DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS SEPT. 28-OCT. 20

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East County News Service

September 16, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County features upcoming shows at the Magnolia Performing Arts Center, the Chaldean American Festival in El Cajon, a Chamber music series at Cuyamaca College, Fall at the Farm and berry picking in Julian, a Russian Ballet production of Swan Lake, and a Johnny Appleseed celebration in Santa Ysabel.

Plus, we have a preview of coming events including Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, Kids Care Fest in Lemon Grove, the annual Green Homes Tour, a Fair Trade Gift Fair in La Mesa, Cajon Classic Cruises, and the last summer concerts outdoors in El Cajon.

 

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

MAGNOLIA CENTER CONCERTS

 

The Magnolia Center, formerly known as the East County Performing Arts Center, has a full season of stellar entertainment lined up. Concerts coming up soon include internationally acclaimed guitarist Al Di Meola on September 24th, the Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly Rock ‘n’ Roll Dream tour featuring holographs of the late great stars on October 1st, and famed singer Patti LaBelle on October 3rd.

 

For tickets and the full lineup, visit www.MagnoliaSanDiego.com or the Magnolia on Facebook. 

 

RUSSIAN BALLET PRESENTS SWAN LAKE SEPT. 19-20

 

The Russian Ballet Theatre brings a new production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake to the Escondido Performing Arts Center on Thursday, September 19th at 7:30 p.m.

Swan Lake, which has mesmerized audiences for over a century, is based on a German fairy tale. Tchaikovsky’s score tells the tragic love story of Prince Siegfried and Swan Princess, Odette, who is cursed to be a swan by day but a young woman at night. The Russian Ballet Theatre’s new production includes time-honored Russian traditions along with new choreography, hand painted sets, and elaborate costumes.

 

Tickets for the performances are available at www.russianballettheatre.com.

CHALDEAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL SEPT. 28-29 IN EL CAJON

 

The Chaldean community invites you, your family and friends to the 8th annual Chaldean-American festival September 28-29 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hillsdale Middle School in El Cajon.

 

This event features a fun weekend of cultural foods, music, dancing, carnival games, rides, inflatables, craft and business booths, raffles and other entertainment.

 

CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE SEPT. 28-JUNE 4

 

The ECHO Chamber Music Series, now in its third year, is taking its 2019-2020 season at Cuyamaca College’s Performing Arts Theatre to new heights with 14 concerts featuring classical music performers such as Jason Vieaux, Bach Collegium, the Dalí Quartet and members of the San Diego Symphony and other internationally acclaimed musicians who have performed across the globe.

The season opens September 28th and runs through June 4th.  Find a full list of performers and ticket information at EchoChamberMusic.org

FALL AT THE FARM SEPT. 21-OCT. 31

 

Julian Farm and Orchard invites you to Fall at the Farm, each weekend from September 21st through October 31st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The fun includes hayrides, apple cider pressing, a pumpkin patch, farm animals, berry and apple picking. You can also see an apple pie making demonstration, or try your hand at archery, candle-dipping or axe-throwing. There’s also a seasonal farm store featuring country wares and more.

You can find more information at JulianMiningCompany.com and click on the U-pick link to find activities at Julian Farm and Orchard, under the same family ownership.  

BERRY PICKING AT JULIAN FARM AND ORCHARD

 

Julian Farm and Orchard has 24 acres with over 2,000 berry plants. On Saturdays and Sundays through September, you can pick blackberries and raspberries from 12 to 3 p.m.  

 

The farm is located on Highway 78 in Santa Ysabel near Julian.

JOHNNY APPLESEED CELEBRATION SEPT. 28-29

Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures in Santa Ysabel, just outside of Julian, will host an apple days event complete with cider pressing and a Johnny Appleseed celebration on Saturday, September 28th  and Sunday, Sept. 29th from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.  There are also regular weekend activities later on, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Reservations are required for this family-fun event, which will include cider pressing and three-man team of apple bobbing on a string, and a country hoedown with jug band participation.. Plus learn about John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed.

