East County Magazine
Prost! Oktoberfest events across East County
East County News Service October 2, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Ready to savor German beers and foods, kick up your heels to traditional German music as well as contemporary bands, enjoy games, carnival rides and vie for prizes? All of these opportunities and more can be found at Oktoberfest celebrations across East County include large festivals in La
Got extra fruit in La Mesa? Donate it!
East County News Service October 3, 2025 (La Mesa) — The City of La Mesa is partnering with ProduceGood to pick La Mesa residents’ trees, donate the fruit to a local food pantry, and send a receipt for the donation. No property is too small – even one tree makes a big difference. Don’t have trees but still want to
Wild Night Out: Camp alongside rescued big cats at Lions Tigers & Bears’ spooky campover
East County News Service Oct. 3, 2025 (Alpine) — For a unique, once-a-year experience, Lions Tigers & Bears sanctuary in San Diego County is inviting the public to its annual Spooky Campover event on Friday, Oct. 24. The overnight campout offers the rare chance to sleep under the stars — surrounded by the sounds of rescued big cats and
Photo of the week: Egret at Lake Morena amid dead plants and green water
East County News Service October 3, 2025 (Lake Morena) — Karen Pearlman snapped this photo of snowy white egret searching for fish at Lake Morena, casting a reflection in the deep green waters. The visit raises a curious question: Why are all the plants in the water at Lake Morena dead? It isn’t drought, since plants further up the shoreline
The Garden Goes Batty Oct. 18
East County News Service October 3, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) — Miss Smarty-Plants will bring a “batty” show to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Visitors can also enjoy trick-or-treat stations, the youth rock band Epidural, and partner booths. Cost is $15 for members, $18 for nonmembers, or $20
Borrego Days Desert Festival October 18-19
East County News Service October 3, 2025 (Borrego Springs, CA) — Borrego Springs hosts its annual Borrego Days Desert Festival on October 18 and 19. Saturday features a morning flyover and parade, as well as the “Shine and Show” vehicle show. There’s also a beer garden, kids’ zone, food stations, and booths featuring everything from art to information. Plus you can
Pack the Pantry virtual food drive launches to help local college students facing food insecurity
Source: Cal Coast Credit Union October 2, 2025 (San Diego) – Imagine being a college student, striving for a better future, yet unsure where your next meal will come from. Research shows this is the heartbreaking reality for nearly half of our local college students who face food insecurity every day. Without reliable access to food, many are forced to
Labor Council hosts protest today over ICE raids, shutdown impacts and “escalating attacks on the working class”
East County News Service October 2, 2025 (San Diego) – With the Trump administration shutting down the federal government and thus critical services for the working class, the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO will host its weekly “ICE Out of San Diego” rally—this time, bringing together workers, immigrants, and allies to condemn the Trump administration’s escalating attacks
Harvest Fest returns to Julian Farm and Orchard: celebrate fall in the mountains each weekend in October
East County News Service Photo courtesy of Julian Farm and Orchard October 1, 2025 (Julian) – The crisp air of fall and the golden glow of pumpkins signal the return of Harvest Fest at Julian Farm and Orchard, open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through October 26, 2025. Families, friends, and
Dream weaver: Beryl Warnes at Julian Weaving Works keeps traditions alive
By Heidi Hope October 1, 2025 (Julian) – For anyone interested in exploring the historic aspect of weaving on a loom, or buying hand-woven products, you won’t want to miss Julian Weaving Works in Santa Ysabel. Julian Weaving Works is a weaving academy and store created and run by Beryl Warnes. She has been in this weaving business for 30
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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.
