DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS, EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS THIS WEEK

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By Ariele Johannson

May 20, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s  Destination East County includes many outdoor activities from hiking and fishing to car shows, festivals and outdoor movies! Memorial Day activities are included and two local theatre groups have final weekend performances.

The Healing Waters and Arts Festival will be held in Jacumba Hot Springs on Saturday, May 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The festival takes place downtown and on parts of Old Highway 80, which is a high desert setting. Activities include Kumeyaay Bird Singers, crafts vendors, holistic healing and new age practitioners, food (including vegetarian), multiple music venues, children’s activities, geocaching, and a drum circle. There is free parking and free admission.

For more information about the festival, contact Danielle Cook at 619-766-9156 or at daniellet96@yahoo.com.   

 

Jacumba Hot Springs is 70 miles east of San Diego on Interstate 8. Jacumba and its sister community of Boulevard are the gateway to back country adventure. You can learn more about their activities by visiting these websites:

http://www.gosandiegobackcountry.org and http://www.jacumbahotspringscentennial.org .

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A Lebanese cultural festival takes place this weekend from Friday, May 23rd from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and then on Saturday and Sunday, May 24th and 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at St Ephrem Catholic Church in El Cajon. Authentic Lebanese foods will be served, such as hummus, falafel, shawarma, tabouleh, stuffed grape leaves, chicken kabob, and a wide assortment of gourmet sweets. Visitors can expect live music and dancing, folkloric performances, and a variety of booths with Lebanese specialties, a beer & wine garden, hookah bar, carnival rides, and raffle prizes.

 

Admission is $2. St. Ephrem Catholic Church, 750 Medford Street, El Cajon.

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The Society for Creative Anachronism is staging a medieval battle at Potrero County Park on Saturday and Sunday, May 24th and 25th from 11:00 a.m. to sunset. This visit to the Barony of Calafia is a free event with vendors, staged fighting events, and instruction. Visitors are invited to wear period attire to fit in with the festivities. 

 

Potrero County Park,  24800 Potrero Park Dr., Potrero. Phone: 619-478-5212.   

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Lake Jennings hosts two events with a hot dog cook off. The first is a fishing event--the 1st Annual Catfish Tournament, which takes place on Saturday, May 24th. The second event (for registered campers only) is the Lake Jennings 1stAnnual Horseshoe Tournament on Sunday, May 25th.

 

Contact Dave Acevedo at 619-390-1623 times and information.

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Movies in the Park at Viejas begins on Friday, May 23rd with “Anchorman 2” starting at 8 p.m. “The Hobbit, Desolation of Smaug” will be shown on Friday, May 30th.

 

Admission is $5, which includes a regular-size popcorn, a 12oz. soda and preferred seating. Children 12 and under are free to attend, but must be accompanied by an adult.

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The Alpine Community Center and Knights of Columbus in Alpine are holding a car show on Saturday, May 24th that includes breakfast from 6:00 -9:00 a.m., a taco lunch from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., and a car show from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

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An East County Arts and Craft Fair and Spring Flea Market will be held outside on Saturday, May 24th on the large grassy area next to the parking lot at the Heartland Masonic Hall on Ballantyne Street in El Cajon.



All vendors will be $25.00.

For more information: http://www.ecacf.net/events.html

 

Heartland Masonic Hall, 695 Ballantyne Street, El Cajon.

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The Las Hermanas “Escape to Tropical Paradise” benefit takes place this weekend at the Cottonwood Golf Course on Friday, May 23rd at 6:00 p.m. San Diego Las Hermanas is a group of women dedicated to meeting the needs of East County and has raised over $600,000 for local charities in the 12 years they have been serving the community. This year they are raising money for Fostering Opportunities/Dollars for Scholars, Include Autism and The Challenge Center. The program for the evening includes cocktails, appetizers, dinner, silent auction, and a comedy show.

 

For more information:  http://www.sdlashermanas.com.

Cottonwood Golf Course, 3121 Willow Glen Road, El Cajon, CA.

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Each Friday night at The Regal in the village of La Mesa, there is free Karoke with KJ Roman beginning at 9:30 p.m.



The Regal Bar, 8344 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa. Phone: 619-469-1633

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Young Actors Theatre presents their last weekend of the production of “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Encore Theatre in Spring Valley. Performances are on Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25.

The Young Actors Theater website is http://www.yatsandiego.org. Performances are May 23 and 24 at 7:00 p.m. and May 24 and 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $10 for students and seniors, $12 for adults, $15 at the door. Encore Theatre is located at 9620 Campo Road in Spring Valley, CA. ………………………………………………………………………………...

“Peter Pan” will be performed by the Greenfield Middle School in El Cajon for this final weekend with performances on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24.

 

Greenfield Middle School, 1495 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon. Website: http://www.cytsandieg.org.

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Back at Hooleys Irish Pub and Grill in La Mesa is musician Tony Cummins on Friday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m.

 

Hooleys Irish Pub & Grill, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive #277, La Mesa.

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Nature walkers can join with a Mission Trails Regional Park trail guide and walk into the past on a fun-facts walk through the area surrounding the historic Old Mission Dam. Visitors will also learn about the amazing variety of plant and animal life in open-space lands. The group meets at the Kumeyaay Lake Campground Entry Station on Saturday, May 24 at 8:30 a.m. and returns at 10:00 a.m.

 

Kumeyaay Lake Campground, Two Father Junípero Serra Trail, San Diego.

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An exhibition of vintage furniture from pioneer Lemon Grove homes entitled  “Furnishing Lemon Grove 1896-1955” will be open to the public on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Parsonage Museum of Lemon Grove. The furniture types include Eastlake Victorian, Alberto Treganza Arts & Crafts, California Mission, Karpen commercial, and mid-century chrome-formica, along with photographs and artifacts. The exhibit is open for viewing on weekdays by appointment only for classes and tour groups, and it is ongoing until Saturday, December 20th, 2014.

 

For more information, call 619-460-4353.

Parsonage Museum of Lemon Grove, 3185 Olive Street, Lemon Grove, CA.

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In Downtown El Cajon at Prescott Promenade, “Dinner & A Concert” is held every Friday Night, where spectators can enjoy great music and dancing from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This Friday night, May 23rd features the Choice Entertainers, a doo wop dance band. Next Friday night, May 30th features the Detroit Underground for an evening of 70s-80s dance music.

 

Visitors to downtown El Cajon can arrive early to dine at one of many restaurants downtown--some with discounts for the evening--or bring their own picnic and lawn chairs. 

 

The free concerts are located at 201 E. Main Street and are brought to you by the Downtown El Cajon Business Partners. The full line-up of bands is posted at http://www.downtownelcajon.com or call 619-334-3000 for information.

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The Stage IV Jazz band performs at the San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room and Gallery in La Mesa on Saturday, May 24th from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Besides jazz entertainment, there will be wine by the glass, cheese and crackers, and dessert available for sale. Seating is on a first come, first-served basis.

 

Next weekend at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room and Gallery  on May 31st, the People of Earth will be performing at 7:00 p.m. for a free show.

 

San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room and Gallery 8364 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa.       Website: http://www.sanpasqualwinery.com

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Just a little farther down the road at Bistro Sixty and San Diego Desserts on El Cajon Blvd. in the College area, musician Nathan Welden performs each Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

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An interpretive nature hike with a ranger happens at Lake Morena in Campo on certain Saturday afternoons through June 21st   at 2:30 p.m. Hikers can learn about native plans and how the Kumeyaay Indians utilized natural vegetation in their daily lives, as well as the history of Lake Morena. The hike lasts about an hour and a half. Hikers are asked to call in advance to verify the hike start time.

 

Lake Morena, 2550 Lake Morena Drive, Campo.  Phone: 619-579-4101

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There will be a Family Discovery Walk at Mission Trails Regional Park on Sunday, May 25th from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. with trail guides Rosalie and Marcia to the Kumeyaay Grinding Rocks site. Walkers will also get to hear about the seasonal changes in the park. Rain cancels the event.

 

Mission Trails Regional Park, One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Carlos

Website: http://www.mtrp.org  Phone: 619-668-3281

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Now for a preview of some important upcoming events in East County next week starting with Memorial Day on Monday:

 

The 4th Annual Memorial Day Celebration at the Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor takes place on Monday, May 26 at the Alpine Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festivities will include patriotic music by the San Diego Festival Chorus and soloist Peter Hastings to remember and pay tribute to the more than 500 heroes on the Wall of Honor. The Buecker Squadron will do a flyover with their refurbished World War II biplanes decorated in red, white and blue. The Alpine Kiwanis Cook Shack will be on hand, serving hamburgers and hot dogs.

 

Contact Debbie Jackson for more information at Debbiejackson@cox.net.

Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd., Alpine, CA.

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The Julian Fiddle & Picking Contest is back again this year on Saturday, May 31st at the Julian Town Hall. This fiddle and guitar picking contest is open to all ages, and engages all those participating and listening in the festive and competitive atmosphere of the traditional old time fiddle contest.

 

Contact Bruce Barnes for more information at 619-465-8753 or go to their website at http://www.sandiegofiddler.org.



Julian Town Hall, 2129 Main Street, Julian, CA.

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The Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival will be happening this year on Saturday, May 31st and Sunday, June 1st from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for two action-packed days designed for the whole family with two stages with continuous live entertainment, a children’s fun area with rides, and 300 craft, community, and food booths. The street fair takes place on Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee.

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Spring Valley Park is the location for the “It’s How We Live!” festival being held on Saturday, May 31st. The festival aims to teach individuals how to live a healthy, active life and includes health and dental screenings, food samples, live entertainment, giveaways, games and more! The festival is free and runs from Noon-4 p.m. at the Spring Valley County Park on Jamacha Blvd. in Spring Valley.

 

Spring Valley County Park, 8735 Jamacha Blvd., Spring Valley, CA.

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On Saturday, May 31st, beginning at 9:00 a.m., downtown La Mesa

Village will dress up in red, white and blue to celebrate “A Salute to Old Glory!” at the La Mesa Flag Day Parade. The festivities kick off at 9:00 a.m., with pre-parade concerts by La Mesa Middle and Parkway Middle Schools.  At 10:00 a.m. the parade led by the United States 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band starts through downtown La Mesa Village. Guests can look forward to this year’s celebration of the Ford Mustang’s 50th Anniversary. patriotic.

                                                                                                     

For information visit http://www.cityoflamesa.com/familyfun or call the parade hotline at 619-667-1172.

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That’s all for this week! All of these events and more can be found on our Calendar and in our Festivals and Events section online at www.eastcountymagazine.org.

 

Destination East County can be heard on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ 89.1 FM.  The East County Magazine show airs  Mondays through Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. and Destination East County airs each Wednesday and Friday.


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