East County Magazine
Lemon Grove Pride Drag Brunch coming on June 6
East County News Service May 24, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — J Lau Farrow-Halston of Escondido Drag is hosting the Lemon Grove Pride Drag Brunch next month. The 2 1/2-hour show will include performances by Amore Envy, Gabby Link Aux and Drag Latina’s Rosalinda and will be held starting at noon on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 11 a.m. at
Destination East County: Joyful June events
By Miriam Raftery May 21, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – June is jumping with joyful events including Santee Summer Knights—a Medieval festival, star parties on Mount Laguna, Wild in the Country at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, open farm tours at Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, a ballet production of Snow White at Kroc Theatre, Cajon Cruise nights,
Al Awael Brings Authentic Iraqi Cuisine to El Cajon
Review by Philicia Tonangoye May 16, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) –On the corner of Avocado and Chase Ave in El Cajon, Al Awael is a new family-owned Mediterranean restaurant that offers a wide range of flavorful and affordable Middle Eastern food options for individual diners or family occasions. Al Awael, meaning “the first,” holds special significance for the owner.
Photos of the Week: Two winning shots from Lake Jennings Photo Contest
East County News Service May 17, 2026 (East County) — The Helix Water District has announced the winners of the Lake Jennings 2026 Photo Contest: Sunrise to Sunset! and East County Magazine is featuring two for our “Photos of the Week.” At left and top, first-place youth category winner Hannah Hedrick’s “A Dusky Walk,” and below right, second place youth
Mount Laguna Observatory summer visitors program starts May 23
East County News Service May 17, 2026 (Mount Laguna) — Star parties are back at Mount Laguna with the return of the Summer Visitors Program at the Mount Laguna Observatory. The public programs will be held on Saturday nights from 8 to 11 p.m., May 23 through August 15, with a special bonus mid-week viewing scheduled for Wednesday, August 12.
Frontier Airlines’ ‘GoWild’ Pass: the deal that sounds too good to be true — because it is
A San Diego traveler’s firsthand account of an all-you-can-fly promotion that delivered nothing at all By Henri Migala May 16, 2026 (San Diego) – Imagine paying a flat annual fee and then flying anywhere an airline flies — as many times as you want — for nothing more than government taxes and fees. That’s the promise behind Frontier Airlines’ GoWild
‘Snow White’ coming to Joan B. Kroc Theatre on May 30 and 31
Photo by Trystan Loucado East County News Service May 12, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diego’s BalletCenter Studios is set to to debut its latest production, “Snow White,” at the end of the month for three performances at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre inside The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Rolando. Scheduled for Saturday, May
Santee to transform into medieval kingdom for ‘Summer Knights’ Community Festival
Photo courtesy Santee Kiwanis East County News Service May 11, 2026 (Santee) — A coalition of East County community service organizations led by Santee Kiwanis will debut Santee Summer Knights, a new regional medieval festival, next month. The three-day event from June 5-7 will be held on the grounds of the Historic Barn, 9200 Magnolia Ave., in Santee. A public-private
Lions Tigers & Bears ‘Wild in the Country’ event is May 30
East County News Service May 9, 2026 (Alpine) — Lions Tigers & Bears, Southern California’s premier accredited big cat and bear sanctuary, is holding its signature fundraising gala, Wild in the Country later this month. The event is set to take place from 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 30 at 24402 Martin Way, the organization’s 142-acre ranch in Alpine.
SD & Imperial Small Business Development Center Network hosting expo June 11
East County News Service May 9, 2026 (La Mesa) –The San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center Network will host the Small Business Expo La Mesa on Thursday, June 11 at the La Mesa Community Center. The half-day event is designed to support local entrepreneurs, is scheduled to run from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at 4975 Memorial Drive.
