DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS NOV. 16-DEC. 22

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East County News Service

November 12, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The holiday season in East County has many fun and festive events coming up, including Santee’s holiday tree lighting, the Mother Goose Parade, Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy, a Julian Country Christmas, El Cajon’s Holiday Lights on Main Street, North Pole Limited train rides in Campo, the Spirit of Christmas in Lakeside, Ramona’s tree lighting with sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating at Viejas, the Alpine Parade of Lights and Snow Festival, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village and more.

Plus, there are some non-holiday happenings this season including concerts by such stellar performers as LeAnn Rimes, Tony Orlando and the Kingston Trio, a radio production of It’s a Wonderful Life, and a swingin’ holiday party with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

So scroll down for all of these events and more!

SANTEE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING NOV. 16

The city of Santee will host its holiday lighting celebration on November 16th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Santee Trolley Square (9884 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee).

The event begins with live music by the Straight Six Band at 5:30 and a tree lighting ceremony at 6:15 p.m.  Other activities include snow sledding, carriage rides, carolers, free holiday crafts, face painting, food and beverage sampling, costumed characters, and for a fee, photos with Santa.

Parking is limited and using the trolley green line is recommended.

MOTHER GOOSE PARADE NOV. 18

The 72nd annual Mother Goose Parade will roll through the streets of downtown El Cajon on Sunday, November 18th beginning at 1 p.m.

Hundreds of entries come from across the county to share in the excitement. The line-up includes spectacular floats, marching bands and drill units, eloquent equestrians, animated clowns, special characters, performing artists, Hollywood celebrities, giant helium balloons, specialty vehicles, and Santa Claus. Each entry is selected to bring enjoyment to children and adults alike.

The parade starts at Main Street and El Cajon Boulevard, proceeding 1.25 miles to its conclusion at First and Main Street.  Afterwards, celebrity child stars may be found signing autographs at the Downtown Café and Urbn Pizza.

For more information, you can visit www.mothergooseparade.org/.

KINGSTON TRIO NOV. 18 IN POWAY

he Kingston Trio helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s through the 1960s. Today the legacy continues, guided by the devotion and personal history of a trio closely affiliated with the original group.

This performance carries on the best traditions of the Kingston Trio, carefully led by Tim Gorelangton, Nick Reynold’s nephew Mike Marvin, and longtime collaborator Bob Haworth. O November 18 they will bring sounds of a beloved era in American folk music to the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

For tickets and information, visit www.PowayOnStage.org

POMEGRANATE DAYS AT OASIS CAMEL DAIRY NOV. 23-25

The Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona invites you to celebrate Pomegranate Days on November 23rd through 25th. Guests will enjoy circus performers, a turkey stampede, sheep town, camel rides and feeding pomegranates to camels.

For full details, visit www.CamelDairy.com.

JULIAN COUNTRY CHRISTMAS NOV. 24

Julian’s Country Christmas complete with the lighting of a giant outdoor tree at the Julian Pioneer Museum (2811 Washington St.) takes place on Saturday, November 24th from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Presented by the Julian Merchants Association, the event also features visit with Santa and opportunities to shop at stores in this picturesque historic mountain town. For more information, visit www.VisitJulian.com.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON MAIN STREET NOV. 24

El Cajon will offer plenty of family fun on Saturday, November 24, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. with Holiday Lights on Main at the Prescott Promenade.

You can enjoy Santa’s Village with ice skating, carnival rides, visits with Santa, shopping, holiday music, and more. There will also be a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Magnolia Avenue.

Visit downtownelcajon.org for more information.

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY WILD AND SWINGIN’ HOLIDAY PARTY NOV. 30

You’re invited to swing into your holiday season at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, November 30th at 8 p.m. with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party.  So, break out the zoot suits and swing dance dresses to take a step back in time to the ‘40s and ‘50s.

The high-energy group has appeared in concert venues across the world, sold millions of records, and had their music appear in hundreds of movies and television shows, revitalizing jazz and swing music to bring joy to audiences around the world.

For tickets and more information, visit www.PowayOnStage.com.

