By: Jessyka Heredia

January 22, 2024 (Lemon Grove) — Lemon Grove Happenings in collaboration with Elevated Coffee, and the Musicians Club of San Diego are hosting ‘Groovin’ in the Grove’, a band open mic event at Elevated Coffee Sunday January 28, 2024, from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

East County News Service

January 21, 2024 (La Mesa)-- Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa will present playwright Arthur Miller’s classic, The Crucible January 12 through February 4. 

Written in 1953, it is a dramatized and fictionalized retelling of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692-93. Most of the characters are real historical figures.  Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism.  It is regarded as a central work in the canon of American drama.  It’s a story of one man’s struggle toward grace.  It depicts human struggles both internal and external:  a community galvanized by fear and suspicion, a wife betrayed by lust, an orphan girl blind with passion and obsessed with revenge, ruthless prosecutors, deluded holy men, and covetous neighbors. 

Lamplighter’s director has updated once again, this time to 2020, where it appears the country is again seemingly divided and moving in two extreme directions.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photos courtesy: City of Santee

January 20, 2024 (Santee) -- You're invited to Walker Preserve Saturday, January 27th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Santee Discovery Day, part of Santee Discovery Month, encouraging people to visit Santee's beautiful and plentiful family friendly trails (click for Citywide trail map). In addition to food available for purchase, there will be a rock wall, nature exploration booths, opportunity drawing and more, making this the signature event of January's public awareness campaign.

East County News Service

January 19, 2024 (La Mesa) -- Comedians Gene Levin and Carol Johnson produce 4th Friday Comedy every month at SpaceBar Cafe & Wine Bistro, 7454 University Avenue, La Mesa from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The monthly show is one of longest running free comedy shows in our region.

“Being America’s most expensive city is anti-Dr. King.”—Shane Harris

January 14, 2024  (San Diego) -- Civil rights leader Shane Harris and the People's Association of Justice Advocates  will serve hundreds of unsheltered individuals and low-income families with a free breakfast on Martin Luther King Day, January 15, from 9 a.m.to 11 a.m. at the Living Water Church, 1550 Market Street, San Diego.  Harris will give an MLK Day address announcing new policy efforts to combat poverty, calling new efforts to raise sales taxes in what has already been deemed America's most expensive city 'anti-MLK' as well as calling out San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria for failing to demonstrate dr. King's policies as San Diego further prices out the working class under his leadership 

By Jonathan Goetz

January 9, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce is hosting two events at Surje Coffee Co., which is located inside the East County Art Association Gallery in January at 124 E. Main Street, El Cajon CA 92020.

East County News Service

Photo:  CC by SA

January 8, 2024 (El Cajon) – Cuyamaca College in El Cajon’s Rancho San Diego community will host the ECHO Chamber Music series at the Samuel M. Cicatti Theatre.  The concerts will be held on select Thursdays at 7 p.m. from January 11 through May 30.

Below is the schedule of performances:

East  County News Service

January 4, 2023 (Anza Borrego) – The Anza Borrego Foundation will lead a hike on Coyote Mountain in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park on Sunday, January 14 from 7 a.m.to approximately 4 p.m. Hikers will cljmb Coyote Mountain on an eight-mile route with an elevation gain of about 2,500 feet.

East County News Service

January 4, 2024 (La Mesa) -- Families are invited to come sing, dance and learn with Kathryn the Grape for a Fun Friday morning January 12 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the Grossmont Center Courtyard in La Mesa. Enjoy positive, upbeat, award-winning children’s music at this interactive concert. Your little ones will love singing and grooving along at this live music experience.

By: Jessyka Heredia

December 15, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Toy Drive is on its fourth year of providing free toys to Lemon Grove kids. Kids Fashion Week Network’s (KFWN) annual Toy Drive and Giveaway has become a staple in the community of Lemon Grove. Last year over 700 toys were collected at local businesses throughout Lemon Grove and were later distributed to residents at a festive holiday giveaway. 

East County News Service

December 9, 2023 (La Mesa) - In partnership with the FBI San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, the FBI San Diego Citizens Academy Alumni Association and the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation’s Senior Center Coalition will host a series of one-hour elder fraud information sessions for seniors, caregivers and neighbors. 

East County News Service

November 27, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – December brings the magic of the holiday season,  with many delightful events and activities. This year’s options in East County include the North Pole Express train ride in Campo, outdoor ice skating rinks in Julian and Alpine, a pottery tour and a Crest Craft festival ideal for holiday gift shopping,  elaborate holiday lighting displays at Santee Lakes,  Enchanted Village in Spring Valley, and Camp Christmas in Pine Valley. There’s a performance of the Nutcracker Ballet in El Cajon, and a contemporary twist on the Nutcracker performed by Kidz Danz Kompany in La Mesa. Plus, you can enjoy tree lighting ceremonies in Lakeside and Ramona , caroling on Mt. Helix, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village, and Lemon Grove’s annual holiday bonfire.

Scroll down for details on these merry events, and have a joyous holiday season!

Know of a holiday event we've missed? Please post info in our comments section.

East County News Service

November 23, 2023 (Lakeside) -- Santa and his elves are hard at work, getting ready for Christmas and working together with the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce on their Spirit of Christmas event. The festivities will be held on Saturday, December 2 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. along Maine Ave. in the heart of historic Lakeside.