DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS NOV. 22 – DEC. 7

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November 19, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes events ushering in the holiday season, from a tree lighting and snow sledding in Santee to the annual Mother Goose Parade …plus we’ll have previews of some coming attractions in the next week or so, including musicals, Lemon Grove’s holiday bonfire and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Holiday Party. 

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more, from East County Magazine.

ON THE EDGE ART GALLERY RECEPTION NOV. 22 BENEFITS FEEDING AMERICA

On The Edge Art Gallery, 7317 El Cajon Blvd.(in The Business Center of La Mesa) will host a reception to honor Feeding America on Saturday, November 22  from 6:30- 9:00 p.m. Guests will be presented with the opening of the gallery's new art exhibit Winter's Edge, featuring the creativity of artists, photographers, and sculptors. Attending guests are encouraged to bring their donation of cash or canned goods to benefit needy families for the  holidays. Every $1 donated provides six meals for a family in need.  For more information visit http://www.ontheedgeartgallery.com/.

SANTEE TREE LIGHTING NOV. 21

Ho ho ho! A free snow zone and sledding are coming to Santee on November 21st from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. during the city’s annual tree-lighting ceremony at Santee Trolley Square, located at 9884 Mission Gorge Road. The tree will be illuminated at 6:15. Other activities include carriage rides, kids’ holiday crafts and games, visits with Santa Claus, Kettle corn and other foods, warm beverages, carolers, and Cajun Zydeco music by the Bayou Brothers with a holiday twist.

WILLY WONKA NOV. 21-23

The musical Willy Wonka, based on the beloved children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, takes stage this weekend at Greenfield Middle School in El Cajon. Christian Youth Theatre  presents the musical classic Friday through Sunday, November 21st through 23rd.  For tickets and information visit www.cytsandiego.org.

LEMON GROVE LIVE NOV. 22

Lemon Grove Live! on the Main Street Promenade will be held on November 22 from 5 to 7 p.m.  This event features the Phoenix Band on the Main Street Promenade performing country and Western, rock and roll, and big band music. 

TURKEY TROT TRAIL RIDE AND POTLUCK NOV. 22 IN RAMONA

The Ramona Trails Association invites you to hike, ride horseback or mountain bike in its annual Turkey Trot on Saturday, November 22. The event starts at 10 a.m. at the staging area at Mt. Gower Open Space Preserve.  A potluck lunch will begin at 12:30 p.m. over the hill at the Hellanback Ranch Winery. Participants can bring a dish to share to the staging area, where foods will be delivered to the winery.  Visitors are also welcome to come for the potluck lunch only. For more information, call 760-896-4782.

WOODSTOCK, THE MUSICAL NOV. 22

Poway Center for the Performing Arts will present Woodstock, the Musical – a live tribute to the original music fest that became a nexus for the counterculture generation.  The performance will include local San Diego musicians Eve Selis, Tim Flannery, Berkley Hart, Back to the Garden Band, and dozens of special guests. Surprises are guaranteed!  For tickets, visit http://www.PowayArts.org.

WORLD OF BATS NOV. 22 IN LAKESIDE

Project Wildlife will introduce you to the fascinating world of bats on Saturday, November 22 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Lakeside River Park. You can also meet Animal Ambassador Daisy, a Mexican Free-Tailed Bat in this indoor classroom located on Lakeside's River Park Property.  Registration by November 17 is requested and space is limited. For more information and to register in advance for this free event, visit http://www.LakesideRiverPark.org.

POMEGRANATE DAYS AT OASIS CAMEL DAIRY NOV. 22-23

One of the most unusual holiday season traditions in East County is coming up: the fourth annual Pomegranate Days celebration at Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona will be held on Saturday and Sunday, November 22 and 23 from noon to 5 p.m.  Festivities include camel rides, bird and camel shows, shopping for holiday gifts and feeding pomegranates to the camels. There is an admission fee ($15 adults, $12 senior and active military, $10 kids 4-14, kids 3 and under free) plus charges for camel rides and a barbecue lunch. For details  visit http://www.cameldairy.com.