NORTH POLE LIMITED TRAIN RIDES NOV. 30-DEC. 22

The famous North Pole Limited returns to celebrate the holiday season at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo. Aboard the historic 1920s train, Santa’s elves will sing Christmas carols, read a popular holiday story, passing out cookies and hot chocolate to all—then stop at Santa’s workshop to pick up Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Advance tickets are recommended as this popular attraction often sells out.  Arrive at the Campo depot at least 45 minutes early – and be sure to stop by the Hobo Camp next to the depot to hear tales from railroading’s pass before boarding.

The North Pole Limited train will run Fridays and Saturdays from November 30th through December 22nd.

For tickets options and information, visit the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum website at psrm.org

RAMONA CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING DECEMBER 1ST

The Ramona Chamber of Commerce invites you to Ramona’s 26th annual Christmas tree lighting and celebrations from 5 to 8 p.m. 

Main Street will come alive with over a thousand Ramona residents out to celebrate the Christmas Season on Saturday, when shops will stay open late, Main Street (between 6th and 8th Streets) will be closed to thru traffic to allow for sleigh rides, a classic car show and of course Santa and the Lighting of the annual Christmas tree in front of the Guy B. Woodward Museum at 6 p.m. There will be a DJ, local entertainment, carolers and crafters.

For more information, visit the Ramona Chamber of commerce website at https://ramonachamber.com/ and click on the events tab at the top.

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IN LAKESIDE DEC. 1

The Lakeside Chamber of Commerce hosts Spirit of Christmas along the town’s Maine Avenue on December 1st from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be entertainment, food, games, crafts, Santa Claus and lighting of a community tree to celebrate the season. For more information, visit the Lakeside Chamber website at https://lakesidechamber.org/spirit-of-christmas.   

VIEJAS ICE RINK NOW OPEN

The largest outdoor ice skating rink in Southern California is open now through January 6th at the Viejas Outlets Center in Alpine. Rental skates are available.  In addition to ice skating, visitors can enjoy holiday entertainment and a seasonal water show.  

For more information, visit Viejas.com.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY NOV. 30-DEC. 15

Pickwick Players in Santee will present It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play opening November 30th and running through December 15th.

The production recounts the classic story of George Bailey’s Christmas Eve, when the depressed man is visited by a guardian angel who shows him the lives he has touched and then shows him how different his community of Bedford Falls would have been without him.

On opening night, a champagne reception will also be held.  For tickets, visit www.PickwickPlayers.net.

TONY ORLANDO AT SYCUAN NOV. 30

Singer Tony Orlando will perform at Sycuan’s Live and Up Close Theatre on November 30th at 8 p.m.

The Grammy nominee celebrates five decades of endearing entertaining including five hit records: “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree,” “Knock Three Times,” “Candida,” “My Sweet Gypsy Rose” and “He Don’t Love You Like I Love You.”

Tie A Yellow Ribbon” was the number one Billboard Song of 1973 and became Orlando’s theme song. For tickets, you can visit www.Sycuan.com.

ALPINE PARADE OF LIGHTS AND SNOW FESTIVAL DEC. 7

The 23rd annual Alpine Village Parade of Lights and Snow Festival offers Santa, snow sledding and fun for the whole family on December 7th. The parade begins at Alpine Blvd. and West Victoria Drive at 6 p.m. and ends at the Alpine Creek Town Center, 1347 Tavern Road in Alpine.

Organized by the Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, the parade features floats and other entries all aglow with holiday lights.  The snow festival features real snow with a sledding hill as well as vendor booths, children’s activities and more. 

For more information, or to sign up to enter December 7th the parade by Dec. 5, visit www.alpinechamber.com

HOLIDAYS IN THE VILLAGE DEC. 7-8

The La Mesa Village Association will present Holiday in the Village December 7th and 8th.  You’re invited to stroll through the streets of La Mesa’s historic downtown to enjoy live music and dance, cozy fires, craft vendors, food, and a kids' area with holiday movies and activities.

There will also be fire pits, caroling and more in the spirit of the season.

Find more information at www.LaMesaVillageAssociation.org.

LEANN RIMES IN CONCERT AT VIEJAS DEC. 14

The youngest singer to win a Grammy and also be nominated by the Academy of Country Music, LeAnn Rimes will be live onstage at Oak Ballroom stage at Viejas Casino & Resort on Friday, December 14 at 8 p.m. With a string of hits throughout her career, she is still best known for her signature song “Blue”.

For tickets and details, visit Viejas.com and click on the entertainment option.

That’s all for this week! You can find details on all of these events and more in the calendar and events section at our website, www.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!


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