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By Miriam Raftery
November 1, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a wildlife walk, live hawk demonstration and world music ensemble concert at Mission Trails, an Autumn Fest at the Water Conservation Garden, the Ramona Art and Wine Fest, and acoustic concerts at the Rancho San Diego and Ramona libraries.
Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions, including Veterans Day activities at Grossmont Center, a Veterans’ Day commemoration in El Cajon, the Mother Goose Parade, a holiday hay ride and many more activities at Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures in Santa Ysabel, plus a Julian Country Christmas celebration later this month.
So scroll down for all of these events and many more!
THIS WEEK
MISSION TRAILS EVENTS NOV. 4-5
Mission Trails Regional Park invites you to join in several events this weekend including a wildlife tracking walk on Saturday, November 4th starting at 8:30 in the Visitors Center. On Sunday, November 5th, you can see a live hawk demonstration at 9 a.m. and enjoy a concert by the Mesa College World Music Ensemble at 3 p.m.; both of these events are also at the Visitors Center.
For details you can visit the Mission Trails Regional Park website at www.MTRP.org.
AUTUMN FEST AND PLANT SALE NOV. 4
The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College will hold its Autumn Fest and Plant Sale on November 4th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The campus is located in the Rancho San Diego area of El Cajon.
This event features live entertainment, craft vendors, plant sales, kids’ activities, gardening workshops, ask the designer landscape consultations, advice from water agencies, and a beer garden. For more information, visit www.thegarden.org.
RAMONA ART AND WINE FESTIVAL NOV. 4
The 5th annual Ramona Art and Wine Festival will be held at Begent Ranch in Ramona Saturday, November 4, 2017, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Guests can view and purchase fine art in a variety of mediums, taste hand-crafted wines, appetizers, lunch entrees and desserts while picnicking in style beneath the shade of a giant oak tree. Vendors will also be on hand offering art and wine-themed items. A highlight of the event will be a live auction of six wine barrels painted by local artists.
For tickets and details, you can visit http://ramonaartandwinefest.net.
ACOUSTIC CONCERTS AT LOCAL LIBRARIES NOV. 7 AND 9
The San Diego County Library’s acoustic concerts series includes a performance at the Rancho San Diego branch library on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. by Lisa Sanders, who channels the vocal strength of Chaka Khan and the dusty edge of Bonnie Raitt as she belts out songs filled with world-weary experiences and hope.
On Thursday, November 9th at 6 p.m., Dusty and the LoveNotes will be performing at the Ramona branch library. This California folk-rock band was influenced by Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Sheryl Crow and Neil Young.
NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…
VETERANS DAY ACTIVIES AT GROSSMONT CENTER NOV. 10-11
On Friday, November 10th and Saturday, November 11th Grossmont Center is pulling out all the stops to honor our nation’s veterans. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday evening in the Courtyard with a concert by the Navy's Southwest 32nd Street Brass Band, which will be performing traditional New Orleans jazz, Navy favorites and pop tunes.
On November 10th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Oasis Wellness Center at Grossmont Center will be hosting a technology fair. From noon until 7 p.m. Max FM and the Mighty 1090 will put on a celebration, complete with Hummer photo ops. From 3-5 p.m. all veterans, active and former military and their families are invited to an ice cream social, and from 5 - 7 p.m. all are welcome to the Heroes Concert next to the food court.
All through the day veterans will be treated to (free) haircuts by Rico's Barber Shop as well as (free) makeup sessions and skin analysis by Avia Hair Salon and Day Spa.
Grossmont Center is partnering with the La Mesa and East County Chambers of Commerce, Crisis House, La Mesa Parks and Recreation and the East County Homeless Taskforce as well as many of the Center's businesses at this memorable event to celebrate the men and women who have served our country.
HONORING OUR VETERANS NOV. 11 IN EL CAJON
The city of El Cajon and the El Cajon Veteran Commission will host a special ceremony honoring our veterans on Veterans Day, November 11th. The ceremony will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Centennial Plaza (200 Civic Center Way) in downtown El Cajon and the community is invited.
MOTHER GOOSE PARADE NOV. 19
The 71st Annual Mother Goose Parade will be on November 19th, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This year’s parade theme is “Family Traditions!” The parade begins at 1 p.m. You can see over 100 colorful and exciting parade entries, including floats, marching bands, clowns, equestrians, local dignitaries, TV celebrities, and Santa Claus! The parade Grand Marshal is Randy Jones, former San Diego Padre and CY Young award winner.
The parade route runs along downtown’s Main Street, from El Cajon Boulevard eastbound, to First Street. This popular parade is one of the largest parades in Southern California and a wonderful way to officially kick off the holiday season. You can learn more at www.mothergooseparade.org.
HOLIDAY HAY RIDE ACTIVITIES AT FORT CROSS OLD TIMEY ADVENTURES NOV. 25
Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures in Santa Ysabel, (4424 State Route 78) just outside of Julian, will be offering a holiday hayride activity package on November 25th from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Activities include a holiday hayride with caroling, candle dipping, rustic ornament making, cider pressing, a country hoedown, petting zoo, tomahawk throwing, rope making, a ghost town, slingshot range, hoops and stick relay races, plan racing, nature walks and a tire swing.
For more information, visit http://www.FortCross.com.
JULIAN COUNTRY CHRISTMAS NOV. 25
Christmas comes to Julian every year in an old-fashioned way with a Country Christmas Tree Lighting celebration on Saturday, November 25th to start the holiday season. Festivities start at 2 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. including lighting of a giant Christmas tree in Pioneer Park, just one block from Julian’s historic town hall.
You’ll feel a nip in the air, sniff wood fires, and maybe catch a glimpse of snow capped mountains surrounding town. The holiday season in Julian also offers an opportunity to shop at small boutiques and craft shows, without crowds or lines, for one-of-a-kind gifts.
After the lighting of the giant tree donated by the Julian Merchants’ Association, children can also enjoy visits with Santa Claus.
That’s all for this week!
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.
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