DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS SEPT. 24-OCT. 21

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East County News Service

September 20, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes a Latin film festival, Julian Apple days, Lemon Grove’s community potluck, Peace Day in La Mesa, and  a cowboy swap meet in Descanso.

 Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, Marshall Scotty’s scare trail,  Haunt Fest on Main,  East County’s first over-the-line tournament and a tailgate barbecue cook-off.

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

LATIN FILM FESTIVAL AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE NOW THROUGH OCT. 11

As part of Latino Heritage Month, Grossmont College is presenting a Latino Film Festival, with public screenings of films (free) that explore Latino culture and history. The films will be show every Tuesday  at 7 p.m. from Sept. 20th through Oct. 11 in Building 26, Room 220.  For a schedule of films and details, you can visit the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District website at www.gcccd.edu.

JULIAN APPLE DAYS SEPT. 24-25

The annual Julian Apple Days Festival offers weekend full of fun for the whole family on September 24th and 25th.  It’s part of the longer Apple Days celebration.  The two-day festival will be held at Menghini Winery featuring apple displays, music and dancing, an antique tractor display, children’s games and activities, gold panning demonstrations, a beer and wine garden, food and merchandise vendors, contests, and, of course, apple pie.

For more information, visit www.JulianCa.com (or http://visitjulian.com/to-see-do/special-events/apple-days/)

LEMON GROVE COMMUNITY POTLUCK SEPT. 24

Lemon Grove residents are invited to neet your neighbors and local business owners at the 2nd annual Lemon Grove community potluck barbecue.  The event will be held on Saturday, September 24th from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Lemon Grove Park. 

Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided. Guests are asked to please bring a dish to share. For more information call 619-573-8334.

COWBOY SWAP MEET SEPT. 25

If you’re hankering for some saddles, tack, Western wear or other cowboy gear, you can mosey on over to a cowboy swap meet outside of William  Lang Leather Works (formerly McClintock’s Saddle Works, 25077 ViejasBlvd.) in Descanso on Sunday, September 25 from 8 a.m. to 1p.m.

Multiple vendors will be offering items at this annual event including  Western and English tack, saddles, bridles, silver bits, vintage cowboy gear and collectibles, western clothing, horse blankets, halters, and more.  Food will be available; proceeds benefit Future Farmers of America.

DAY OF PEACE:  SEPT. 25 IN LA MESA

The Interfaith Council of La Mesa is celebrating it's 3rd annual International Day of Peace in La Mesa on Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. in Aztec Park (7945 Morocco Drive) as part of a global effort.  All are welcome at the event, which aims to bring awareness to “the need to promote peace, unity and good will in both local and global communities.” 

This year’s theme, as declared by the United Nations, is “The Sustainable Development Goals:  Building Blocks for Peace.” The event will feature representations of peace through words & song. 

For more information you can visit http://www.interfaithlamesa.org/

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

LA MESA OKTOBERFEST SEPT. 30-OCT.2

Wilkommen! You're invited to the largest Oktoberfest celebration west of the Mississippi:  La Mesa Oktoberfest from September 30th to October 2nd.  This community event is spread out over nearly six blocks in La Mesa Village and features hundreds of exhibitors, family friendly activities, German food, music, dancing, outfits, games and of course, beer.

(Hours:  Friday, September 30:  4 p.m.- 10 p.m.; Saturday, October 1:  10 a.m. 10 p.m.; Sunday, October 2:  10 a.m. 6 p.m.  Admission is free.)

For more information, visit http://www.thelamesaoktoberfest.com/.

SCOTTY’S CARE TRAIL:  SEPT. 29-OCT. 30

Just in time for Halloween season, Scotty’s Scare Trail will be open at the abandoned Marshal Scotty’s amusement park (14039 Ridge Hill Rd., ) in El Cajon for a full month every Thursday through Sunday from Sept.29 to Oct. 30 between 7 to 11 p.m.

The trail is rumored to be haunted by ghosts of former park employees.  This year, you can see the Bumper Car carnage, slaughter trailer and  haunted park offices, visit the frightening Ferris wheel and brace yourself as you walk through the remains of the death coaster.

This attraction is not recommended for children under 10 or those subject to seizures. Pregnant women, infants and small children are not allowed. For more information, you can visit  http://www.scottysscaretrail.com/.

GERMAN-AMERICAN CLUB OKTOBERFEST IN EL CAJON FIRST 2 WEEKENDS IN OCTOBER

The German American Club in El Cajon will host its annual Oktoberfest over two weekends:  September 30th through October 2nd and again October 7th through 9th.

