August 1, 2013 (San Diego's East County) – On Tuesday, August 6, the El Cajon Police Department will be holding a National Night Out community event in the parking lot of the El Cajon Police Station located at 100 Civic Center Way from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Enjoy a wide variety of booths and displays from numerous organizations offering health and safety information with a special emphasis on ways you can better protect your family, your home and your vehicle.  Emergency vehicles will be on display and there will be a K-9 demonstration. For more information, please call (619) 579-4227.

August 1, 2013 (Dulzura) – Dulzura-Barrett Fire Dept. and the Dulzura Community Center host a Deep Pit BBQ on August 4 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at Camp’s Grove, 17087 Hwy 94, Dulzura.  A dinner of beef, pork, coleslaw, beans, corn-on-the-cob, roll and 8oz drink will be served from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.  The entertainment will include music from DJ, Bill the Breeze, dancing, Chicken Game, horseshoes, raffles, an auction and activities for the kids.

Thousands of dollars in fabulous prizes--and a wild west show!

Listen to our audio preview for this exciting event 

July 12, 2013 (Descanso) --Descanso Junction is firing up the BBQ to help us celebrate East County's western heritage at our Wild West Fest and BBQ on Saturday, August 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the historic Descanso Town Hall (24536 Viejas Grade Road, Descanso).  Prince includes BBQ feast, wild west show, dancing, live music, and prizes galore!

Your ticket ($15 at early-bird rates, $20 at the door) includes a delicious tri-tip and chicken barbecue feast,  Wild West show, live music, dancing, and a chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes.The Hole in the Wall Gang and  Gaskill Brothers Gunfighters will provide live western reenactments with a full half-hour wild west show. Author Bryon Harrington will be there with his book, Campo, the Forgotten Gunfight. Plus we'll have a Doc Holliday reenactor. Pine Creek Posse Band will provide live music- so bring your dancing shoes (or your cowboy boots!)

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PRIZES: Prizes include a vacation at the Viejas Resort, "cowboy for a day" at Campo Creek Ranch, gift certificates from delicious restaurants, $165 in hay bales, gifts from feed stores, retail shops, salons, leather bag from MCClintock Saddleworks, hay bales, winery gift baskets, bowling, buffets, event tickets and even a free rental at Descanso Town Hall! and more. Descanso Junction will serve up the barbecue feast. KNSJ 89.1 FM radio will be on hand to record YOUR stories, too.

July 19, 2013 (San Diego) – The Little Saigon 5th Annual Lantern Festival begins tonight at 5 p.m. and preparations are underway at Hoover High School, 4474 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, as volunteers are assembling and hanging thousands of lanterns, erecting vendor booths and building the stage and Vietnamese Cultural Village.  This year’s festival celebrates the formal designation of the new Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District.

July 15, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – This summer the music is floating over Berry Street Park, 7071 Mt. Vernon, Lemon Grove on Thursday evenings.  The free concerts are sponsored by the City of Lemon Grove and are from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

July 13, 2013 (La Mesa)—The  City of La Mesa presents “Movie Night Under the Stars” on July 26, at La Mesita Park. The movie, “Wreck it Ralph” (rated PG), starts at 8:00 p.m. with pre-show entertainment starting at 7:30 p.m. This is fun family entertainment at its best “Under the Stars.”

The movie is FREE to the public and will be shown on a 25’ x 14’ screen. Bring your lawn chair, spread out a blanket, sit back and enjoy.  La Mesita Park is located adjacent to the Junior Seau Sports Complex at 8855 Dallas Street, La Mesa.

July 10, 2013 (Pine Valley) – Pine Valley Days returns to Pine Valley County Park, 28810 Old Highway 80 on July 26 and 27.  It begins on Friday with a Deep Pit BBQ from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with dancing under the stars following.  Saturday kicks off at 9 a.m. with a 2 hour parade down old Highway 80 from Pine Valley Road to Pine Blvd.  Parade entries include equestrian, bands, clowns, old cars and fire trucks, among others.

