Things to Do in Temecula in September: Events, Music, Tours & Nightlife

September might be the single best month to be in Temecula. It's California Wine Month, harvest is underway across the valley, the summer crowds thin out, and the calendar fills up with grape stomps, concerts, comedy, car shows, and night markets. Whether you're a local planning a weekend or flying in for a Wine Country getaway, here's your complete guide to the best things to do in Temecula this September — plus the best way to get around while you do it all.

The Best Way to Experience Temecula This September: Van'N Boozy VW Bus Wine Tours

Before we get into the event calendar, let's talk logistics, because September in Wine Country is meant to be fully enjoyed.

Van'N Boozy is Temecula's original vintage VW bus wine tour company, and with California Wine Month in full swing, this is the busiest and best time of year to book.

Why Book Van'N Boozy This September

• Ride in Retro Style: Cruise Wine Country in a lovingly restored 1970s Volkswagen bus, complete with great music and even better vibes.
• Curated, Award-Winning Wineries: We hand-pick the route and handle every reservation so you can sit back and relax.
• All-Inclusive Tastings: Every stop includes tastings: up to 18 pours across a 3-Stop Tour — plus exclusive bottle discounts.
• Something for Everyone: Choose from the 2-Stop Wine Tour, 3-Stop Wine Tour, Wine & Beer Tour, or our brand-new Mocktail Tour (more on that below).

With harvest season, grape stomps, and hot air balloons drifting over the vines all happening this month, September is peak Van'N Boozy season. Book your tour today before the good dates fill up.

Concerts & Live Music

• Rhythm on the Vine Jazz Concert Series
  • Where: South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
  • Details: An evening of smooth jazz under the stars featuring Brian Simpson, Jessy J, and Ilya Serov.
• Clay Walker: Full Band Country Concert
  • Where: Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyard
  • Details: The country hitmaker behind 11 number-one songs headlines a full evening of live country music at one of Wine Country's most scenic venues.
• Journey: Final Frontier Tour
  • When: Monday, September 14
  • Where: Pechanga Arena San Diego (about a 45-minute drive)
  • Details: The legendary rock band brings its farewell tour through Southern California.
• The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA
  • When: Thursday, September 24, 8:00 PM
  • Where: Pechanga Theater, Pechanga Resort Casino
• Weekend Winery Live Music: Nearly every winery in the valley hosts live music on weekends throughout September, including Altisima Winery, Fazeli Cellars, Maurice Car'rie, Miramonte Winery, Thornton Winery, and Churon Winery. It's genuinely one of the best perks of visiting during Wine Month — pull up a chair and let the tour guide you to the best sets.

Comedy at Pechanga

• Don Friesen
  • When: September 17–19
  • Where: Pechanga Comedy Club, Pechanga Resort Casino
  • Details: Multiple shows across the weekend from one of Pechanga's recurring stand-up headliners — check showtimes, as they vary by night.
• Pechanga also runs a rotating lineup of dinner-and-a-show comedy nights at 1882 Cantina and Kelsey's throughout the month, pairing hearty laughs with a full dinner menu.

Car Shows

• Temecula Car Show
  • When: Sunday, September 13, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM (held the second Sunday of every month)
  • Where: Longshadow Ranch Winery
  • Details: A relaxed wine country car meet open to classics, muscle cars, imports, trucks, and exotics, with live music, food trucks, and a Best in Show prize.
• Herrkooled VW Show
  
  • When: Friday, September 11, 5:00 PM
  • Where: Vail Headquarters
  • Details: A VW club car meet, family friendly, with restaurants, beer and wine nearby.
• Summer Fest & Car Show
  
  • When: Saturday, September 19, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Where: Murrieta Town Square Park
  • Details: Fun day of games, live music and cars!
• Local Car Scene's Cars and Coffee
  
  • When: Sunday, September 13, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
  • Where: 41888 Motor Car Pkwy, Temecula
  • Details: Check out the cool cars and bring canned food donation for Community Mission of Hope's food pantry.

Temecula's car culture stays active well past the big spring rod runs.

Markets & Local Finds

• Artisan Wellness Market
  • When: Sunday, September 27, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Where: Murrieta Hot Springs Resort
  • Details: A monthly market of local artisans and small businesses focused on health, wellness, and positive lifestyles.
• Weekly & Seasonal Winery Markets: Several wineries, including Peltzer Family Cellars, run maker's markets and pop-up vendor stalls throughout September alongside their harvest events.

Wine Stomps & Harvest Celebrations (California Wine Month)

September is officially California Wine Month, and Temecula throws itself into it. Nearly 50 local wineries participate with tastings, live entertainment, and harvest-themed events — the centerpiece of it all being the grape stomp.

• Somerset Winery's 8th Annual Grape Stomp
  
  • When: September 26, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Details: Pick a fun team name, wear costumes if you’d like, and compete for prizes. Enjoy a live DJ, wine, sangria, food trucks, and an afterparty band.
• Wilson Creek Winery – Stomp 2026
  • When: Saturday, September 12, 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
  • Details: Wilson Creek's signature harvest tradition, with a buffet dinner, live music, and the winery's beloved Grape Stomp Competition.
• Bella Vista Winery – Grape Stomp 2026
  • When: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (check specific Saturday)
  • Details: Crush grapes underfoot the old-fashioned way, with wine and live music on the patio.
• Other Grape Stomps Around the Valley: South Coast Winery, Europa Village, Ponte Estate Winery, and all host their own grape stomps throughout the month — each with its own live music, food, and harvest-day energy.
• Look up while you stomp — this is also prime hot-air-balloon season, with colorful balloons regularly drifting over the vines during Wine Month mornings.

This is, hands down, the best reason to let someone else drive. A Van'N Boozy tour means you can stomp, sip, and celebrate harvest without worrying about who's behind the wheel.

Events at Pechanga Resort Casino

Beyond the comedy and concerts above, Pechanga's September calendar includes:

• Rotating stand-up comedy headliners at the Pechanga Comedy Club nearly every weekend
• Dinner-and-a-show comedy nights at 1882 Cantina and Kelsey's
• Live music and DJ sets across the resort's lounges and bars
• The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA on September 24 at Pechanga Theater

Check Pechanga's entertainment calendar directly for exact showtimes, as comedy club lineups shift week to week.

Non-Alcohol & Family-Friendly Things to Do

Not everyone in the group drinks — and September has plenty to offer beyond the tasting room.

• Peltzer Pumpkin Farm & Harvest Festival
  • When: September 15–30
  • Where: Peltzer Family Cellars
  • Details: Early fall harvest fun for the whole family, with pumpkin patch activities, farm fun, and seasonal treats ahead of the full October run.
• Spirit Night: Fall Equinox Party
  • Where: Bliss Crystals
  • Details: A community celebration marking the fall equinox with a laid-back, family-friendly gathering.
• Old Town Temecula: Front Street's shops, patios, and weekend strolls are a great alcohol-free way to spend an afternoon, especially with the weather finally cooling off.
• Van'N Boozy Mocktail Tour
  • Details: Our newest tour is built exactly for this. Craft mocktails, the same iconic vintage VW bus, and the same scenic Temecula Wine Country views Learn more about the Mocktail Tour.

Plan Your September Temecula Trip Today

Between grape stomps, jazz nights, comedy, car shows, and California Wine Month in full swing, September might be the busiest — and best — month on the Temecula calendar. Whatever kind of day you're after, wine-soaked or completely alcohol-free, Van'N Boozy has a tour for it.

Book your Van'N Boozy tour today and let us handle the driving while you handle the memories.

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