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.
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
LEMON GROVE CONCERTS IN THE PARK
July 1, 2009 (Lemon Grove)–The City of Lemon Grove will present free concerts on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.at Berry Street Park, starting July 9th. Bring your own picnic basket or have a barbecue while listening to the music–and don’t forget your blankets and lawn chairs for your listening pleasure. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. No
A ROARING WILD TIME: SPEND THE NIGHT AT LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS JULY 10 & 24
June 27, 2009 (Alpine_ Looking for a wild time? East County’s only big cat sanctuary invites you to spend a wild night in the country with Raja and Bakari at Lions Tigers & Bears. Pitch a tent and set-up camp next to the big cats–or opt for more luxurious lodging–complete with wine and dinner. Accommodations for campers include a fabulous
WHAT’S HOT THIS WEEKEND? PLENTY!
June 26, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—If you’re looking for a hot time in East County this weekend, you’ll have plenty of events to choose from. Tonight, Santee Lakes has the first of its summer movie showings, starting with Madascar 2 – Escape to Africa. Or groove to the sounds of Theo and the Zydeco Patrol at El Cajon’s free
BON APPÉTIT! OVER 20 RESTAURANTS ADD FLAVOR TO 1ST TASTE OF LA MESA AND BUSINESS EXPO, LA MESA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES
BON APPÉTIT! OVER 20 RESTAURANTS ADD FLAVOR TO 1ST TASTE OF LA MESA AND BUSINESS EXPO, LA MESA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES June 22, 2009 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announced that more than 20 restaurants and food providers have signed up to participate in the first annual “Taste of La Mesa” slated for Monday, July
HOT STUFF: CHILI COOK-OFF JUNE 27 IN LA MESA
June 21, 2009 (La Mesa) The First Annual Keller Williams Realty La Mesa/East County Chili Cook-off will be held on Saturday, June 27 from 12-4 p.m. at the La Mesa Trolley Courtyard, corner of La Mesa Blvd. and Spring Street. The event will feature music by the Off Beats Band, a pepper-eating contest, fresh salsa competition, drink far, face painting/clowns,
WILL POWER: ULTERIOR MOTIVES
Nothing but the Truth! June 21, 2009–As California lurches towards insolvency, the supply-siders who wrecked the system now propose to turn over the state’s assets to private parties. The most valuable and scenic properties, the California State Parks, are now going to be rented out for private “management”. It’s the first step towards selling them outright to developers. Printer-friendly version
WILL POWER REPORT: RFID AND THE ELECTRONIC NAZIS
Nothing but the Truth! June 14, 2009 — The implantation of tiny RFID (radio frequency identification devices) devices on practically anything has been promoted as “anti-shoplifting” and “inventory control”. But did you all new cars will soon be equipped with an RFID device so accurate that the government will be able to track you car everywhere you drive and at
MINUTEMEN LEADER ARRESTED IN MURDER OF 9-YEAR-OLD VISITED EAST COUNTY MINUTEMEN TRAINING CAMP
By Miriam Raftery Exclusive: An East County Magazine special report June 14, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Shawna Forde, leader of Minutemen America Defense(MAD), has been arrested along with two men and charged with double homicide in a home invasion. The victims included a nine-year-old girl and her father. Forde has recently visited Camp Vigilance, a high-desert training
WRANGLING RATTLESNAKES: A TRUE TALE FROM EAST COUNTY
By Sandra Millers Younger Editor’s note: We’re so inspired by this reader’s “unrattled” attitude over a common backcountry fear that we’d like to make “Tales from East County Readers” a regular feature. Do you have a memorable East County experience to share? If so, please send your essay to editor@eastcountymagazine.org. June 17, 2009 (Lakeside)–It had to happen. Leaving
GROWING OLD “GRAY”CEFULLY: PHOTOGRAPHER LORI BROOKES TO PRESENT PHOTO SAFARI WORKSHOP JUNE 27 IN BOULEVARD
photographer Lori Brookes By: Dennis Moore June 15, 2009 (Boulevard)–Sacred Rocks Reserve in Boulevard, a 163-acre wilderness reserve with RV and tent camping sites, is offering lovers of nature and photography a one-day photo “safari” workshop with award winning photographer Lori Brookes. The event will be held from 9AM to 4PM on Saturday, June 27, 2009. Cost is $75 per
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