LAKE SKINNER -- Though the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival will turn 24 upon its opening on Friday night, it will also get a little younger.

Citing a demographics study conducted by the festival's board after last year's event, organizers are offering up a lineup of concert acts that is a little more contemporary than in year's past.

"We realized that we did have a significant portion of people in the age 25-34 category," volunteer Chairman of the Board Pamela Voit said. "That actually drove the type of acts that we wanted to bring in this year."

Two of those acts include headliners Five for Fighting and Collective Soul, each of whom have had hits on the Billboard Magazine charts within the past decade at least.

Five for Fighting, the stage name for singer-songwriter John Ondrasik, headlines Friday evening's performances on the Main Stage. "America Town," released in 2000, went platinum in the United States largely due to the success of the song "Superman (It's Not Easy)" in late 2001. The 2004 album "The Battle for Everything" enjoyed chart success in the United States with the hit single "100 Years," and "If God Made You."

Five for Fighting's latest album, "Two Lights," was released in August of 2006 and registered a Billboard Top 40 single titled "World." The call-to-action song proposed the question "What kind of world do you want?" and "Be careful what you wish for, history starts now," and Ondrasik recently launched a charity-driven web site in the spirit of the song. Whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com is the first music video community site that will help raise money for charitable organizations. Visitors to the site can make a charitable donation by posting a homemade video for the song or by watching videos made and uploaded by others.

Collective Soul, which will headline Saturday night on the Main Stage, found early success in 1994 with their double platinum album "Hints, Allegations, & Things Left Unsaid," which included the hit single, "Shine." They followed with the 1995 triple platinum self-titled album "Collective Soul." Crossing rock, alternative, and adult contemporary formats, the album was on the Billboard top 200 for 76 weeks. The band's most recent album, "Youth," released in 2005, produced three successful singles, including "Counting the Days," "Better Now" and "How Do You Love."

Though not exactly a concert per se, the festival will see a new addition on Sunday that is sure to attract a younger crowd.

Xtremely Amped, a motocross stunt show, will be performing from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. The show features Metal Mulisha star Jimmy Fitzpatrick as well as Scott Stevens and Bobby Lee. Live bands will perform as the riders perform high-flying stunts some 75 feet in the air.

Though festival organizers have recognized the need for acts that appeal to a younger audience, that doesn't mean they've abandoned popular musicians from year's past.

Performing at 7 p.m. Friday night will be 10,000 Maniacs, a leading 1980s and 1990s alternative rock band. The band has had a variety of incarnations through the years, originating with Natalie Merchant, though the songstress is no longer with the band. During the height of their career, they produced the hit singles "Don't Talk," "These Are Days," "More Than This," "Trouble Me," and the remake of the classic, "Because the Night." Performing before the Maniacs will be 24E, a local alternative rock band.

Just before Collective Soul takes the stage on Saturday, Survivor (5:30 p.m.) will attempt to inspire fans to adopt the "Eye of the Tiger" once again. The band, which has performed at the festival before, became a household name in 1982 after actor Sylvester Stallone asked them to provide a theme song for his upcoming movie, "Rocky III." The band agreed and soon released "Eye of the Tiger," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for six weeks. It also topped the British Billboard charts for quite a while and was Australia's No. 1 single for four weeks.

Performing 3:30 p.m. Saturday, big band swingers Cherry Poppin' Daddies will bring their "Zoot Suit Riot" to the stage. Also performing that same day will be David Longoria at 2 p.m. and Cindy Alexander at 1 p.m.

The festival certainly hasn't ignored the jazz audience that has been so loyal over the years. The Wine Stage will feature a number of the genre's favorites, highlighted by a unique performance by Craig Chaquico at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Chaquico, a multi-platinum musician, started his career at the age of 16 playing with Grace Slick in Jefferson Airplane/Starship. Chaquico started his solo career in 1993 and has become one of the most popular artists in contemporary instrumental music. In 2000, Chaquico's "Cafe Carnival" was his most successful single ever, spending months at the top of the R&R and Gavin Report's Smooth Jazz charts. "Luminosa" off his album "Shadow and Light" found the No. 1 slot on the R&R Smooth Jazz Chart in 2002.

"We wanted something that has a vibe to it and (Chaquico) does everything from really smooth jazz to almost flamenco," Voit said. "Usually on the Wine Stage, we do a lot of local spotlight performers and this year we wanted to cap it with a great show."

While Chaquico's jazzy-rock sound plays on the Wine Stage, four Slow Foods chef teams will prepare a unique food and wine pairing for festival guests in the Viva Vino & Cocina bistro area. Limited to the first 100 tickets sold, the event offers four courses of tastes paired with premium area boutique wines. Slow Food chefs utilizing local seasonal produce and meat products from self-sustainable farms will demonstrate and prepare the cuisine. Cost for this food pairing attraction is $15 in addition to the Sunday admission fee.

Opening for Chaquico is Lao Tizer (12:30 p.m.) who was nominated Best New Artist of the Year at the National Smooth Jazz Awards and has appeared at some of the nation's premier musical events. In 2006, the Lao Tizer Band recorded "Diversify," and the first single was released in January of this year. Dirk K and Suite 100 will serve as bookends for Tizer and Chaquico, performing at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively.

On Saturday, Adam Ezra, Carmen & Camille, JD Priest, Carrie Turner, Shawn Pander and HindSite will perform on the Wine Stage.

All concerts are included in the festival admission. Friday's general admission ticket is $18 for adults and children age 12 and younger are $5 and gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets on Saturday are $22 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12 and children under age 7 are free. On Sunday, admission is $15 for adults, $5 for youth age 7-12 and free for children under age 7. Active military personnel (identification is required) will receive a 50 percent discount when tickets are bought at the festival.

New this year, guests can have a front row view for Friday and Saturday Main Stage concerts in a reserved area for $50 (festival admission is included in the ticket). Another option is the Stage Right Limited Reserve seating, which includes one meal and four drinks of either beer or wine. These tickets are limited and are $100 for Friday or Saturday, or $175 for both days.

Lake Skinner is a Riverside County Park and is located at 37701 Warren Road, Winchester. For information on the festival, visit tvbwf.com or call (951) 676-6713.

24th annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival

When: gates open, 5 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday

Where: Lake Skinner, 37701 Warren Road, Winchester

Tickets: $18 for adults, $5 for children age 12 and younger on Friday; $22 for adults, $5 for ages 7-12 and free for children under age 7 on Saturday; $15 for adults, $5 for ages 7-12 and free for children under age 7 on Sunday

Info: (951) 676-6713

Web: tvbwf.com

There's more than just music?

Yes, there's more to be experienced at the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, if you notice, music isn't even in the festival's title. Here's a taste of what will be offered this weekend:

- Hot-air balloons, can't forget those. If you're interested in watching the balloon launches or even going up, gates open at 6 a.m. and spectators are encouraged to arrive by 6:30 a.m. Free tethered rides are available after the launch if weather permits. Hot Air Balloon Flights are $200 and reservations are required by calling (800) 965-2122.

- Who can forget the wine? Wine tasting takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Wine tasting is an additional charge and you may purchase seven tastes and a souvenir glass for $15. More than 20 local wineries will be participating this year.

- The Balloon Glow is returning to its roots of the mid-90s with themed music and a dramatic presentation by the drum line from Temecula's Great Oak High School. During the glow, which will take place at 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday night, up to 12 hot air balloons remain on the ground as pilots simultaneously ignite their burners. This causes the iridescent shimmer of the colorful canopies against the evening sky. By timing the burns to the beat of blockbuster movie themes, the balloons appear to dance to the music.

- The Kids Faire will open again this year for children ages 14 and under will feature the Binky Patrol, which offers decorate fabrics for kids to sew; Fun Time Express with two inflatables including a race car slide and a race car track; Crystal Unlimited with a dart balloon game and crystal block; Jett's Zoo with pony rides and a small zoo; Jolly Jumps of Temecula with a rock wall and an inflatable pirate ship; Kiddies Midway with games including the can pitch, ring pin and roll down and Carl's Kids World with inflatables. Pacific Animal Productions will also be on hand with their Children's Rainforest complete with all the interesting animals and two shows daily.

Friday

Main Stage

5:30 p.m. -- 24E

7 p.m. -- 10,000 Maniacs

9 p.m. -- Five for Fighting

Wine Stage

8:30 p.m. -- Balloon Glow

Saturday

Main Stage

1 p.m. -- Cindy Alexander

2 p.m. -- David Longoria

3:30 p.m. -- Cherry Poppin Daddies

5 p.m. -- Survivor

7 p.m. -- Collective Soul

Wine Stage

11 a.m. -- Adam Ezra

12:30 p.m. -- Carmen & Camille

2 p.m. -- JD Priest

3:30 p.m. -- Carrie Turner

5 p.m. -- Shawn Pander

7 p.m. -- HindSite

8:30 p.m. -- Balloon Glow

9 p.m. -- HindSite

Sunday

Main Stage

1-3 p.m. -- Xtremely Amped Motorcycle Show

Wine Stage

11 a.m. -- Dirk K

12:30 p.m. -- Lao Tizer

2 p.m. -- Craig Chaquico

4 p.m. -- Suite 100