Temecula's Popular New Year's Eve Grape Drop Is Changing: What To Know

TEMECULA, CA — Temecula is refreshing its annual New Year’s Eve Grape Drop, with a very notable change in the holiday programming.

The Grape Drop attracts hundreds of people to Old Town every New Year's Eve. It's a Temecula spin on the midnight Ball Drop in New York City Times Square: Instead of the ball, however, giant grapes descend from the Temecula City Hall bell tower.

The event has been held since 2011 and traditionally runs from 6 p.m. Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. Jan. Live music on City Hall steps, activities for kids, a special "Temecula On Ice" skate session, and countdowns at 9 p.m. and midnight featuring the signature Grape Drop are part of the festivities.

After 13 years of similar Grape Drop programming, City Council on Tuesday night unanimously OK'd updates to the event.

The changes include having live music and kids’ activities from 6-10 p.m., along with what the city calls "a very special" 9 p.m.-only countdown.

The countdown will begin with Temecula’s first-ever drone show starting at 8:50 p.m. The 10-minute display will include images representing Temecula’s landscape and community, finishing with a numerical countdown that culminates with the Grape Drop, according to city documents.

The festivities will wrap up at 10 p.m., with New Year’s Eve skating continuing until 12:30 a.m., including a midnight Temecula On Ice countdown.

The changes most notably nix the midnight Grape Drop.

The refresh is an effort "to retain the family-friendly nature of the event," according to the city.

There's also a public safety element being considered.

With resources focused on a single 9 p.m. Grape Drop — which has historically attracted three to four times as many attendees as the midnight drop — law enforcement can dedicate efforts to Front Street during hours when alcohol-related incidents are the greatest concern, according to the city

Note: City Councilmember Jessica Alexander was absent during Tuesday night's meeting.