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THE WILL POWER REPORT – PRISONERS OF DEBT
Nothing but the Truth! By Will Power October 14, 2008 (San Diego) – When John McCain accidentally referred to “My Fellow Americans” as “My Fellow Prisoners” this week, he was right on one account. We are all prisoners of the National Debt – currently $10 trillion and rising rapidly. Every time a US citizen fills up a gas tank, shops
SAN DIEGO SOLAR HOMES TOUR: SATURDAY OCT. 18
The San Diego Solar Homes Tour is quite possibly the longest running and most popular tour in California. Celebrating the ninth year of the free tour, over 40 homes throughout San Diego County are participating—including many in East County and San Diego’s Eastern region. This self-guided tour, sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy, offers real-life, working examples of
ARTISTS’ RECEPTION Oct. 19 for 6th EL CAJON INVITATIONAL ART EXHIBIT
By Jolene Crowley Sisters III by Sammy Pasto (El Cajon) – The public is invited to a free artists’ reception hosted by the St. Clair Gallery in East County Business Center on Sunday, Oct. 19 from 3-6 p.m. Nearly 200 pieces of art in all fine art categories will be displayed, including photography by 22 San Diego artists, about 70
EAST COUNTY OKTOBERFESTS: WUNDERBAR!
October 1, 2008 (East County) – Time to get into the zeitgeist (spirit of the time) and take to the streets for some old-fashioned celebrating at East County’s multiple Oktoberfests! Began in Bavaria to celebrate the marriage of royalty, Oktoberfests have since gained popularity worldwide. Below are details on our region’s oldest and biggest Oktoberfests, where you can savor German
GREEN HOUSES
ASID Kitchen and Bath Tour Oct. 25 Features “Green” Kitchen on Mt. Helix By Miriam Raftery Recycled glass adds sparkle to natural slate backsplash October 11, 2008 (Mt. Helix) – A Mount Helix kitchen/great room featuring natural materials, solar screens and and energy-efficient features is among 11 kitchens featured on the 2008 Fall Kitchen Tour on October 25th. Sponsored by
THIS WEEK’S HOT EVENTS: OCT. 15-22, 2008 — PRO-AM GOLF, CRUISIN’ OLD HWY 80, GREEN JOBS FAIR, SYMPHONY CONCERT, SIDEWALK ARTS, CAMPO HARVEST FESTIVAL AND PARADE!
Tee off for a good cause at a Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Sycuan Resort’s Willow Glen Course this Friday. Proceeds benefit Home of the Guiding Hands, which provides shelter and services for mentally disabled people. HGH has a huge funding gap due to the California budget crisis. Speaking of driving, take a blast to the past by joining a cruise
FUNDRAISER TO HELP HOME OF THE GUIDING HANDS OCT. 12: CARE FACILITY FOR DISABLED FORCED TO BORROW $1.25 MILLION DOLLARS DUE TO STATE BUDGET GAP
By Miriam Raftery October 6, 2008 (El Cajon) – A wine-tasting event to benefit Home of the Guiding Hands (HGH) will be held Sunday, October 12th at Mangia Bene Restaurant in El Cajon. HGH provides residential, healthcare and training services for over 160 children and adults with developmental disabilities at 27 facilities in San Diego County. But now the program
NUTS ABOUT PUMPKINS? BATES NUT FARM HAS GIANT GOURDS, FESTIVITIES & FAMILY FARM FUN
By Miriam Raftery Leon Thompson “This one, this one!” Brendan Robeson of Santee pounces gleefully on a giant pumpkin far too large for his Mom to hoist. David and Mandy Pumphrey of Murietta used a wheelbarrow to haul their 120-pound pumpkin to the weigh-in station at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center, where activities between now and October 31 include
FALL IN LOVE WITH EAST COUNTY
By Miriam Raftery, Editor Hey, beach dwellers – tired of those misty mornings? As the fog rolls in and the first chill of fall is in the air, head east and discover the beauty of our back country. Here are a few of my favorite pics, snapped last autumn in East County. You don’t have to visit New England to
Weekly Events – October 6-14 THIS WEEKEND: ARRIBA! LA TOMATINA TOMATO FEST
Plus Candidate Forums, Oktoberfest Parade, Hello Dolly and more By Miriam Raftery Borrowing a tradition from Spain (with a few Southern California twists), Tierra Miguel Farm in Pauma Valley is hosting La Tomatina – a tomato fest complete with authentic Spanish cuisine (bring your own paella), wine and beer tasting, live music and a tomato fling! Call ahead to join
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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