DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS SEPT. 25-OCT. 11

September 24, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – This week’s Destination East County features some major events this weekend, including Oktoberfests, a major music festival and street fair, a fiesta,  a parade, plus concerts by the Eagles and a Barbra Streisand tribute artist.  Plus we’ll have previews of some delicious events coming up soon, including Julian Apple Days, the East County Vintners Harvest Days, a Pumpkin Festival, and Jacumba Hot Springs centennial celebration! Find all these events and more below.

GERMAN AMERICAN CLUB OKTOBERFEST SEPT. 26-28 AND OCT. 3-5 IN EL CAJON

You’re invited to come and enjoy authentic German food, such as bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit,  potato pancakes, sauerkraut, red cabbage, pretzels, and Bavarian pastries—all at the German American Club’s annual Oktoberfest in El Cajon. The festivities take place on two weekends, September 26 through 28 and October 3^rd through 5th.  You’ll also find plenty of German beers, as well as entertainment by the Guggenbach-Buam, all the way from Baden-Württemberg, Germany.  These talented musicians dress in traditional clothing, and play a variety of German music, just as you would hear in the beer gardens in Bavaria. Feel free to dance and sing along with the chicken dance, polkas and oom-pah-pah music. You can also watch traditional folk dancing performances, compete in games and contests, check out vendor and craft booths, and treat your kids to their own Kids’ Zone.

For more information, visit the GermanClubSanDiego.org website (http://www.germanclubsandiego.org/events/oktoberfest )

ADAMS AVENUE STREET FAIR SEPT. 27-28

Over 100 different musical acts on eight stages are slated for this year’s Adams Avenue Street Fair on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28. This event is one of the largest free music street fairs in California, with more than 100 musical acts slated. The Adams Avenue Street Fair helps spotlight local, regional, national and international talent.  The event also includes carnival rides, food and craft vendors, and four beer gardens.  For a full lineup of concerts, visit http://www.adamsavenuebusiness.com/ .

SPRING VALLEY FIESTA SEPT. 27

Spring Valley will host its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on September 27^th with the 9^th annual Spring Valley Fiesta.  The event is free and features entertainment, refreshments, inflatable children’s jumper, video game truck, face painting and community information booths.  The lineup of entertainers includes Danza Azteca, Ballet Folklorica, La Prensa Middle School Jazz Band, DJ Low Rider Cars and much more.   The Fiesta will be held at the Spring Valley Library.

TRIBUTE TO BARBARA STREISAND SEPT. 27

From Vegas to Atlantic City, Barbra Streisand impersonator Sharon Owens has performed her “Tribute to Barbra Streisand.” The show takes stage locally on September 28 at 2 p.m. at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Also onstage will be the Coastal Cities Jazz Band, a 17-piece big band. Its members include Chris Klich, a well-known East County jazz musician and Grossmont College music professor. For tickets and details, visit www.powaycenter.com.

VIEJAS DAYS PARADE SEPT. 28

September 28^th is Viejas Days in Alpine – complete with a parade! The parade rolls out at 2 p.m. down Alpine Boulevard to the Alpine Creek Town Center, complete with floats, bands, and plenty of family fun.

Now for a preview of coming attractions….

JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OCT. 4

Jacumba Hot Springs will celebrate its centennial on October 4^th.  The town’s festival will feature the Alpine Outlaws, recognized for their authentic western shoot-out skits, as well as craft and food vendors, children’s bounce houses, live music, raffles, a pumpkin patch, a swap meet, tour of the Chinese Castle and more. The Festival is also the ending point for the Passport Through Time classic car caravan sponsored by the Old Highway 80 Corporation, which will arrive in Jacumba around noon Saturday.  The centennial celebration will be held in Jacumba’s community park on Old Highway 80 in the heart of historic Jacumba Hot Springs. Visit www.Jacumbahotspringscentennial.org and click the “fall festival” tab for details.

EAGLES CONCERT OCT. 4

The Eagles, one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, will be performing at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on October 4^th.  The band sold over 150 million records including such hit singles as Hotel California, Lyin’ Eyes, Take it to the Limit, Desperado and Tequila Sunrise.

The band disbanded but has reunited for this “History of the Eagles” tour.  The San Diego performance on Ocotober 4^th will be held at 8 p.m.  Tickets are still available at Viejas Arena or through Ticketmaster. 

LA MESA OKTOBERFEST OCT. 3-5

The La Mesa Oktoberfest is one of East County’s biggest street festivals, drawing 200,000 people every year. This year’s Oktoberfest will be held October 3^rd through 5^th in the heart of La Mesa’s downtown village on La Mesa  Boulevard between 4^th Avenue and Acadia. The event, sponsored by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the La Mesa Village Merchants Association, began as a small street fair over 35 years ago. Now the three-day bash features over 250 vendors, food including German bratwurst and a beer garden, kids’ activities and entertainment ranging from German music to classic rock and roll.  For hours and details on each day’s activities, visit www.LaMesaChamber.net

(http://www.lamesachamber.net/oktoberfest.php )

JULIAN APPLE DAYS OCT. 4-5

As part of Julian’s  popular Apple Days Celebration, a two-day Apple Days Festival will be held October 4th and 5th at Menghini Winery in Julian 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. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday.

(Admission $5 adults, free for children 12 and under. For more details visit http://www.julianmerchants.org/#!apple-days/c1p0 )

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL OCT. 4-5

Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center is famed for its giant pumpkins, some weighing 100 pounds or more, though there are plenty of smaller jack-o-lanterns to be in their patch.  On October 4^th and 5^th, Bates Nut Farm hosts a Pumpkin Festival from9 a.m. to 5 p.m. complete with a straw bale maze, tractor hayrides, pony rides, and an Arts and Crafts fair featuring works by over 80 artisans ranging from candles and woodworking to jewelry.  You’ll also find food and live entertainment from 12 to 3 p.m. Admission and parking are free.  For directions and details, check http://batesnutfarm.biz/  .

EAST COUNTY VINTNERS’ HARVEST CELEBRATION OCT. 11

You’re invited to join the East County Vintners Wine Group for its second annual Mountain Empire Country Harvest Celebration on Saturday, October 11 from 12 noon to sundown. The festivities take place at the Jim and Janet Wright Ranch and Vineyard in scenic Potrero. The festivities include a smoky barbecue with all the trimmings, wine sampling by local vineyards and wineries, plus a silent auction and door prizes.  RSVPs and tickets are required. For tickets ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) and reservations, contact countryharvest2014@gmail.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 show on KNSJ, you can contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. 

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