DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS AUG.12-SEPT. 10

East County News Service

Hear our radio "Destination East County" broadcast with Rebecca Williamson and Miriam Raftery on KNSJ!  Listen now by clicking the orange arrow.

August 11, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes a Pokemon, the movie at Santee Lakes, a star party a Mission Trails, and the Heart of Mt. Helix celebration.

Plus we’ll tell you about coming attractions including an All That Jazz musical theatre show, night fishing, the Ramona Country Fair, Santee Music Festival.



So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

POKEMON, THE MOVIE:  AUGUST 12 AT SANTEE LAKES

The Pokemon movie is coming to Santee Lakes on August 12^th.  Entertainment by the ‘80s band Arena Rock starts at 6 p.m. with the Ghostbusters movie showing on an outdoor screen at dusk.  Food trucks will also be available and gates open at 4 p.m. ($10 per carload)

For directions to the site you can visit www.SanteeLakes.com.



STAR PARTY AT MISSION TRAILS AUGUST 12

You’re invited to join members of the San Diego Astronomy Association (weather permitting) on the 2nd Friday of each month, from sunset to 10 p.m., at the Kumeyaay Lake Campground's Day Use Parking Lot. Telescopes will be available for you to view the stars and planets! The next star party will be held on August 12^th. For more information, visit www.MTRP.org/events.

HEART OF MT. HELIX AUGUST 13

Tickets are now on sale for the 9th annual heART of Mt. Helix set for Saturday, August 13 - 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the park atop Mt. Helix.  The popular party on the hill will feature dancing under the stars to the Mighty Untouchables, samplings from over 15 local restaurants along with wine and spirits from several local establishments including, St. Petersberg Vodka, Hennebery Whiskey, and this year's signature cocktail, The Helix, created by Vom Fass, as well as local brews from Helix Brewing Co., Ballast Point and more.

Experience live art demonstrations, live and silent auction items and musical vignettes against the backdrop of some of east county's most inspirational views. Visit the park’s new website www.mthelixpark.org to purchase tickets and for ongoing event details.

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

NIGHT FISHING AT SANTEE LAKES AUG. 18

You’re invited to drop a line at the last Night Fishing event of the season at Santee Lakes on Thursday evening, August 18 from 5 to 11:30 p.m.  A lantern is required and no radios are allowed. Learn more at www.SanteeLakes.com.

ALL THAT JAZZ!  AUG. 19-20

Visionary Community Theatre and City Ballet Orchestra presents “All That That Jazz!”, a concert tribute to the legendary team of Kander and Ebb, at the San Diego Performing Arts Center (4579 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA, 92120) on August 19 and 20 at 7 p.m.

Composer John Kander teamed with lyricist Fred Ebb to forge one of the longest-running and most successful creative partnerships in Broadway history, their bold, brassy style giving rise a series of enormously popular and provocative musicals including Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and many more.  They’ve been inducted into the New York Theatre Hall of Fame and were recipients of Kennedy Center Honors.

This collaborative concert event is directed and choreographed by Ramon Montes, Choreographer of such musicals as Hairspray and Pippin) with music direction by John Nettles, City Ballet Orchestra Conductor and Vocalist/Performer of all genres.

For tickets and details, you can visit  www.VisionaryDanceTheatre.org.

RAMONA COUNTRY FAIR AUGUST 25-28

The Ramona Chamber of Commerce will present the 46th annual Ramona Country Fair, Thursday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 421 Aqua Lane, Ramona. (Admission is free. Parking is $5 per carload._

This real old-fashioned country fair  will feature amusement rides, a midway of carnival games, a wild west show,a country music concert, prizes, food, a stage for live music and entertainment, crafts, shopping and contests for crafters and cooks vying for blue ribbons. The fair also will feature more than 100 vendors, including local businesses and home crafters, and a food court. 

A variety of crowd-pleasing, hometown contests are planned, including pie-eating contest, frozen t-shirt contest, best mustache contest and awards for best jams, jellies, honey, salsa, jerky and pickles.



Proceeds from the fair will benefit the Ramona community, including scholarships to Ramona students and support to other local events that promotes Ramona as a destination. For more information, visit www.RamonaChamber.com .

VIEJAS SUMMER NIGHTS CONTINUES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4

You're invited to spend the weekend under the stars at Viejas Summer Nights in Viejas Casino Resort in Alpine each Saturday and Sunday night now through September 4.

Dance the night away under the stars at The Park with high-energy bands and DJs on Saturday nights, 7pm - 11pm.

Then finish your weekend at The Park with a blockbuster movie on the 30-foot HD screen on Sunday nights, 8pm movie start.

You can visit http://viejas.com/content/summer-nights for details about movies being shown and bands playing.

SANTEE MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPT. 10

Santee’s annual Bluegrass Festival will be held Saturday, September 10 from5 :30 to 9:30 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East.  This year’s musical lineup features two talented bluegrass bands, the Homesick Hitcher and MohaviSoul. Admission entitles ticket holders to sample several varieties of wine, beer from numerous craft breweries, and food prepared by local restaurants.

Proceeds from the one-night festival are used to fund recreation scholarship programs for seniors and low-and moderate-income families, and provide annual operating funds for the Santee Teen Center.

For tickets and details, visit  http://www.santeebluegrassfestival.com

That’s all for this week! You can find details on all of these events and more on our Calendar and in our Festivals and Events section online at eastcountymagazine.org. 

If you have an event you’d like added to our calendar, or if you would like to sponsor the Destination East County column on our website, or the Destination East County show on KNSJ radio, you can contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org   Destination East County is the most-read feature on our website.

We’ll be back next week with more festivals, events and attractions in San Diego’s East County.