DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS MAY 6-26

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

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

By Miriam Raftery

May 4, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the opening of Dinner and a Concert season in El Cajon, the Campo Roundup, the Coyote Music Festival, a Taste of Julian, Rihanna in concert, and a Jacumba community yard sale complete with Chinese Castle tour and rides in a flying saucer!

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including the Ramona Rodeo and Parade, Wild in the Country at Lions, Tigers and Bears,  a Laurel and Hardy Wacky Western night in Spring Valley,  a one-man musical show at Mission Trails Regional Park, and El Cajon’s America on Main Street  celebration.

So stay tuned for all of these events and more!

THIS WEEK'S MAJOR EVENTS

DINNER AND A CONCERT IN EL CAJON MAY 6

“Dinner & a Concert” Opening Night at the Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon kicks off Friday, May 6th with Clay Colton playing country rock. You can enjoy music and dancing every Friday night from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. from May 6 through October 7, bring a picnic or have dinner at one of the many restaurants in downtown El Cajon. (The Promenade is located at 201 E. Main Street.) For a complete line-up of concerts, you can visit www.DowntownElCajon.com.

CAMPO ROUNDUP MAY 7

Relive the Wild West at the 10th annual Campo Roundup on Saturday, May 7th at the Camp Lockett Event and Equestrian Facility (799 Forrest Gate Road in Campo).  Gates open at 7 a.m. with opening ceremonies at 9:30 a.m.  Witness how cowboys ride, rope and brand cattle.  Activities also include a gymkhana competition, western skits and a gunfighting reenactment of the famed Campo shootout, mutton busting, kids' games, hayrides, a Miss Roundup competition and raffle. Period costumes are welcome!  (Admission is $5 for ages 6 and up, free for kids under 6.) For more information you can visit  CampoCLEEF.org/roundup.

COYOTE MUSIC FESTIVAL MAY 7 AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE

The Coyote Music Festival Returns to Cuyamaca College on Saturday, May 7th starting at 12 noon at Cuyamaca College (900 Rancho San Diego Parkway) on the Grand Lawn. , Now in its eighth year, the entirely student-run festival provides the community with an afternoon of live, outdoor music. The festival also culminates a semester worth of work for students studying music, technology, recording, and business. For details on this event (which is free to the public), visit www.cuyamaca.edu.

JACUMBA COMMUNITY YARD SALE MAY 7

Quirky and fun, Jacumba Hot Springs’ community-wide yard sale takes place on Saturday, May 7th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Old Highway 80 and Railroad Station.

Besides shopping for yard sale finds and perusing hand-made arts and crafts item, you can also take a ”ride” in a flying saucer for a unique photo opportunity or tour the Chinese Castle, where rumors swirl about its infamous past. Was the castle a gift from a sea captain to his bride? Did a murder once occur there?  Is there a smuggler’s tunnel to Mexico?  You can find out fact vs. fiction on the tour on May 7th.

RIHANNA IN CONCERT AT SDSU MAY 9

Rihanna is one of the best-selling artists of all time—and she’ll be performing live in concert at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on May 9th. Rihanna is the youngest solo artist to earn 14 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.  She’s won 8 Grammy Awards, 8 American Music Awards, 23 Billboard Music Awards and received the inaugural Icon Award at the American Music Awards in 2013.  For tickets and details you can visit the Viejas Arena website (https://as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena/).

TASTE OF JULIAN MAY 9

The 8th annual Taste of Julian, a rural dining adventure, will be held on May 9th from 1 to 5 p.m.  This self-guided culinary tour includes one-of-a-kind restaurants, wineries, and breweries. For more information visit www.JulianCa.com (For a list of participating restaurants and tickets, visit the event website at http://julianca.com/to-see-do/special-events/taste-of-julian/).

 

PREVIEW  OF COMING ATTRACTIONS

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS CONTINUES THROUGH M AY14

Young Actors Theatre in Spring Valley continues its presentation of “Once Upon a Mattress”  that runs now through May 14.  This musical production is based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale, “The Princess and the Pea.”  For tickets and details, visit www.yatsandiego.org.

REVITALIZATION PARTY FOR ALPINE COMMUNITY CENTER MAY 13

You’re invited to a party to benefit the Alpine Community Center on Friday, May 13 from 6 to 10 p.m.  This event includes a rib eye steak dinner, art show, live jazz, blues and swing music by Chet and the Committee, hosted by the Alpine Community Center and cosponsored by the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce.  For tickets ($50 for dinner, includes 2 drink tickets) you can RSVP to 619-445-7330.

WILD IN THE COUNTRY MAY 14

Lions, Tigers and Bears invites you to “Wild in the Country,” a benefit event to support the exotic animal rescue facility in Alpine. The event will take place on May 14th from 3 to 7 p.m. and will feature a catered dinner, cocktails, an optional “Feed a Wild One” experience, visits with big cats and bears, plus a silent auction with prizes including an African Safari. For more information or tickets, you can visit www.LionsTigersandBears.org.

LAUREL AND HARDY WACKY WESTERN NIGHT MAY 14 IN SPRING VALLEY

The San Diego Laurel and Hardy Group, Saps at Sea Tent, will present Laurel and Hardy – Wacky Western Night on Saturday, May 14th at Trinity Church in Spring Valley (Williams Hall, 3902 Kenwood Drive. There is a $6 donation per person.) Doors open at 6:30 with show time at 7 p.m.  The program includes such cinematic gems as "A Car Punching Cartoon," "West of Hot Dog," "The Last Chance Saloon," "Horse Collars" and "Way Out West."  You can also savor barbecue beans and cornbread during intermission.

For more information you can visit www.SapsAtSea.com .

RAMONA RODEO, PARADE AND WESTERN DANCING MAY 19-22

The Ramona Rodeo takes play May 19-22, along with other activities including a parade down Main Street on the 21st and dancing to the country band Patrick Howard Trampus on the 20th and 21st after the rodeo.  There’s also a free slack rodeo performance on the 19th, as well as a kids day on the 22nd featuring the youngest cowboys and cowgirls riding sheep in the mutton bustin’ competition.

 Adult rodeo events include bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, a tie-down competition, steer wrestling and more. Winners may advance to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association national rodeo championship.

For tickets and details, you can visit www.RamonaRodeo.net.

AMERICA ON MAIN STREET MAY 21 IN EL CAJON

The city of El Cajon invites you to bring the family to its fun patriotic (and free) event, America on Main Street. This year’s event has the theme “The Beach Comes East” and will be held on Saturday, May 21st from 12 noon to 8 p.m. coinciding with the national Armed Forces Day.

The festivities include three stages with live entertainment, a Ferris wheel, food booths, a chili cook-off featuring police vs. firefighters, arts and crafts, and a petting zoo.  For details you can visit www.AmericaOnMainStreet.org.

GREGORY PAGE ONE MAN SHOW MAY 29 AT MISSION TRAILS

The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation welcomes acclaimed musician Gregory Page performing his One Man Show  on Sunday, May 29, 2016: 3 to 4 p.m. at Mission Trails Regional Park’s Visitor Center (1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego).

You’re invited to “rewind” to a bygone era with an afternoon of endearing, enduring, enchanting and entertaining music by the one and only Mr. Gregory Page.  Gregory Page is a London-born "croonadour" –that’s crooner+troubadour--and recording artist. The Gregory Page Songbook has been featured in film, on television, the BBC and NPR’s Prairie Home Companion. He is an international touring artist, and has performed his One Man Show in Europe to both critical and popular acclaim.  For more information 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 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 East County 5-6-16

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