MOTHER GOOSE PARADE NOV. 23

The Mother Goose Parade in El Cajon will roll out on Sunday, November 23rd, with a new route and a new start time at 12:15 p.m.  The largest parade of its kind  featuring fairy tale floats, marching bands, equestrian entries and Santa Claus will start on Ballantyne Street, head down Main Street and Johnson before ending at the Mother Goose Village in Parkway Plaza shopping center. The Mother Goose Village will be a two-day event open Saturday and Sunday, November 22nd and 23rd. There will also be a red carpet on Main Street and WD Hall Drive at 10:30 a.m. before the parade kicks off.  Visit www.MotherGooseParade.org for more information.

 

Now for a preview of coming attractions…

 

WADDLE AND TROT 5 K NOV. 27

Get ready for the 3rd annual Waddle and Trot 5 K run held on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 at 8:00 a.m. Pathways Community Church will host the Waddle and Trot, which benefits the Santee Santas and the Santee Food Bank. What better way to work off some calories before savoring your Thanksgiving feast? To register for the 5K or Fun Run, visit www.pathways.cc/waddleandtrot.

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY’S WILD & SWINGING HOLIDAY PARTY NOV. 28

The swing revival band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will hold a wild and swinging holiday party on Friday, November 28th at Sycuan’s Live and Up Close Theater in Dehesa starting at 8 p.m. For tickets and details, visit www.Sycuan.com.

JULIAN COUNTRY CHRISTMAS & TREE LIGHTING NOV. 29

The historic gold rush town of Julian hosts its annual Country Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, November 29th from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  The festivities include music, crafts booths and performances throughout the day followed by the tree lighting at dark, after which children can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  After the tree lighting, you can also stroll down Main Street to the Julian Cider Mill for a living nativity – a long-time Julian.

LIGHT UP THE GROVE BONFIRE DEC. 5

Lemon Grove hosts is annual “Light up the Grove” bonfire on December 5th in Civic Center Park from 5 to 9 p.m.  You can also visit the Lemon Grove Historical Society’s Christmas open house at the Parsonage and Lee House, where you can meet Santa and peruse the Elves’ gift shop.  The night also includes horse-drawn wagon rides, games, face painting and crafts to provide spirited good cheer for people of all ages.

ALPINE CHRISTMAS PARADE OF LIGHTS & SNOW FESTIVAL DEC. 5

The 19th annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights & Snow Festival will be held on December 5th from 6:30 to 10 p.m.  The parade rolls out at 6:30 p.m. from West Victoria and ends at the Alpine Creek Town Center at 1347 Tavern Road in Alpine, where a snow festival complete with real snow starts at 7 p.m. Festivities include a visit from Santa Claus, carnival rides, food, and vendors.

BRIGHT MORNINGS, SILENT NIGHTS CONCERT DEC. 6

A free choral concert, “Bright Mornings, Silent Nights” will be presented by the Pacificaires and Cedar Center Chorus on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. in the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue in San Diego.   The concert features Christian and Jewish holiday favorites as well as secular music.

A JOYFUL HOLIDAY MUSIC CELEBRATION: SAN DIGEO FESTIVAL CHORUS & ORCHESTRA DEC. 7

The San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra will present a Joyful Holiday Music Celebration on December 7th at 3 p.m. in the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue, San Diego. The performance will include Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Robert Shaw’s “The Many Moods of Christmas.”

The East County based San Diego Festival Chorus is in its 14th season. The 90-voice, 48-piece orchestra has performed Vivaldi’s “Gloria” on European tours.  “The Many Moods of Christmas” is a choral arrangement of traditional Christmas music by Robert Shaw, former conductor of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

You can hear selections from the performers and purchase tickets ($5-$17) at www.sandiegofestivalchorus.org.

SANTA AT THE LAKES DEC. 7

Santa arrives at Santee Lakes on Sunday, December 7 in a celebration that runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is fun for the whole family including snow sledding, carnival rides, inflatable jumps, boat rides, arts and crafts, food and s’mores.  For details visit www.SanteeLakes.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 http://www.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.

 


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