View videos of Eric Runningpath:   Video 1 (Crow Dance) and Video 2 (Hoop Dance)

By Ariele Johannson

If you missed the festivities, our East County Magazine event, “Celebrate Our Roots” at the Heritage of the Americas Museum on June 19 was a huge success! The event brought together people in a fun and educational way to celebrate East County’s cultural and agricultural heritage. Highlights of the event were recorded by Mike Hancock from KNSJ, East County’s NEW Community Radio Station with its transmitter in Descanso.  The East County Magazine LIVE! Radio Show will debut this week, airing Mondays through Fridays at 5 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Updated July 3 with even more events!

Jumr 27, 2013 (San Diego's East County) --Fireworks , parades,a centennial-themed celebration and an address by an Abraham Lincoln reenactor for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg are among the Fourth of July celebrations in East County and San Diego’s inland areas this year. 

Here’s a rundown on some of the festive Independence Day events, listed in alphabetical order by community.

June 28, 2013 (Ramona) – Join Jim, Milagro Farms winemaker, on June 29 at 4 p.m. for a guided hike around Milagro Farm Vineyards & Winery’s 20 acres of grapes.  This is a moderately strenuous hike and will finish at the tasting room with a private tasting.

Tickets are $10 per person or free with a bottle purchase.  RSVP to Audrey@milagrofarmwinery.com.  The winery is located at 18750 Littlepage Road, Ramona.

By Ariele Johannson

June 26, 2013 (Descanso) -- Get ready to kick up your heels, because there will be live music and dancing in Descanso on Friday evening, June 28, 2013. Mountain Empire Men’s Club presents their 5^th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser at the Descanso Town Hall. The newly designated “historical” town hall is located at 24536 Viejas Blvd. in Descanso. The event is from 5-10 p.m.

Descanso Junction Catering is hosting the event and cooking up a delicious smoked barbecue dinner. This special event also features a silent auction and raffle prizes. All funds collected will go directly to the Scholarship Fund for students in the Mountain Empire School District, of which Descanso is a  part.

May 27, 2013 (Valley Center) – Lisa Hampton of Mindful Fitness will be leading a retreat on June 23 at Keys Creek Lavender Farm, 12460 Keys Creek Road, Valley Center from 1:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. A day of mindfulness will be followed with a jazz concert at 7:00 p.m. by Gregory Page as the sun sets and the full moon rises.

June 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association (GMIA) will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 23rd at the Cuyamaca Water Conservation Garden, 5:30pm – 8:30pm.

Phil’s BBQ and locally crafted beer and wine will be served, followed by Supervisor Dianne Jacob speaking on community interests.  Complimentary docent Garden Tours will also be available at 4:30pm.  Reservations are required.  The dinner is $10 per GMIA member and non-members may attend for $20 per person.

June 12, 2013 (San Diego's East County) – Sunbelt Publications' authors of books on East County’s history and cultural heritage will join East County Magazine’s “Celebrate Our Roots” event on Wednesday,  June 19 at Heritage of the Americas Museum from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The authors will speak and autograph their books. Sunbelt has also donated books as prizes for this event, which celebrates our region’s  cultural and agricultural roots.  For tickets, call (619)698-7617 or email editor@eastcountymagazine.org.  The event benefits East County Magazine’s nonprofit media outlet and is cosponsored by Sullivan Solar.

June 11, 2013 (San Diego) – County of San Diego Parks and Recreation has activities at parks throughout East County.  Activities include everything from guided hikes to Snakes ‘N Skins for the younger set.  Following is a list of events at East County parks:

DOS PICOS REGIONAL PARK

17953 Dos Picos Park Rd, Ramona | (760) 789-2220

FREE SATURDAY PROGRAMS

Every Saturday

Free Saturday programs meet at the Amphitheater at the scheduled time. Programs may change or cancel without notice depending upon the weather and Ranger availability. The Ranger needs to have at least 10 people for each program to begin.