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East County News Service
May 31, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes Fly Day at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, the In-Ko-Pah outdoor overnight concert at Jacumba’s Desert View Tower, La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade, and Family Day at the Van Ommering Dairy in Lakeside.
Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Lavender Day at Summers Past Farms, the Julian Dance, Fido Fest in Santee, summer concerts in La Mesa and Santee, a Taste of La Mesa, night fishing at Santee Lakes, Julian Blues Festival, a Father’s Day brunch with Cowboy Jack, a Father’s Day adventure at Fort Cross, the Secret Life of Pets showing at Santee Lakes, Julian’s 4th of July Parade, plus Independence Day events with fireworks in Santee and El Cajon.
So scroll down for all of these events and many more!
THIS WEEK
FLY DAYS JUNE 2 AT GILLESPIE FIELD
Air Group One and Gillespie Field Café invite you to Fly Days at Gillespie Field on the first Friday each month. The next Fly Days event is on June 2nd from 4 to 8 p.m., when the Gillespie Field Cafe comes alive with live music, hot rod cars, antique airplanes and World War II aircraft. The Gillespie Café is located at 1921 North Marshall Avenue in El Cajon. For more information, you can visit www.GillespieCafe.com and Air Group One at https://ag1caf.org/fly-day/.
THE INKOPAH: CAMP-OUT CONCERT JUNE 3 AT DESERT VIEW TOWER
The In-Ko-Pah, an outdoor concert under the stars at the Desert View Tower in Jacumba. will be held on Saturday night, June 3rd. This is an overnight camping experience perched on a rocky hillside overlooking the Anza-Borrego Desert, offering music lovers and naturalists alike a unique evening of music and frolicking under the night sky.
Sixteen bands from California and Arizona are slated to perform in this special best of the Southwest event. Reservations are required. For tickets and details, you can visit http://inkopah.org/.
LA MESA FLAG DAY PARADE JUNE 3
La Mesa salutes Old Glory at the city’s annual Flag Day Parade on Saturday, June 3rd. The parade begins at 10 a.m. in La Mesa’s downtown village, led by the U.S. 3rd Marine Airforce Wing Band. You can also cheer on war heroes, equestrian groups, marching bands and more.
Guests are encouraged to wear red, white and blue and show patriotic spirit. Arrive early for pre-parade concerts starting at 9 a.m. by the La Mesa Arts Academy and Parkway Middle School band. After the parade, stop by Legacy Park for free ice cream on La Mesa Blvd. between 4th and Allison Avenue. For more information, visit www.cityoflamesa.com/specialevents.
FAMILY DAY AT THE DAIRY JUNE 3
June is National Dairy Month. To celebrate, Van Ommering Dairy and Oma’s Pumpkin Patch in Lakeside invites you to celebrate during Family Day at the Dairy on Saturday, June 3 with tours, ice cream and play activities from slides and swings to a petting zoo.
Gate opens at 9:30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. There are tours at several times throughout the day of the dairy farm on a tractor-drawn hay ride. Guests are welcome to pack a picnic and enjoy lunch at the farm.
(Tickets are available at the door or can be reserved ahead by emailing vanodairy@gmail.com. Van Ommering Dairy and Ona’s Pumpkin Patch are located at 14950 El Monte Road in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley.)
Learn more at http://omaspumpkinpatch.com/.
PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS
LAVENDAR DAY, ANTIQUE AND CRAFT FAIR JUNE 10 IN FLINN SPRINGS
Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs invites you to Lavender Day, which also includes an antique and craft fair on Saturday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can celebrate the fragrance and beauty of lavender, shop for lavender plants and lavender-scented gifts, and find over 40 craftsmen and expert artisans offering crafts, collectibles, antiques and a garden sale.
Jim Earp will provide live music which you can listen to on the lawn or at a coffee bar. Guests are encouraged to wear lavender! For details, you can visit www.SummersPastFarms.com.
JULIAN DANCE JUNE 10
Sons of the American Legion will present the 11th annual Julian Dance on June 10th from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The backcountry dance and barbecue features music by Three Chord Justice and the California Rangers, a large dance floor, plus dinner slow-cooked Santa Maria style over open oak-wood flames. Foods, wines and beers are available for purchase.
This event is described as a “throwback to a simpler time with twinkly lights and bonfires backdropped by dark mountain skies,” a time for mountain residents and visitors to get together for a great time.
To listen to the bands, or get tickets, you can visit http://juliandance.org/.
FIDO FEST JUNE 10 IN SANTEE
The City of Santee will be hosting Fido Fest on June 10th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., along with Camp Bowwow. Fido Fest will be held at Town Center Community Park East (550 Park Center Dr.).
You can adopt a dog from any of the dozens of rescue groups on hand, win giveaways, enjoy live entertainment, get discounts on vaccinations, microchipping and dog licenses, and bid on silent auction prizes to benefit Dogs on Deployment, which helps deployed military members find volunteers to board their pets.
(Details: http://www.ci.santee.ca.us/Index.aspx?page=8&recordid=3620 )
SUNDAYS AT SIX CONCERTS IN LA MESA START JUNE 11
La Mesa’s summertime Sundays at Six Concerts season begins June 11th and will be held each Sunday evening at 6 p.m. through July 23rd at Harry Griffen Park (9550 Milden St. Admission is free.)