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues
JULIAN APPLE DAYS FESTIVAL CAPS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OCT. 3-4; ADDITIONAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC TOWN’S SAVORY PAST
September 14, 2009 (Julian) –Wyatt Earp, the frontier lawman best known for his role in the O.K. corral shootout, judged apple products at San Diego's first County District Fair back in 1889–where Julian's produce won 88 first and second place awards. In 1909, the town hosted its first Apple Days celebration–and ever since, the historic gold rush town had staked its claim on
BIGGEST OKTOBERFEST WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI: LA MESA OCT. 2-4
September 14, 2009 (La Mesa) — You’re invited to join a few friends–200,000 or so–in the biggest Oktoberfest celebration in the Western United States. Festivities extend through six blocks in the La Mesa Village area of downtown La Mesa, featuring three beer gardens and more than 300 vendors. Savor German foods, contests, and entertainment ranging from a bBavarian Beer Garden Band, San Diego Concert Band to the Gemutlichkeit Dancers.
VALLEY MUSIC SEEKS MUSICIANS FOR OPEN MIKE NIGHT
September 13, 2009 (El Cajon) If you’re a musician seeking an audience, Valley Music wants you. The El Cajon music store hopes to begin hosting an East County Open Microphone series beginning Saturday, September 26th. “We are interested in starting up an East County Open Microphone series and are looking for people who would like to participate,” Andrea Long
ZINN, THEOBOLD EXHIBITIONS AT HYDE ART GALLERY, GROSSMONT THROUGH SEPT. 17
September 12, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Hyde Art Gallery presents paintings by Gillian Theobald and Ollie Zinn through September 17. Both artists probing dialogues. Zinn speaks through a language of figurative story-lines whereas Theobald explores a more atmospheric and abstract imagery. The selection of work displays two very different approaches to very contemplative subject matter. Both artists craft
COMPETITORS STILL SOUGHT FOR S.D. SENIOR OLYMPIC BALLROOM COMPETITION SEPT. 13 IN EL CAJON: “WHERE YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO BE A CHAMPION”
September 11, 2009 (El Cajon/Rancho San Diego)—If you’re over 50, now you can put on your dancing shoes–and be a good sport! Going for the gold, competitors in the San Diego Senior Olympics this year will waltz into Cottonwood Golf Club in Rancho San Diego on September 13th to dance the night away in the Senior Olympic Game Competition.
EL CAJON FIRE 9/11 SEARCH & RESCUE DOG DIES
September 9, 2009 (El Cajon)–One of El Cajon’s original disaster search dogs “Sherman”, has died due to health issues related to his age. Sherman became a part of the El Cajon Fire Department in 1997 through a partnership with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. Sherman was partnered with his handler, El Cajon Fire Captain Steve Swaney. After becoming
WOW! 2 NATIVE AMERICAN POW-WOWS TO DRAW THOUSANDS TO EAST COUNTY
By Miriam Raftery September 3, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Thousands of tribal members from across the United States as well as many local participants and spectators are expected to flock to the Barona and Syucan reservations in East County during the first two weekends in September. Native American dancers, drummers and bird singers compete for prize money
RAMONA AIRPORT OPEN HOUSE & FLY-INS
September 11, 2009 (Ramona)–Tne Ramona Airport hosts its annual open house on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event features tours of the airport, Cal-Fire Air Attack Base, and control tower. Also on display are the Sheriff’s Copter 10 and Mercy Air helicopters, along with other aircraft including World War II-era Classic Warbirds. Aerial
WILL POWER REPORT: ANOTHER EXPENSIVE FIRE?
Nothing but the Truth! September 4, 2009– Big surprise! Another fire in LA County will cost millions to extinguish. Firefighters come from Shasta County to get in on the juicy overtime. Private contractors lease out bulldozers and aircraft at ridiculous rates to save the homes of the foolish rich who build in canyons and on ridge-tops. The nature of
IT’S OFFICIAL: MOTHER GOOSE PARADE IS SAVED!
September 6, 2009 (El Cajon) – Organizers of the Mother Goose Parade have voted to save East County’s most cherished holiday tradition, after an outpouring of community do nations raised enough to cover a significant portion of the costs, East County Magazine has learned. “The parade will be scaled down to reduce costs,” Monica Zech, spokesperson for the City of El
Search by Specific Date
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues