Menifee, CA – An exciting new event is coming to the valley this spring to kick off festival season!

The inaugural Menifee Music and Arts Festival features Grammy-nominated country music duo Thompson Square, local art from all mediums, and a wide variety of local flavor, including craft beers and unique food trucks.

The free event celebrating the colorful culture in Menifee will take place from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Menifee Valley Campus, 28237 La Piedra Road, Menifee.

Headlining the Music and Arts Festival is two-time platinum and multi-Grammy-nominated duo Thompson Square, who will hit the main stage at 8:30 p.m. Preceding them will be a wide variety of popular local acts, including Temecula Road; Kanan Road; MSJC Menifee Jazz Ensemble; Clapton Hook; Scottie Mac Band; Chris Fast Band; Replay Band; Anahi Rodriguez; Hunter Ryan; a Drum Circle; and several community groups performing on three stages.

In addition to the acts, participants can enjoy live art demonstrations on Mt. San Jacinto College’s campus, which will come alive with an immersive art pavilion. Local artists will represent the Arts Council of Menifee and Mt. San Jacinto College’s art departments. Many art pieces will be available for purchase. Expect art from all mediums, including activities for kids and families.

Various vendors also will have unique items for sale and a wide variety of food trucks and vendors will offer delicious treats and entrees. Additionally, the beer and wine garden, hosted by the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard, will offer a variety of local flavor.

“The Menifee Music and Arts Festival strives to be an annual regional event highlighting unique arts and culture,” Community Services Director Jonathan Nicks said. “Mt. San Jacinto College and Arts Council Menifee have successfully collaborated on previous events, and the City of Menifee along with the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard are thrilled to join their efforts to develop a robust festival. Each organization has been hard at work to create a day full of music and arts experiences for all to enjoy!”

“We’re extremely excited to collaborate on the Menifee Music and Arts Festival,” said Rickianne Rycraft, MSJC Interim Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to provide entertainment for the community while at the same time offering a great venue for our student and local artists and musicians to shine. We can’t wait to celebrate!”

The Menifee Music and Arts Festival is free to attend, with the option of purchasing tickets for seats near the stage for $25, including a commemorative koozie and ticket (quantities are limited). Additional VIP Packages are available and more information can be requested by contacting the Community Services Department.

See the City of Menifee’s website for more information, festival FAQ’s, and sponsorship and vendor opportunities. The Community Services Department can be reached at (951) 723-3880, communityservices@cityofmenifee.us, or www.cityofmenifee.us

ABOUT MENIFEE:

Situated in the heart of southern Riverside County along Interstate 215, Menifee is a vibrant, new city of more than 90,000 residents who enjoy a pleasant year-round climate, abundant recreational offerings, reasonably priced housing and convenient proximity to some of Southern California’s premiere attractions and employment centers. Within its 50 square miles, Menifee’s business, retail and entertainment outlets are starting to shape the community’s character and this growing economic base is also contributing favorably to the city’s strong financial position. Menifee’s growing family-oriented population values the city’s ongoing commitment to public safety, community events and smart growth for the future. All of these elements are working together to support the city’s strategic vision to make Menifee one of the state’s most promising new cities.

ABOUT MT. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE:

Mt. San Jacinto Community College District is one of California’s 115 community colleges and offers comprehensive higher education. A single-college district, MSJC serves a 1,700-square-mile area in Riverside County from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula with multiple sites: San Jacinto, Menifee Valley and San Gorgonio Pass campuses, the Temecula Education Complex, Temecula Higher Education Center and off-site locations. MSJC offers courses and programs that satisfy the transfer requirements of four-year colleges and universities; job skill and career training programs; Basic Skills and English as a Second Language (ESL); Online Education; and Continuing Education.