Opening night will feature the San Diego Concert Band on June 11th. Other performers this season will include Ginger Cowgirl, Fanny and the Atta Boys, Dim the Lights, Fringe Benefitz, and Sonic Epidemic. Music styles over the season include show tunes, country, bluegrass, jazz, blues, disco, classic rock, and horn tunes of the ‘70s. For more information, visit www.lamesaparks.org.
TASTE OF LA MESA JUNE 12
The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to enjoy tastings from dozens of local restaurants, caterers, pubs and more at the ninth annual “Taste of La Mesa” being held on Monday, June12th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center.
Savor options such as gourmet sausages, Himalayan cuisine, farm-fresh foods, beer and other beverages.
For all the delicious details including a full list of participating restaurants, caterers, and beverage providers, you can visit www.LaMesaChamber.com.
NIGHT FISHING AT SANTEE LAKES JUNE 15
You’re invited to come drop a line during night fishing at Santee Lakes on Thursday, June 15th from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Bring a lantern! For details visit www.SanteeLakes.com.
SANTEE SUMMER CONCERTS: THE CATILLACS JUNE 15
Santee kicks off its summer concert series with the Catillacs on June 15th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Town Center Park East (550 Park Center Dr.). This event also features a classic car show, kids’ activities and picnic style seating, as well as food trucks.
(Details: http://www.ci.santee.ca.us/Index.aspx?page=8&recordid=3646)
FATHER’S DAY ADVENTURE JUNE 17 AT FORT CROSS IN JULIAN
Fort Cross in Julian invites you to bring dad for a Father’s Day Adventure on June 17th that includes rugged, manly fun things – like a tomahawk throwing competition, archery contest and paintball slingshot area.
The family can enjoy a petting zoo, sunset hayride, dinner and playing jug band instruments around a campfire. You can spend the day or even camp overnight. A community campfire will be provided for breakfast and dinner. Bring your own picnic foods, or you can purchase foods at restaurants within a block from Fort Cross.
Space is limited for this manly Father’s Day adventure. You can reserve tickets for dear old Dad and the whole family at www.FortCross.com.
JULIAN BLUES JUNE 17
The 19th annual Julian Blues festival is set for June 17th at Menghini Winery. This year’s lineup includes Philip Sayce, Dennis Jones, Earl Thomas, Ben Robinson and The McCoy Brothers, and on the Backporch stage, the Chris Fast Band.
The event is produced by Robb Bower. Tickets are available at www.Robb-Bowerpresents.com.
FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH WITH COWBOY JACK JUNE 18 AT PINE HILLS LODGE
Pine Hills Lodge will host a Father’s Day Brunch on Sunday, June 18th. Cowboy Jack will sing traditional country music from Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and more, also playing acoustic guitar and harmonica. Cowboy Jack Johnson is the lead singer from the Band in Black and the singing cowboy at Rawhide Ranch.
For reservations and details, visit www.PineHillsLodge.com.
SECRET LIFE OF PETS JUNE 23 AT SANTEE LAKES
Santee Lakes invites you to watch the Secret Life of Pets on an outdoor movie screen on Friday, June 23rd from 6 to 10 p.m. There’s more before the movie – Wild Wonders will do a presentation plus meet and greet with six animal ambassadors from all over the world including rainforest kinkajou, hairy armadillos, great horned owls, African hedgehogs, north American alligators, boa constrictors, and porcupines
There will also be crafts for kids and food trucks. Find directions to the lakes at www.SanteeLakes.com and check the Santee Lakes Facebook page for listings of additional movies and more all summer long.
JULIAN 4TH OF JULY PARADE
Julian proudly proclaims its annual 4th of July parade to be the best small-town parade in America.
The parade starts with the firing of a cannon and also includes earlier flyovers by vintage aircraft, a gunfight and bank robbery staged by the Julian Doves and Desperados from 10 a.m. to 12 noon., as well as unfurling of a giant flag.
The parade itself starts at noon and includes equestrians, marching bands, bagpipers, floats and more, plus there’s a barbecue and dance at the American Legion as well as drawings for vintage airplane rides, sky sailing and a hand-made quilt displayed at Julian’s town hall.
Main Street closes at 9 a.m. so arrive early to enjoy this patriotic event in historic Julian. For full details, visit http://JulianParade.com.
EL CAJON CELEBRATION AND FIREWORKS JULY 4
The city of El Cajon invites you to celebrate Independence Day with numerous games, live musical entertainment and fireworks at the City of El Cajon’s Fourth of July Celebration! On July 4th, the El Cajon Recreation Department will host the event at Kennedy Park (1675 East Madison Avenue in El Cajon).
From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. you can enjoy carnival games, an inflatable, a kiddie train and a skate park. Free crafts and family games will be available from 2 to 6 p.m., with music by two live bands from 3 to 9 p.m. A fireworks show with synchronized music at 9 p.m. will provide a finale to the celebration of our nation’s birthday.
SANTEE SALUTES JULY 4
The City of Santee invites you to celebrate Independence Day at Santee Salutes, held on July 4th from 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East (550 Park Center Drive, Santee).
Visitors can rock out with live music, see a patriotic ceremony, enjoy a kid's fun zone and a spectacular fireworks display at 9 p.m. For details, visit the city of Santee’s webpage and click the events calendar. (http://www.ci.santee.ca.us/index.aspx?recordid=3636&page=202.)
That’s all for this week!
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!
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