East County Magazine
MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN WITH SEAN GASKELL: MARCH 7 AT JULIAN LIBRARY
East County News Service March 2, 2025 (Julian) — Friends of the Julian Library will present a concert by Sean Gaskell on the kora, a 21-stringed West African harp. This performance, titled “Music on the Mountain,” will take place on March 7 at 3 p.m. in the Julian branch of the county library, 1850 Highway 78 in Julian. Gaskell studied
DAFFODIL DAYS IN JULIAN: WEEKENDS MARCH 7 – APRIL 13
East County News Service March 2, 2025 (Julian) – Julian Farm and Orchard invites you to Daffodil Days, held each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from March 7 through April 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to u-pick daffodils, visitors can also enjoy other activities for a fee including a petting zoo, rock climbing, swings, picnic areas, a
NATURE DAY ON MT. HELIX MARCH 15
East County News Service March 1, 2025 (Mt. Helix) — Mt. Helix Park invites you to Nature Day atop Mt. Helix on March 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event will feature live animals, a butterfly release, booths from over 30 nature organizations, activities, crafts and a native plant sale. Shuttles for the public are available (free) from
DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: MERRY MARCH EVENTS
By Miriam Raftery February 27, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – March brings some merry events including farm tours, a stargazing party, live music concerts, a Spring Fling business expo, Tomatomania at the Water Conservation Garden, Daffodil Days in Julian, St. Patrick’s Day festivities, Nature Day atop Mt. Helix, a Pirates of Penzance production at Grossmont College, a desert
DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS ATTENDED FIDO FEST 2025 IN SANTEE
Many people and their dogs came together at Town Center Community Park East for the ninth annual Fido Fest in Santee. By G.A. McNeeley Photos by Scott Lagace and G.A. McNeeley February 26, 2025 (Santee) – The city of Santee invited lots of people (and their dogs) for fun times at this year’s Fido Fest. People were also able to
TOMATOMANIA RETURNS MARCH 7 AND 8 AT THE GARDEN—NOW WITH TOMATO COOKING CLASS
By Miriam Raftery February 27, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) – Tomatomania returns to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8. The free, two-day event celebrates 75-80 incredible varieties of your favorite summer treat—tomatoes. You can purchase tomato plants including some rare varieties, cherished heirlooms and legendary classics—plus get tips from experts on how to grow the most flavorful tomatoes.
Our guide to East County restaurants: alphabetical listings
San Diego’s inland region (east of I-15) is home to hundreds of restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines. Below is an alphabetical listing from A to Z. Know of a restaurant we missed? Email editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Also see our guide to East County restaurants offering international cuisine and those specializing American foods, plus our guide to sweets and treats. Scroll
BRIAN JONES’ BILL TAKES AIM AT “SUPER SANCTUARY CITIES”
East County News Service February 21, 2025 (San Diego) – State Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) held a press conference today to announce introduction of his Senate Bill 554, the Safety Before Criminal Sanctuary Act. The bill would prevent local jurisdictions from restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement beyond what SB 54, existing state law, already allows. In addition, Jones’ bill
GROSSMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HOSTS “SPANISH NIGHTS” CONCERT MARCH 7 WITH NEW CONDUCTOR HERNAN CONSTANTINO
East County News Service February 21, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra welcomes its new conductor, San Diego Symphony Orchestra violinist, Hernan Constantino. He is also on his seventh season as the music director for Mainly Mozart with the San Diego Symphony. His first concert performance is titled “Spanish Nights: A Concert of Passion and Fire” on March 7 at 7:30
COUNTY SAFE PARKING IN EL CAJON IS CLOSED FOR UPGRADES; PEOPLE LIVING IN VEHICLES ARE REDIRECTED TO SPRING VALLEY SITE
By Miriam Raftery February 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The County-run safe parking site on Magnolia in unincorporated El Cajon, one of two East County sites set up to help homeless people living in their vehicles, is temporarily closed for renovations. The improvements will include picnic and meeting areas, a dog run, improved bath and shower areas, and
