DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS & EVENTS

East County News Service

June 14, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Father’s Day adventures, the Julian Blues Festival, a Passport Through Time ride along Historic Highway 67, an outdoor movie at Santee Lakes, and historic train rides at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo.

Plus, preview coming attractions including Broadway Tenors at Sycuan, Fourth of July parades in Alpine and Julian, fireworks in Santee, El Cajon and Alpine, more parades and festivals during Descanso Days and Pine Valley Days, astronomy on Mount Helix, plus music superstars Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie set to rock the stage at San Diego State.

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

THIS WEEK

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 17^th 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 FortCross.com.

JULIAN BLUES JUNE 17

The 19^th annual Julian Blues festival is set for June 17^th 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 .Robb-Bowerpresents.com.  

PASSPORT THROUGH TIME JUNE 17

You’re invited to join in a fun drive to discover the unveiling of Historic Highway 67 in San Diego’s East County on June 17^th from 8:30 to 1 p.m.  Travel through the wild and scenic countryside, stopping at pit stops in El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside and Ramona to get your passport stamped and win drawing tickets for prizes.

This event is presented by the Historic Highway 80 Corporation along with the Santee, Lakeside, Ramona, and San Diego East County Chambers of Commerce.

You can bring your car, motorcycle or classic vehicle to enjoy the ride and meet new people, plus enjoy a continental breakfast and lunch.

 For information and reservations, you can visit EastCountyChamber.org.

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 18^th.  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 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 23^rd 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 SanteeLakes.com and check the Santee Lakes Facebook page for listings of additional movies and more all summer long.

RIDE THE RAILS IN CAMPO

You can ride the rails aboard a historic train at the Campo Railway Depot each Saturday from Father’s Day through mid-October. The Golden State train departs at 11 a.m. each Saturday, or you can ride the Valley Flyer Caboose, departing every half hour between 1 and 3 p.m. 

Visitors of all ages can also enjoy the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum.  For more information visit their website at PSRM.org.

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS

BROADWAY TENORS AT SYCUAN JUNE 25

The Broadway Tenors will perform at Sycuan’s Live and Up Close Theatre on June 25^th at 7 p.m. Three of Broadway’s leading men will transport you from the Golden Age of musical theatre and back again in an evening of Broadway’s most beloved hits, including favorites from South Pacific, West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Jersey Boys and more.

For tickets and details, you can visit www.Sycuan.com.

RANCHO SAN DIEGO LIBRARY INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION JULY 1ST

On Saturday July 1^st, the Rancho San Diego Library will host an early independence weekend celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

This family-friendly celebration will include classic elements of idyllic American picnics such as music, games, refreshments and crafts, plus story time with Miss Rancho San Diego as well as performances by Sparkles the Clown and the folk band Trails and Rides.

There will also be booths, crafts and kids’ games as well as a half-price book sale by Friends of the Rancho San Diego Library, plus a kick-off to the library’s summer reading challenge.

VIEJAS FREEDOM FESTIVAL JULY 2

If you want to start celebrating Independence Day weekend early, Viejas Casino and Resort invites you to a Freedom Festival on July 2nd from 7 to 9 p.m. You’re invited to celebrate the American spirit with live music and cuisine from around the country at the hotel pool, followed by a fireworks show over the park at Viejas.

For details, you can visit Viejas.com.

JULIAN 4^TH OF JULY PARADE

Julian proudly proclaims its annual 4^th 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 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 4^th, 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.

ALPINE 4TH OF JULY PARADE AND CARNIVAL

Alpine will celebrate Independence Day with a Fourth of July Parade starting at 10 a.m. along Alpine Boulevard between West Victoria Boulevard and Tavern Road, bringing back a tradition that’s been dormant for years. Everyone is invited to participate or come watch.

The parade’s grand marshals will be Bill Ridenour and Fred Higginbotham, both local World War II veterans now in their 90s who have been instrumental in adding many names of local veterans to Alpine’s Wall of honor.

The parade route ends at the Alpine Community Center, where a carnival will include a petting zoo, bounce house, dunk tank, games and children’s activities.  There will also be a Wild West show, live band, barbecue and beer garden. For details, visit AlpineKiwanis.org.

SANTEE SALUTES JULY 4

The City of Santee invites you to celebrate Independence Day at Santee Salutes, held on July 4^th 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.

DESCANSO DAYS PARADE AND FAIR JULY 8

“Red, white and moo!” will be the theme of this year’s Descanso Days Parade and Fair on July 8^th.   Parade entries will be judged on best of theme, most creative, and judge’s choice.

The parade starts on Viejas Grade and ends at the elementary school. The festival will be held at the Descanso Town Hall (24536 Viejas Grade Road in Descanso.) Be sure to arrive early since roads close for the parade starting at 9 a.m. 

For more information, visit  DescansoTownHall.org.

ASTRONOMY ON MT. HELIX JULY 15

Mt. Helix Park is partnering with the San Diego Astronomy Association to host “Astronomy Night” atop Mt. Helix on Saturday, July 15th from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Bring your own telescope or witness the cosmos through one provided by members of the SDAA, who will be on site to help you interpret the night sky.

Feel free to bring a picnic dinner (no glass bottles please) and enjoy a spectacular sunset prior to star gazing.

LIONEL RICHIE AND MARIAH CAREY AT SDSU JULY 27

Music superstars Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey will rock the night at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on July 27^th at 7 p.m. as part of their “All the Hits” tour.

Ritchie has won an Oscar, four Grammy Awards and 16 American Music Association Awards, among many other honors. He defied his parents and joined a band to escape Alabama and became one of Motown’s biggest success stories.

Mariah Carey is the best-selling female artist of all time, with more than 200 million albums sold to date and eighteen Billboard #1 singles, the most of any solo artist in history. With her distinct five-octave vocal range, songwriting and producing talent, Carey has won five Grammy Awards, nine American Music Awards, Billboard’s “Artist of the Decade” Award, and the World Music Award for “World’s Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium.”

Tickets are available at the Viejas Arena website (https://as.sdsu.edu/viejas_arena/event/72).

PINE VALLEY DAYS JULY 28-29

Pine Valley Days takes place July 28^th and 29^th. This annual tradition begins on Friday July 28^th with a deep pit barbecue and live music by Barbwire. Then on Saturday July 29^th, the Pine Valley Days parade rolls through the town, followed by a day of fun festivities in the Pine Valley Park including kids’ activities, arts and crafts, vendors, live music, food and a horseshoe tournament.

For details, check the Pine Valley Days 2017 page on Facebook. (https://www.facebook.com/events/1896274133973684/)

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!