DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS SEPT. 3-OCT. 2

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By Miriam Raftery

August 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a living history pageant on Mt. Laguna, the Barona Powwow, a grape stomp festival in Julian, Stockzilla at Santee Lakes and more.

 Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including musical festivals in Santee and Julian, the Sycuan Powwow, a chili cook-off in Alpine, Julian’s Apple Days, and La Mesa’s expanded Oktoberfest.

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

LORE OF THE LAGUNAS LIVING HISTORY PAGEANT SEPT. 3-4

The Lore of the Lagunas Living History Pageant returns on September 3rd and 4th as the Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association presents its 29th annual event after a two-year hiatus. The past comes alive in this re-enactment of life in the Laguna Mountains, starting in the early 1900s and going back in time. There will be hourly presentations from 9:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. (Admission is free!)

You can visit with Native Americans, rugged cowboys and mountain men. Meet the first Laguna Forest Ranger, and relive the summer encampment of a 1908 pioneer family from Imperial Valley. How did they survive back then without any modern devices or conveniences and most of all, cell phones or social media? It was a slower pace, but their lives were eventful and full of adventure.

The Lore of the Lagunas Living History Pageant will be held at the Red-Tailed Roost Volunteer Headquarters near Mount Laguna in Cleveland National Forest, on Sunrise Highway, between mile markers 22 and 23.  For more information and directions, you can visit the Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association website at www.LMVA.net.



BARONA POW-WOW SEPT. 2-4

The 46th annual Barona Powwow will take place September 2nd -4th at the Barona sports park, located on the Barona reservation in Lakeside. Powwows aim to preserve Native American cultural traditions for future generations.  Barona’s powwow attracts tribal dancers and drummers from across the nation, as they compete for prizes. (Admission for spectators is free). You can also shop for Native American arts and craft items at vendor booths, and purchase food such as Indian fry bread.  For more information, visit http://baronatribe.org/powwow.  

GREGORY PAGE AT SYCUAN RESORT SEPT. 2

On Friday, September 2, The Gregory Page Show comes to the Sycuan Golf Resort: Red Tail Grill Veranda in El Cajon from 6 to 9 p.m. This world-acclaimed singer-songwriter, recording artist, international touring artist, crooner and troubadour will share his original Songbook as well as re-imagined gems from American Roots Jazz.  For more information, you can visit www.SycuanResort.com

JULIAN GRAPE STOMP FESTA SEPT. 3

You’re invited to kick off your shoes and come enjoy a day of fun with The 20th Annual Grape Stomp Festa at Menghini Winery in Julian.  This fall favorite takes place on September 3rd from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be tons of grapes to stomp, plus wine tasting from several local wineries, food available for purchase, vendor booths, Italian music and bocce ball contests.

For tickets and details you can visit www.JulianCa.com (or http://live-timely-xbzlqggz.time.ly/event/grape-stomp-festa/?instance_id=12957)

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

ALPINE KIWANIS CHILI COOK-OFF AND CAR SHOW SEPT. 10

Alpine Kiwanis will host a Chili Cook-Off and Car Show on Saturday, September 10th, from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center Park.  You can taste and vote for your favorite Chili and check out the car show next door at Alpine Elementary School, Face Painting, Raffles, vendor booths and live music are all part of the fun! Tickets are available at the event or you can get early tickets at the Alpine Community Center or Alpine Postal Annex.  For more information, visit www.alpinekiwanis.com/events

SANTEE MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPT. 10

Santee’s annual Bluegrass Festival will be held Saturday, September 10 from5 :30 to 9:30 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East.  This year’s musical lineup features two talented bluegrass bands, the Homesick Hitcher and MohaviSoul. Admission entitles ticket holders to sample several varieties of wine, beer from numerous craft breweries, and food prepared by local restaurants.

Proceeds from the one-night festival are used to fund recreation scholarship programs for seniors and low-and moderate-income families, and provide annual operating funds for the Santee Teen Center.

For tickets and details, visit www.SanteeBlueGrassFestival.com .

SYCUAN POW-WOW SEPT. 16-18

The Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay nation will host its annual pow-wow on September 16-18 at the Sycuan reservation (5459 Sycuan Road) in El Cajon. The three-day tribal gathering will feature traditional Native American dances, hand drum contests, bird singing and dancing competitions for cash prizes, peon games, authentic Indian cuisine and a flag ceremony.

JULIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPT. 17

Here’s something to howl about!  The Julian Music Festival on September 17th will benefit the California Wolf Center, which is working to preserve a rare and endangered wolf species.  The music festival will be held on September 17th from 1 to 7 p.m. at Menghini Winery in Julian.  The 47th annual music festival will feature a diverse lineup of entertainment.  For tickets and details you can go to https://julianmusicfestival.com/.

JULIAN APPLE DAYS SEPT. 24-25

The annual Julian Apple Days Festival offers weekend full of fun for the whole family on September 24th and 25th.  It’s part of the longer Apple Days celebration.  The two-day festival will be held at Menghini Winery featuring apple displays, music and dancing, an antique tractor display, children’s games and activities, gold panning demonstrations, a beer and wine garden, food and merchandise vendors, contests, and, of course, apple pie.

For more information, visit www.JulianCa.com (or http://visitjulian.com/to-see-do/special-events/apple-days/)

LA MESA OKTOBERFEST SEPT. 30-OCT.2

You're invited to the largest Oktoberfest celebration west of the Mississippi:  La Mesa Oktoberfest from September 30th to October 2nd.  This community event is spread out over nearly six blocks in La Mesa Village and features hundreds of exhibitors, family friendly activities, German food, music, dancing, outfits, games and of course, beer.

(Hours:  Friday, September 30:  4 p.m.- 10 p.m.; Saturday, October 1:  10 a.m. 10 p.m.; Sunday, October 2:  10 a.m. 6 p.m.  Admission is free.)

For more information, visit http://www.thelamesaoktoberfest.com/.

STOCKZILLA AT SANTEE LAKES OCT. 1-2

Santee Lakes invites you to “Stockzilla” on October 1st and 2nd, when all seven lakes will be stocked with 3,500 pounds of catfish.  There will also be tagged fish and surprise prize giveaways.  The most stocking will be in lakes 6 and 7, which are reserved for campers.  For more information or to reserve a campsite, you can visit www.SanteeLakes.com.

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.


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