This Oktoberfest features a band from Germany, authentic German food from Bavarian pastries to an ox on a spit, plus German beers, and folk dancer. Plus, you can dance to oom-pah music, polkas and waltzes and let the children enjoy a kids’ zone.

The German American Club is located at 1017 South Mollison in El Cajon.  Learn more at http://www.GermanClubSanDiego.org.

LAGUNA MOUNTAIN RENDEZVOUS SEPT. 30-OCT. 2

You’re invited to step back in time and enjoy an authentic 1800 to 1840s Rocky Mountain fur traders’ encampment at the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous from Sept.30 to Oct. 9.  Day visitors and period campers are welcome.

The rendezvous of mountain men includes demonstrations of primitive survival skills including cooking, tool making, tomahawk throwing, archery and black powder shooting.

The event will be held at the Mataguay Scout Reservation (27955 Highway 79) in Santa Ysabel. For details, you can visit http://www.lagunamountainrendezvous.com/.

OKTOVERFEST IN SANTEE OCT. 1

 Santee’s Chamber of Commerce invites you to OktOVERfest—along with a Party in the Park October 1 at Town Center Community Park West (9409 Cuyamaca St) in Santee.

OktOVERfest will kick off at 9 a.m. with East County’s first-ever Over the Line tournament. Teams of three can sign up to participate in the double-elimination style tournament, which will include both a men’s and women’s division.

Attendees can head over to party in the park from noon to 4 p.m. to cool down with some refreshments in the beer garden, get lunch from food trucks and vendors, and jam out with continuous music courtesy of DJ Eddie V. Both events are for ages 21 and over.  For details you can visit www.SanteeChamber.com/OTL.

STOCKZILLA AT SANTEE LAKES OCT. 1-2

Santee Lakes invites you to “Stockzilla” on October 1st and 2nd, when all seven lakes will be stocked with 3,500 pounds of catfish.  There will also be tagged fish and surprise prize giveaways.  The most stocking will be in lakes 6 and 7, which are reserved for campers.  For more information or to reserve a campsite, you can visit www.SanteeLakes.com.

MARTY STUART COUNTRY MUSIC CONCERT OCT. 7 IN DOWNTOWN EL CAJON

Marty Stuart, a member of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Tennessee and a multiple Grammy awards winner, will bring his band’s blend of traditional country, honky tonk and rockabilly music to downtown El Cajon at Prescott Promenade Park on Friday, October 7th from 5 to 8 p.m. 

Stuart is former lead guitarist for Johnny Cash, played bluegrass mandolin for Lester Flatt at age 13, and later performed with Willie Nelson and other well-known country stars before gaining fame on his own. Bring your dancing shoes to dance the night away under the stars.  For more information, you can visit www.DowntownElCajon.com. .

OPEN HOUSE AT HEARTLAND FIRE

Heartland Fire invites you to bring the kids to an open house at Fire Station 6 (100 East Lexington Ave.) in El Cajon on October 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

You can meet the firefighters, see emergency vehicles, safety & health displays and more. For more information, you can go to www.heartlandfire.org.

TAILGATE BARBECUE COMPETITION IN SPRING VALLEY OCT. 16

Fire up your barbecues and get your best recipes ready!  The 7th annual Spring Valley Tailgate BBQ Festival is looking for participants in its annual barbecue competition.

The event is sponsored by Cali Comfort Restaurant and the Marso Walchef Youth Empowerment Organization to raise funds for youth sports.  The barbecue competition will be held on Sunday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Troy Street in Spring Valley outside Cali Comfort’ restaurant.  Besides sampling barbecue, you can also visit a beer garden, shop at street vendors, enjoy live music and plenty of family fun.

For info on how to enter your amateur BBQ team call 619-490-0684 or visit http://www.CaliComfortBBQ.com.

HAUNTFEST ON MAIN OCT. 21 IN EL CAJON

The fifth annual “HauntFest on Main” will take place on Main Street in downtown El Cajon on October 21st from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. Costume Contests will be held on the Main Street stage. There will also be carnival rides, crafts, games, a car show, candy challenge, Kids Zone with outdoor movies, face painting, a pumpkin patch, inflatables, rock wall and performances by local dance groups.

In addition, this Halloween-themed event features live music on 2 stages including “Out of the Ashes” with Linda Ray from 5:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., and the “Amazing 80's All Stars” from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  For more information, you can check out www.Hauntfest.org.

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!


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