The 2013 Pumpkin Express returns at the  Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo This is the tenth annual Great Pumpkin event at the Museum.

Travel to the Great Pumpkin's Pumpkin Patch and tour the Haunted Train, where kids will pick out their own pumpkin and decorate it in the display building.

These trains are very popular and seating is limited, so reservations are required. Trains depart Saturdays and Sundays in October at 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m, and 2:30 p.m.

October 16, 2013 (Alpine) – The San Diego Business Associates presents Fall Festival October 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Albertsons Parking Lot, 2955 Alpine Blvd., Alpine.  This free family friendly event will benefit The Heights Charter School.  Come out and enjoy children’s entertainment & games, silent auction, food and local merchants.

October 12, 2013 (Alpine) – The Alpine firefighters will be holding their 20th Annual Open House on October 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1364 Tavern Rd., Alpine.  It will be a fun day for the whole family with Fire K9 Pyro, Smokey the Bear, McGruff the crime dog and Sparky the fire dog.  The kids can enjoy face painting, balloons and a snake display.  Child I.D. and fingerprinting will be available courtesy of the Kiwanis Club.  There will also be food, fire displays, free gifts and raffles.

Dorcas E. Utter Butterfly Pavilion and diverse plant sale at Water Conservation Garden

October 11, 2013 (Rancho San Diego) -- Considering fall and winter as prime gardening months would be scoffed at in many parts of the United States, but not in San Diego, with its Mediterranean climate characterized by mild-to-cool wet winters, and warm-to-hot dry summers.  The Fall Planstravaganza!, held at the Water Conservation Garden from 9am-4pm on Saturday, November 2, 2013, helps San Diegans make the most of the region’s fall-to-spring planting season and save water while they do it.

El Cajon's Fire Safety Expo Is October 12        

October 6, 2013 (El Cajon) -- It’s all about safety at the annual El Cajon Fire Safety Expo on Saturday, October 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 100 E. Lexington Avenue. This event celebrates Fire Prevention Week and brings to the community a wide variety of safety and health information.

Meet firefighters and police officers from the City of El Cajon and see Police & Fire K-9 demonstrations.   Kiwanis Club of East San Diego County will be giving away free kids safety helmets (while supplies last), and Home Depot is back with their children’s safety workshop. See over 40 exhibits addressing important issues such as fire safety, disaster preparedness from the Office of Emergency Services and Heartland Fire & Rescue.

October 3, 2013 (Alpine) – On Saturday, October 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, join Restoration Ecologist Scott McMillan of AECOM as the environmental consulting firm begins its initial effort to restore our very own populations of the rare and endangered San Diego Thornmint at Wright's Field in Alpine.  During this walk, he will introduce our group to this tiny member of the mint family, which is a federally listed endangered plant that only grows in San Diego County. 

For those interested in getting more involved, McMillan and BCLT will be recruiting volunteers for more hands-on restoration of the Thornmint populations over the next few years.  Learn more about the thornmint and how you can help out at this event.   Group parks and meets at Joan MacQueen Middle School - 2001 Tavern Rd, Alpine.  Sponsored by: Back Country Land Trust.  Full calendar of events for Fall 2013 is available at www.bclt.org.

Sept. 30, 2013 (Julian) – Get spooked on a hayride complete with embellished accounts of early miners at The Julian Mining Company, 4444 Hwy 78, Julian.  The rides will be departing at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on October 18 – 19 & 25 -26.

You need to arrive a 1/2 hour before your ride begins. Enjoy complimentary popcorn, coffee and hot apple cider while you wait.

September 30, 2013 (La Mesa) – A wide variety of hand-crafted, fairly traded items will be available at a La Mesa gift faire scheduled for October 13 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall, 7710 El Cajon Boulevard in La Mesa.  Visitors can savor samples of Fair Trade certified ice cream, (Ben and Jerry’s) and coffee while perusing gift items such as hand made baskets, jewelry, clothing accessories, and an abundance of gift items. Also available for purchase will be Fair Trade chocolate, coffee, tea, bananas and soda.

Here is an opportunity to join the many thousands of today’s consumers who are inspired to add “socially responsible” to their shopping list. To purchase a Fair Trade certified product is to make a difference. The designation signifies that artisans and farmers in the poorest areas of the world have received fair, livable wages for their product or ingredients. In addition, certain standards must be met in the production process. These include protecting the environment, building economic sustainability, and providing opportunities for education and health care for families. Young children are protected from forced labor.

September 27, 2013 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa will host its fourth annual Senior Expo on Thursday, October 10, 2013.  With a wide variety of speakers and exhibitors, Expo will offer free “one-stop shopping” for all adults facing life changes that may affect their independence, or those who would like great tips on safety and security. The Expo will be held at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa 91942 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, and is supported by funding from the San Diego Association of Governments.