Source: Helix Water District 

October 21, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- This Saturday, October 26, Helix Water District is hosting Helix Water Talks, a behind-the-scenes look at how their field operations crews maintain the vast water distribution system that delivers water from their treatment plant in Lakeside to 276,000 people in El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Spring Valley. 

East County News Service

October 21, 2019 (Lakeside) – You’re invited to the first-ever Trail of Terror at Lakeside’s River Park.  This haunted trail will feature an Old West ghost town –where the inhabitants think it’s still 1850. The prospectors want their gold back, the townspeople want their town back—and they all want you OUT!

East County News Service

October 17, 2019 (San Diego) – The ALS Association Greater San Diego Chapter will present the 2019 Walk to Defeat ALS, a fundraising walk on Sunday, Oct. 20 at De Anza Cove, 3000 North Mission Bay Dr., San Diego. The three-mile walk along San Diego’s Mission Bay is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. followed by opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m.

East County News Service

October 12, 2019 (El Cajon) – The Welcome Newcomer Network will host its third Multicultural Festival on November 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at EJE Academies, 851 Johnson Ave. in El Cajon.

The event will include multicultural food, cultural dance, a show of traditional costumes, story-telling, games and raffle drawings. Organizers say that they anticipate close to 1,500 attendees this year. 

Barons Market to serve up bites paired with Modern Times brews for the final Backroom Beer Pairing of the year.  In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all proceeds to benefit Michelle’s Place and Susan G. Komen® San Diego

East County News Service

October 10, 2019 (Alpine) -- Barons Market and Modern Times will turn up the heat in the kitchen and crack open their best brews for Southern Californians to enjoy at all eight market locations, including Alpine in East County This will mark the last Backroom Beer Pairing of the year and, as always, guests will support their community as they socialize at Barons’ patios and stockrooms. Barons Market will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from tickets sold for its eight store locations directly to breast cancer awareness organizations Michelle’s Place and Susan G. Komen® San Diego.

Source: Grossmont Center

October 12, 2019 (La Mesa)-- Give an animal the treat of a forever home this Halloween! Grossmont Center and the San Diego Animal Support Foundationinvite you to the annual Howl-O-Ween Hounds MEGA Adoption Event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, at Grossmont Center (5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa).

During the free Howl-O-Ween Hounds event, dozens of rescue groups and shelters bring hundreds of dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, birds, turtles, and tortoises to the Center—and all of them are ready to be adopted into a loving home! You can find many different kinds of dog breeds at this mega adoption event, everything from the tiniest Chihuahuas to the grandest Great Pyrenees, as well as unique and adorable All-American “mutts.” This family-friendly event is the perfect way for every member of your household to choose a new pet together.

Kitchens for Good is making celebrity chefs rethink kitchen waste

Source: Kitchens for Good

October 8, 2019 (San Diego) -- Kitchens for Good will host WASTED: A Celebration of Sustainable Food on Oct. 20 sponsored by Sysco. This tastemaker event will feature 35 local and national celebrity chefs and mixologists who will be competing to prepare winning dishes and cocktails using food that would otherwise be discarded. The goal of the event is to bring awareness to sustainability for chefs and consumers, creating a call to action about the way people consider food waste. All proceeds will support Kitchens for Good, a non-profit organization that tackles issues of food waste, poverty and hunger.

Play continues through Oct. 12 at Grossmont College’s Stagehouse Theatre 

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2019 (Alpine) – You’re invited to pack your camping gear for a wild and ghoulish overnight adventure at Lions, Tigers and Bears animal sanctuary in Alpine on Friday night, October 25th and Saturday morning, October 26th.

By Miriam Raftery

October 3, 2019 (Lakeside) – Spooky stories and s’mores, campsite trick-or-treating, creepy crafts and a campsite decorating contest are all part of Spooky Camp-o-Ween at Lake Jennings the last two weekends in October.

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County features Oktoberfests in El Cajon and La Mesa, fall festivals in Jacumba and Jamul, Kids Care Fest in Lemon Grove, the Ramona Air Fair, Fall at the Farm and Julian’s Autumn Jubilee.

Plus, we have a preview of coming events including Ms. Smarty Plants Goes Batty at the Water Conservation Garden, La Mesa’s Fair Trade gift faire, a spooky campover at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, vocalist Lillian Palmer at Mission Trails Church, headliner shows at The Magnolia Center in El Cajon, a chamber music series at Cuyamaca College, the Borrego Days desert festival and parade, Pints 4 the Park in Borrego Springs, a Spooky Camp-O-Ween at Lake Jennings, a Green Homes tour, Haunt Fest on Main in El Cajon,  Halloween costume contests for people and dogs at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center, and Trunk or Treat in downtown El Cajon.

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

Earlybird ticket rates extended to Oct. 2 for our Oct. 5 fiesta

East County Magazine and our East County Dining Club invite you to party hearty at our 

FALL FIESTA!

When: Saturday, October 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where:  D&S Farms, home of Granite Lion Cellars Winery

                                                                     (in their shaded oak grove at 2801 Jamul Highlands, Jamul)

• Catered dinner from La Loteria de Jamul (choice of entrees: chicken poblano or fish in jalapeño/pineapple sauce, plus apple salad, ceviche, chips and salsa, potatoes, roasted vegetables, avocado aioli, and churro)
• Music by Sergio D. Tala (Spanish, Caribbean, rhumba and flamenco. Ole!)
• Wine tasting, wine by the glass available
• Prizes galore, festive fun and more! Prizes include:  $300 gift basket from E-Med spa (facial and skincare products), $200 gift basket from Ava Hair Salon, gift certificates from La Loteria del Jamul,  Round Table Pizza, Home Depot and others, original wine-themed art by Annette Cirillo, purse with fringe and rhinestones, wine lovers' gifts, jewelry and more.

Cost: $33 with RSVP by Oct. 2,  $38 after Oct. 2 (if not sold out); designated driver/no alcohol $28

Tickets:  Click arrow below for menu of ticket options to pay via credit card or Paypal: