DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS DEC. 31, 2015-JAN. 20, 2016

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Listen to Destination East County, originally aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

By Miriam Raftery

December 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes New Year’s celebrations across our region, from swanky soirees to a masquarade party. Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions, including some activities to start off the New Year, from a guided mountain bike ride with a ranger at Mission Trails to the opening of trout season at Santee Lakes, as well as live music featuring some hot local talent.

So stay tuned (and scroll down) for all of these events and more.

THIS WEEK'S MAJOR EVENTS

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION AT SAN VICENTE RESORT IN RAMONA

The San Vicente Resort at San Diego Country Estates in Ramona is holding a New Year’s Eve celebration with buffet dinner including carving station and filet mignon, decadent desserts and more.  Entertainment includes a DJ and dance music in the San Vicente Room, plus live music with Classic Buzz at the Par Lounge and Deck, where you can countdown to midnight with a party hat, favors and a champagne toast. You can also opt to stay over  at the resort, where amenities include a golf course and wellness spa to start the New Year off tension-free. For reservations and rates, visit the San Diego Country Estates site at www.SDCEA.net.

GERMAN AMERICAN SOCIETIES HOSTS NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY DEC. 31 IN EL CAJON

The German American Societies of San Diego invite you to ring in the New Year during a gala at their headquarters in El Cajon (1017 S. Mollison Ave.) on Wednesday, December 31st.   Guests are encouraged to dress up up and enjoy dinner and dessert, music by the Blue Birds show band to put you in a dancing mood, party favors, a midnight snack and champagne.

Doors open at 6 p.m.  For tickets and more information visit www.GermanClubSanDiego.org,

MASQUERADE NEW YEAR’S PARTY AT JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS SPA & RESORT

The Jacumba Hot Springs Spa & Resort will host a masquerade New Year’s Eve party starting at 6 p.m. Festivities will include a New Year’s Eve happy hour, dinner, karaoke, and balloon drop.  Special packages are available for those who want to stay over at the hot springs resort in this high desert town noted for its healing waters.  For reservations visit www.JacumbaResort.com.  For details on the party, see their Facebook page.

VIEJAS NEW YEAR’S EVE FESTIVITIES

The Viejas Resort and Casino will host a New Year’s Eve celebration that includes live music, dancing, food and signature drinks, and a ball drop reminiscent of the famed Times Square event.  This year’s party includes live music in the park by Rising Star, as well as poolside VIP seating and new this year, opulent seating in the opulent new Oak Ballroom.  For ticket options and details, visit Viejas.com and click on the promotions button. All New Year’s Eve events at Viejas are limited to age 21 and up. Discounts on Uber rides are also available.

PINE HILLS LODGE PUB RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR

Nestled inside Cleveland National Forest in Julian, the historic Pine Hills Lodge pub (2960 La Posada Way) will ring in the New Year with an event starting at 9 p.m. on December 31st.  ($10 cover charge).  For reservations or details call 760-765-1100  (or visit http://www.julianca.com/calendar.html#event|pine-hills-lodge-pub-new-years-eve-event|12969)

LIVE BLUES & FOLK MUSIC AT SAN PASQUAL TASTING ROOM  JAN. 2

Jefferson Washington, a local blues and folk musician will perform at the San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room in La Mesa (8364 La Mesa Blvd.) on January 2nd from 7 to 10 p.m. His music showcases a blend of American roots style music with themes of love, loss, travel and mysticism with foot stompin’ and story-tellin’. There is no cover charge; wine , cheese and crackers are available for purchase. Learn more at www.SanPasqualWinery.com.

GUIDED MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE JAN. 2 AT MISSION TRAILS

Mission Trails Regional Park invites you to join a guided mountain bike nature ride on January 2nd from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Suitable for beginners and families, this will be the first in a series of progressive rides with a ranger. Meet at the East Fortuna staging area main dirt parking lot, at the west end of Mast Boulevard.  Volunteers with the San Diego Mountain Biking Association will be on hand to help you make adjustments to your bike. Each ride will increase in length and let you learn new skills while discovering the many trails in the park. Be sure to bring water, sunscreen and snacks.  For details, visit MTRP.org.

   

 NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

VISIONS ART SHOW JAN. 2-29  AT MISSION TRAILS; ARTISTS’ RECEPTION JAN. 8

The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation (MTRP) presents Visions,an exhibition featuring six award winning artists. Their colorful works celebrating nature will be on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Art Gallery from January 2 - 29.  The public is also cordially invited to a reception in honor of the artists on Sunday, January 10, 2016 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. For directions, visit www.MTRP.org.

SARA PETITE IN CONCERT JANUARY 5 AT THE RANCHO SAN DIEGO LIBRARY

Sara Petite’s singing has been likened to June Carter and Dolly Parton.  On January 5th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., she will perform a free concert at the Rancho San Diego Library(11555 Via Rancho San Diego) in El Cajon as part of the County Library system’s Acoustic Showcase series.  Petite’ music blends country, folk, bluegrass and mountain music with flashes of pop and rock.  She’s been called a “rockin’ honky tonkin’ delight” by one reviewer To learn more and hear samples, visit The San Diego County Library website at  http://sdcls.homestead.com/

BLUEGRASS OPEN MIC NIGHT AT FUDDRUCKERS JANUARY 12

The San Diego Bluegrass Society hosts a jam session and open mic night plus pick-up bands on the second Tuesday of each month at Fuddrucker’s, located at Grossmont Center in La Mesa. The next session will be Tuesday January 12th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, you can visit www.SanDiegoBluegrass.org.

TROUT SEASON REOPENING AT SANTEE LAKES JANUARY 16-17

Santee Lakes will hold the reopening of its trout fishing season on January 16 and 17.  The lakes have been stocked with 2,000 pounds of rainbow trout, including some weighing up to 12 pounds.  Prizes will be awarded for the five biggest trout caught—and for those who reel in a five-pounder or above, you will be entered in a drawing to win a cabin vacation grand prize. For more information visit www.SanteeLakes.com.

12 YEARS A SLAVE” FILM SHOWING IN LA MESA JANUARY 16

As part of a week of  Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration, the Table United Church of Christ of La Mesa (5940 Kelton Ave., La Mesa) will present a showing of the film “12 years a slave” on Sunday, January 16th  from 1:30 to 4 p.m. This free film showing is hosted by the San Diego Partnership of UCC Churches.  For more information you can visit www.TableUCC.com.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY BREAKFAST JANUARY 18

The Martin Luther King Jr. community breakfast will be held on January 18 at 7 a.m. at the Jacobs Center (404 Euclid Ave., San Diego) . The featured speaker will be Rev. Richard Lawrence, a long-time Civil Rights advocate who marched with Dr. King to desegregate Chicago and participated in the Selma walk.

This event is organized by the United African American Ministerial Action Council. For tickets ($50), visit  http://uaamac.org. For directions see  www.JacobsCenter.org  or call 619 264-1214.

ICE RINK AT VIEJAS NOW THROUGH JANUARY 20

Southern California’s largest outdoor ice rink remains open through January 20th at the Viejas Outlets Center in Alpine, which also has a water show.  For more information you can visit http://viejas.com/ice-rink.

 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 eastcountymagazine.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.

Audio: 

Destination 12-28-15

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