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East County News Service
October 2, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – This week’s Destination East County includes the famous annual Oktoberfests held in both La Mesa and El Cajon and a reenactment festival about the 1800s. We also have a preview of some upcoming events in early to mid-October of theater, fairs, and classic cars.
LA MESA OKTOBERFEST OCT. 3-4
Oktoberfest has been a tradition in La Mesa’s downtown village since 1942, drawing over 200,000 attendees in recent years. This year, the La Mesa Village Merchants Association hosts the Oktoberfest on Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4.
This year's festival goes back to its roots with a focus on German heritage. The Bavarian Beergarden Band, Alpine Gemutlichkeit Dancers, and the El Cajon German Band highlight the entertainment. There will be German food including bratwurst and real German beer served up at two beer gardens, plus vendors. For details you can visit www.LMVMA.com.
Oktoberfest in El Cajon OCT. 3-4 AND Friday-Sunday on Oct. 9, 10, 11
A family-friendly festival promoting traditional German culture, including entertainment provided by the band Guggenbach-Buam, from Baden-Württemberg, Germany will be held this weekend on Saturday and Sunday and next weekend (Oct. 9-11) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Includes folk dances, games, contests, vendor and craft stands, and a Kids’ Fun Zone. On Saturday nights, the clubhouse is open for dancing from 8pm to midnight with live German music.
Taste authentic German food such as bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit, potato salad, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, and red cabbage, plus a variety of German pastries and pretzels. Soft drinks and adult beverages are sold, featuring a selection of German beers on draft, plus wines and a full bar.
There will be raffle giveaways with frequent door prize drawings, plus a grand prize of a round-trip flight for two to Germany. Free shuttle service runs from the El Cajon Transit Center to German American Societies at 1017 South Mollison Avenue, El Cajon, 92020. Info: 619-442-6637.
Rendezvous in Poway on Saturday October 3
The City of Poway, along with the living history groups Shadow River Regulators, and the Apache Canyon Gang, present the annual Rendezvous in Poway. History comes to life with a walk back in time to the 1820-1890’s. It’s a chance to experience history first hand during a one-of-a-kind event.
Guests will be able to interact with period correct historical encampments, meet Mountain Men, Cowboys, Pioneers, and experience gun fighting reenactments and mock train robberies. The Boardwalk Craft Market will have beautiful hand crafted arts on display and for sale. Guests can also ride the steam locomotive train for a nominal fee.
NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS….
Cajon Classic Cruise: Every Wednesday through October 28
Cajon Classic Cruise continues through Oct. 28 in downtown and features an amazing array of cars and different themes each week on Wednesday from 5-8 pm. with free admission. Location: Main & Magnolia, downtown El Cajon. For information and weekly themes, visit www.cajonclassiccruise.org.
STAGE FRIGHT: OCT. 9-NOV. 8 IN LA MESA
Lamplighters Community Theatre in La Mesa continues its season with a mystery. Stage Fright opens on October 9th and runs through November 8th.
This eerie tale focuses on a drama critic who is led by an attractive production assistant into a recently discovered 19th century theater. There, he is to film an interview for a documentary on actor John Wilkes Booth, who once acted on these very boards.
But when the critic, notorious for his venomous reviews, downs a glass of drugged wine, he awakens to find himself tied to a Shakespearean throne on the stage of the old theatre--beside an actress he has savaged in reviews. She plans to carry out an elaborate plot to murder the critic who destroyed her career—inspiring blood curdling confessions –all while capturing his most embarrassing revelations on video.
For tickets and details, you can visit www.lamplighterslamesa.com.
OKTOBERFEST in EL CAJON continues OCT. 9-11
The German American Societies of San Diego will host their traditional Oktoberfest the first two weekends in October on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (October 2 - 4 and October 9 – 11 in El Cajon). You can enjoy authentic German food and BBQ, a variety of German pastries, and authentic German music. There are also vendor and craft booths as well as a Kids Fun Zone. This annual celebration will be located at the German American Societies’ headquarters at 1017 South Mollison Avenue in El Cajon. For more information, visit www.oktoberfestelcajon.com.
FAIR TRADE GIFT FAIR OCT. 11 IN LA MESA
A Fair Trade gift faire will be held in La Mesa at St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall on Sunday, October 11th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free fair will offer hand-crafted baskets, jewelry clothing accessories, chocolate, coffee, tea and more.
Fair Trade certification means artisans and farmers in the poorest areas of the world receive fair, livable wages for their product or ingredients, offering the public “socially responsible” shopping. In addition, production standards must protect the envioronment, build economic sustainability, provide opportunities for education and health care for families, and protect young children from forced labor.
FALLFEST IN LA MESA OCT. 16-17
La Mesa’s Chamber of Commerce will present FallFest, a new festival to be held October 16 and 17 at Grossmont Center in La Mesa. This event features country and rock ‘n’ roll musical artists including Brent Payne, winner of the best country song of the year award at the Hollywood Music Awards in 2012 for his hit single, Now and Forever. He’s nominated again this year for his song, Midnight Prayer. A beer garden, food and more are also part of the fall festivities at this event.
For more information on FallFest visit www.LaMesaChamber.net
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.
Audio:
Destination East County 10-2-15
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