as they illuminate during the balloon glow, top entertainment in concert, and an acclaimed freestyle motocross (FMX) show with gravity-defying stunts.

A three-day showcase of the Temecula Valley Wine Country's greatest assets,  the Festival greets 40,000 guests annually.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Celebrate International Children's Day @AquariumPacific April 27-28! (Giveaway ends 4/24)

Come out and celebrate the Aquarium of the Pacific’s eighth annual International Children’s Day Festival this weekend, April 27-28, 2013 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Festival features traditional ethnic dance and music performed by kids, interactive programs for all ages, face painting, crafts, and more.

The International Peace Choir will be performing at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s International Children’s Day festival. Photo courtesy of the Aquarium of the Pacific.