DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

February 16, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes celebrations of Black History Month, rock and roll concerts, a star party, a sweetheart dance and more. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including St. Patrick’s Day events and Vallecito Day celebrating our frontier heritage and cattle drives along the Overland trail. Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FILM SHOWINGS FEB. 19

As part of Grossmont College's commemoration of Black History Month, the documentary film, "American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs," will be shown on February 19^th at 12:30 p.m. at Griffin Gate, Building 60. The film introduces viewers to Boggs' lifetime of vital thinking and action, traversing the major U.S. social movements of the last century -- from labor to civil rights, to Black Power, feminism, the environment justice movements and beyond.  Admission is free and open to the public. 

LAMPLIGHTERS PRESENTS “MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON’S

Lamplighters’ Theatre in La Mesa presents “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s” each Friday, Saturday and Sunday in February, with a final performance on March 1^st.  This suspense comedy features love, betrayal, and mayhem in a plot about ill-fated love triangle and three botched murder plots. For tickets and details, visit www.lamplighterslamesa.com.

STAR PARTY AT OAKOASIS FEB. 21

For an up-close view of stars and planets through high-powered telescopes, you’re invited to join a Star Party at th Oakoasis County preserve in Lakeside  on Saturday, February 21^st from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Also learn the science and legends of the night sky, as well as enjoying a campfire, s’mores, and music. Oakoasis is located at 12620 Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside. The evening can be chilly, so bring a blanket and bundle up! 

AIR SUPPLY LIVE AT SYCUAN FEB. 20-21

For the past 40 years, Air Supply has been performing in concerts around the world, including their most famed hit, All Out of Love.  They’ve performed in Vegas and at Australia’s Centennial for Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Now, on February  20^th and 21^st at 8 p.m., Air Supply will take stage at Sycuan’s Live & Up Close Theatre. You can find details or reserve tickets at www.Sycuan.com.

WESTERN SWEETHEART DANCE FEB. 21

A Western Sweetheart Dance featuring country artist Patrick Trampus will be held at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds on February 21^st from 5 to 10 p.m. with entertainment starting at 6 p.m. A coronation for Miss Rodeo Lakeside will also be held. 

For tickets  (Adults $10 or two for $15, kids 3-11 $5) visit www.LakesideRodeo.com.

STRING BASS AND ENSEMBLE CONCERT FEB. 22

The Bert Turetzky String Bass and Ensemble will perform Sunday, February 22^nd at 3 p.m. at Mission Trails Regional Park.  This free concert is sponsored by the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation. For more information, you can visit www.MTRP.org.

That’s all for this week! You can find details on all of these events and more on our Calendar and in our Festivals and Events section online at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org.

FILM “CREATING COMMUNITY: HIDDEN COLORS” FEB. 25 AT SDSU

The documentary film “Creating Community” Hidden Colors” will be shown at San Diego State’s LoveLibrary (room 430/431) on Wednesday, February 25^th from 5 to 7 p.m.  The film relates the untold history of people of color around the bloge and discusses why the contributions of African and aboriginal people have often been left out of the pages of history.

BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND FEB. 25 AT SDSU

Rock ‘n’ roll singer Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band will perform in concert at San Diego State University’s open air theater on Wednesday, February 25^th at 7:30 p.m. Best known for the hit song “Night Moves,” Seger has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. For details visit www.sdsu.edu

AUTHOR HAMSE WARFA AT SDSU FEB. 26

Author Hamse Warfa will be at San Diego State University on Thursday, February 26^th from7 to 9 p.m.to share his book, “America Here I Come: A Somali Refugee’s Quest for Hope.” The story narrates his escape from a civil war that claimed the lives of over 2 million people in Somalia, to becoming a respected author here in the United States.  The program will be held in the Arts and Letters Room, Room 101.

GROSSMONT COLLEGE CHORUS FEB. 26

In honor of Black History Month, the Grossmont College chorus will perform a choral reading of Margaret Walker’s poem, “For My People,” on Thursday, February 26^th at 7 p.m.  The program will be held in Building 26, Room 220. The event is free and open to the public.

Now for a preview of coming attractions….

ST. PATRICK’S WEEKEND RACES, BEER& WINE FESTIVAL MARCH 15

St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities in East County are slated for Sunday, March 15^th in downtown El Cajon at Main Street and Magnolia.   Choose from a half marathon, a 5K run or a green mile competition to compete for a large cash prize pot, medals, and  free drinks after the races at the St. Patrick’s Beer & Wine Festival.  There’s also a Leprechaun challenge for racers dressed like leprechauns vying to win a costume contest.

For full details, visit

http://www.stpatricksdayhalf.com/

VALLECITO DAY MARCH 28 CELEBRATES FRONTIER DAYS AND CATTLE DRIVES

Take a trip back in time to life on the 1860s frontier during Vallecito Day on Saturday, March 28^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Vallecito County Park.  This year’s event focuses on cattle drives and cattle ranching along the Southern Overland Trail, with cattle ranching demonstrations as well as the arrival of trial riders on horseback.

You can also visit with pioneer men and women in period attire, visit a mountain man camp and hear historic talks, as well as experiencing frontier equipment, crafts and firearms.  Visitors are encouraged to dress in frontier attire. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch, since there is no food at the site. Vallecito County Park is located in the Anza Borrego Desert on County Route S-2( at Mile Marker 34-35.  For more information, visit http://www.sdparks.org

If you have an event you’d like added to our calendar, or if you would like to sponsor the Destination East County column on our website, or the  Destination East County show on KNSJ radio, you can contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org .  Destination East County is the most-read feature on our website!

We’ll be back next week with more festivals, events and attractions in San Diego’s East County!