Pennypickle's Workshop
Old Town · Children's museum
Temecula's children's museum, themed as Professor Pennypickle's invention workshop. Timed sessions; closed Mondays.
Family & Kids in Temecula Valley
A children's science museum, splash pads, storytimes, and a pumpkin farm in wine country.
By Heath Clendenning
Families are the valley's center of gravity; the schools pull people here and the weekends keep them. The headline acts: Pennypickle's Workshop, an inventor-themed children's science museum in Old Town; two free splash pads that run all summer; a library with daily storytimes; and a seasonal calendar that peaks with the pumpkin farm in October and an outdoor ice rink in December. The honest list, with what's seasonal, is below.
The seasonal rhythm
Summer is splash pad season (free, mornings and afternoons, closed Mondays for maintenance). Fall belongs to Peltzer Pumpkin Farm, hayrides and pony rides among the vines. Winter brings Temecula On Ice to Town Square and a second rink at Peltzer. Spring is for the Duck Pond, Harveston Lake's paddle boats, and the Santa Rosa Plateau's easy trails while the hills are still green.
- Splash pads: Margarita Community Park and Eagle Soar, free, summer.
- Peltzer Pumpkin Farm: late September through Halloween.
- Temecula On Ice: mid-December to early January in Town Square.
- Library storytimes: weekly, free, most need no registration.
Worth knowing right now
The Temecula Skate Park at Ronald Reagan Sports Park is getting a $6 million rebuild, projected to finish around the end of 2026, and it should come back as one of the best parks in the region. We'll update this page the day it reopens.
The under-five circuit
Ducks first. Everything else after.
Every valley parent knows the rotation: the Duck Pond, a splash pad summer, Thursday storytime, and Pennypickle's on a hot afternoon. This is a genuinely easy place to raise small people.
See the family listThe honest list: what's open, what's seasonal
Splash pads: Margarita & Eagle Soar
Temecula · Free · summer
Two free recycled-water splash pads, open summer mornings and afternoons (closed Mondays for maintenance).
Temecula Public Library
Pauba Road · Free storytimes
Toddler, preschool, bilingual, and inclusive storytimes plus the Play and Learn Island in the kids' wing.
Mulligan Family Fun Center
Murrieta · Go-karts · mini golf
The area's outdoor fun park: go-karts, laser tag, mini golf, and an arcade. Closed Mondays.
Round1 Bowling & Arcade
Promenade Mall · Indoor rainy-day win
Bowling, arcade, billiards, and karaoke inside the Promenade; open late every day.
Peltzer Pumpkin Farm
Wine Country · Seasonal · fall
The October institution: hayrides, farm animals, and pony rides at the Peltzer family farm on Calle Contento.
Vail Headquarters
South Temecula · Food hall · farmers market
The historic Vail Ranch reborn as a shops-and-dining plaza with a Tuesday farmers market and family events.
The Temecula Skate Park is mid-rebuild (a $6 million upgrade, reopening around late 2026). Seasonal and not running in June: Temecula On Ice and Peltzer Pumpkin Farm.
Frequently asked
What is there to do with kids in Temecula?
The core list: Pennypickle's Workshop children's museum in Old Town, the Duck Pond and Harveston Lake, two free summer splash pads, library storytimes, Mulligan Family Fun Center, and Round1 at the mall for indoor days.
Are the Temecula splash pads free?
Yes. The splash pads at Margarita Community Park and Eagle Soar Playground are free and run through the summer, typically closed Mondays for maintenance.
Is Temecula a good place to raise a family?
It is one of the main reasons people move here: strong school districts, a deep bench of parks and family programming, and a town calendar built around kids for most of the year.
What can families do on a rainy or hot day?
Round1 at the Promenade (bowling, arcade, karaoke), Pennypickle's Workshop, and the library's Play and Learn Island are the reliable indoor rotation.
What seasonal events do valley families plan around?
Peltzer Pumpkin Farm from late September through Halloween, Temecula On Ice in Town Square from mid-December, the summer splash pad season, and the Balloon & Wine Festival at Lake Skinner.