Regular weekend activities later in the day include a petting zoo, reptile show, archery, tomahawk throwing, a slingshot range and a ghost town to explore. 

There is a fee for the activities, and reservations are required for the Johnny Appleseed celebration. You can reserve space and get more information at fortcross.com.

EL CAJON OKTOBERFEST SEPT. 27-OCT. 6

The German-American Club of San Diego hosts its annual Oktoberfest at its headquarters in El Cajon on the last weekend of September and the first weekend of October. The hours are 4 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, 12 noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m on Sundays.

The celebration begins with an opening day parade and keg tap,  plus crowning of this year’s Oktoberfest Queen on Friday night, September 27th at 6:30 p.m. An authentic band is flown in from Germany for the event, which also features German foods such as bratwurst, ox on a spit, sauerkraut, Bavarian pastries and plenty of German beers.

Find full details at germanclubsandiego.org/

LA MESA OKTOBERFEST OCTOBER 4-5

 

You’re invited to don your Lederhosen for the 46th annual La Mesa Oktoberfest, which is gearing up for over 100,000 revelers celebrating German traditions October 4th through 6th.

La Mesa’s Oktoberfest features 3 bier halls including a new Palm Avenue location with flowing pints of craft beer and Oktoberfest games. You can bring your dancing shoes to step lively to traditional German music, non-traditional entertainment, and the chicken dance.

Guests can also savor authentic food, festivities and family-friendly activities such as a German Kinder Karneval complete with Ferris wheel, rock-climbing wall, inflatable slides, interactive art, brat-eating competitions, scavenger hunts and the ever-popular wiener-dachshund races. There will also be over 200 vendor booths with everything from handmade crafts to holiday-themed décor.

For more information, you can visit www.LaMesaOktoberfest.org

KIDS CARE FEST OCTOBER 5 IN LEMON GROVE

 

Grossmont Healthcare District invites you to Kids Care Fest on Saturday, October 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center  in Lemon Grove.  

 

The event includes healthy fun for the kid in all of us including fun and active games, plus dental and vision screenings, flu shots and more.  For details, visit www.KidsCareFest.org.

 

LA MESA FAIR TRADE’S GIFT FAIRE OCT. 13

Just in time for  holiday shopping, La Mesa Fair Trade will host a Gift Faire on Sunday, Oct. 13th from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall in La Mesa. 

The event features sales of hand-crafted fair trade gifts, home décor, clothing and jewelry through a variety of vendors. There will also be fair trade coffee, teas, ice cream and chocolate to savor.

The goal of fair trade is to assure fair wages to create brighter futures for families in developing countries.

For more information, you can call (619) 466-3241. 

DINNER AND A CONCERT SERIES IN EL CAJON 

 

El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert series is held each Friday evening at Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon from 6 to 8 p.m.   Shows will continue through September.  You can bring a picnic dinner, or dine early at one of the many restaurants nearby before rocking out  at the outdoor concerts.

 

Upcoming concerts include The Mighty Untouchables with contemporary and dance music on September 20th and Back to the Garden’s Beatles Show on September 27th for the season finale with a special 6:30 start time.

 

For full details, visit DowntownElCajon.com

 

GREEN HOMES TOUR OCT. 19-20

The San Diego Green Building Council a nonprofit organization promoting sustainable building and community practices in San Diego, will host its 10th annual Green Homes Tour on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20.

The tour has been expanded this year to two full days, showcasing a diverse collection of the most innovative eco-friendly homes in our region.  Saturday will include homes in central San Diego, East County and South County. Sunday will focus on homes in North County. 

Find more information at sdgreenhomestour.org/ 

EL CAJON CLASSIC CRUISES EACH WEDNESDAY 

 

El Cajon’s Classic Cruise Nights continue in the fall months each Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. along Main Street in the heart of downtown El Cajon. For a full schedule of events, you can visit

 downtownelcajon.com.

 

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 soon with more festivals, events and attractions in San Diego’s East County!


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