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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
Boulevard Bazaar coming to backcountry May 17
East County Magazine May 9, 2026 (Boulevard) — Don’t look now (or maybe definitely look) but the Mountain Empire is about to get a little more eccentric. Community members in Boulevard on Sunday, May 17 will host the inaugural “Bizarre Bazaar.” The plan, according to Boulevard community spokesperson Mara Harris, is to continue this event and have a quarterly “Art
Use your pedal power on “Bike Anywhere Day” on May 21: free T-shirts and chance to win an e-bike
East County News Service Image via SANDAG May 8, 2026 (San Diego) – Bike Anywhere Day (formerly Bike to Work Day) is a free, annual event that SANDAG has hosted in the San Diego region for more than 30 years. It is an opportunity for everyone to bike to work, school, the beach, or anywhere. Register to participate in the
Women’s Wine Alliance and Ramona Valley Vineyard Association present “San Diego Wine Country at the Bay”
East County News Service May 8, 2026 (Ramona) – The Women’s Wine Alliance, in partnership with the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association, invites wine enthusiasts and industry professionals to experience San Diego Wine Country at the Bay, an evening dedicated to showcasing the depth, diversity and rising prominence of San Diego’s wine scene. Printer-friendly version
Lemon Grove Forward Club earns 13 prestigious awards and community honors
East County News Service May 7, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The Lemon Grove Forward Club received 11 prestigious awards this past April from the GFWC Southern District, recognizing the club as a leading intermediate-sized organization for its outstanding servicepeop and impact. The Lemon Grove Forward Club achieved 16,829 volunteer service hours as a collective, to achieve these top honors. The
Lakeside Fire’s Pancake Breakfast is May 9
East County News Service May 7, 2026 (Lakeside) — Lakeside Fire Protection District is holding a Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. until noon, Saturday, May 9 at Lakeside Fire Station 2. Visitors will have the chance to see the station’s fire engines, meet fire personnel, learn CPR and get tours of the fire station. Cost is $5 per person and
Spring Valley filmmakers featured in GI Film Festival
Screenshot still from “The Craftsman” East County News Service May 6, 2026 (San Diego) — The GI Film Festival San Diego returns for its 11th year this week, moving into the Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA @ SDMA) from today, May 6 through May 8. Among the 15 films scheduled is a high-profile
La Mesa Chamber to host 17th annual ‘Taste of San Diego – East’
East County News Service May 6, 2026 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will hold its 17th annual “Taste of San Diego – East” on Monday, June 15. The food and business showcase will go from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Legacy Resort Hotel & Spa in Mission Valley. The event features food samplings from a
How social media shapes SDSU student identity
Story and photos by Kevin A. Green May 5, 2026 (San Diego) — Social media plays a vital role in shaping individual identity. On any given day at San Diego State University, students can be seen scrolling through their phones in class, posting updates and watching short videos. For many, platforms such as TikTok and Instagram do more than entertain
San Diego River Days 2026: Conservation, culture and community exploration
Photo courtesy San Diego River Park Foundation By Karen Pearlman May 3, 2026 (San Diego County) — The 23rd annual San Diego River Days is officially underway, offering more than three dozen events designed to connect San Diego County residents with the 52-mile waterway that serves as the region’s ecological backbone. Organized by the nonprofit San Diego River Park Foundation
Scripps Research offers lecture on new drugs to tackle diseases May 20
East County News Service Join the community in person on the Scripps Research campus https://frontrow.scripps.edu/lectures/michael-erb or attend virtually via Zoom webinar. May 1, 2026 (San Diego) — Some of the most devastating diseases are driven by proteins that cannot be targeted with conventional drugs. Scientists are now discovering ways to control disease by recruiting the cell’s own machinery to tackle
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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