When a small California town's New Year's Eve event celebrates not just the economy but the culture of its residents, the nation pays attention.
Temecula reached the 8th "must attend" New Year's Eve event in the country, according to USA Today's Top 10 list, 10Best, after a flurry of votes cast in November.
Why are grapes so important to Temecula? USA Today says Temecula remains a "somewhat under-the-radar wine region," though Southern California wine lovers will likely disagree.
In 2023, Temecula Valley Wine Country offers 50 wineries and boutique and full-service resort lodgings, according to Visit Temecula Valley spokesperson Norma Marlowe.
Grapevines were first planted in the Temecula region in 1820, but the first commercialized winery didn't open until 1968 when the Cilurzo family opened their doors. Temecula was fully recognized as an American Viticultural Area in 1994 and is now known as the Temecula Valley AVA, according to Marlowe. Now, over 500,000 cases of wine are produced annually in the valley, and visitors come from all over the world to sip and savor what the region has to offer. It is natural that the city pays homage to the new year with the enormous grape bunch.
If you've never witnessed the annual dropping of the grapes, it is a glimmering sight to witness.
It takes a full minute to lower the bunch from its max height, and the countdown is done annually twice on New Year's Eve, celebrating both "New York New Year's" and "Midnight Pacific Time" with equal fanfare.
The evening is always ripe with live entertainment, local dignitaries, and families looking to ring in the coming year with friends and neighbors.
In the United States, one of the most famous New Year's Eve traditions is dropping the giant ball in Times Square in New York City. Along with Temecula's Grape Drop, other U.S. cities have adopted iterations of the ball drop — the Peeps Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the giant Potato Drop in Boise, Idaho.
If you plan to head to the Grape Drop in Temecula, there may be a slight chance of showers Sunday night.
When visiting events and local businesses, be sure to tell them Macaroni KID sent you... and don't forget to tell all your friends!
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