DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS & EVENTS NOV. 27--DEC. 8

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By Miriam Raftery

November 26, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes some wild Thanksgiving happenings—form a swinging holiday party at Sycuan to a Thanksgiving feast for the beasts at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine. Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions, including several  holiday home tours, community holiday festivals, Santa at Santee Lakes, and a Feliz Navidad celebration with mariachis and more at Jacumba Hot Springs!

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more, from East County Magazine.

WADDLE AND TROT 5 K NOV. 27

Get ready for the 3rd annual Waddle and Trot 5 K run held on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 at 8:00 a.m. Pathways Community Church will host the Waddle and Trot, which benefits the Santee Santas and the Santee Food Bank. What better way to work off some calories before savoring your Thanksgiving feast? To register for the 5K or Fun Run, visit www.pathways.cc/waddleandtrot.

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY’S WILD & SWINGING HOLIDAY PARTY NOV. 28

The swing revival band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will hold a wild and swinging holiday party on Friday, November 28th at Sycuan’s Live and Up Close Theater in Dehesa starting at 8 p.m. For tickets and details, visit www.Sycuan.com.

JULIAN COUNTRY CHRISTMAS & TREE LIGHTING NOV. 29

The historic gold rush town of Julian hosts its annual Country Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, November 29th from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  The festivities include music, crafts booths and performances throughout the day followed by the tree lighting at dark, after which children can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  After the tree lighting, you can also stroll down Main Street to the Julian Cider Mill for a living nativity – a long-time Julian.

THANKSGIVING FEAST AT LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS NOV. 29

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 29th, is a special

day at the Lions Tigers and Bears ranch in Alpine. It is the day the animals celebrate with their version of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. 

You’re invited to join in a special feeding visit at 10:30 a.m. to watch big cats and bears enjoy their feast. Turkey and fish donations are greatly appreciated. You can also donate a turkey for the cats or fish for the bears in advance. For reservations or to donate food for the feast, call 619-659-8078  or visit www.lionstigersandbears.org.

Now for a preview of coming attractions…

LIGHT UP THE GROVE BONFIRE DEC. 5

Lemon Grove hosts is annual “Light up the Grove” bonfire on December 5th in Civic Center Park from 5 to 9 p.m.  You can also visit the Lemon Grove Historical Society’s Christmas open house at the Parsonage and Lee House, where you can meet Santa and peruse the Elves’ gift shop.  The night also includes horse-drawn wagon rides, games, face painting and crafts to provide spirited good cheer for people of all ages.

ALPINE CHRISTMAS PARADE OF LIGHTS & SNOW FESTIVAL DEC. 5

The 19th annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights & Snow Festival will be held on December 5th from 6:30 to 10 p.m.  The parade rolls out at 6:30 p.m. from West Victoria and ends at the Alpine Creek Town Center at 1347 Tavern Road in Alpine, where a snow festival complete with real snow starts at 7 p.m. Festivities include a visit from Santa Claus, carnival rides, food, and vendors.

MARIACHIS AND MORE: JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS CENTENNIAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION DEC. 6

Jacumba Hot Springs closes out its centennial year on Saturday, December 6th with a Feliz Navidad celebration. The event takes place at the Highland Center, 44681 Old Highway 80 from 2-5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Feliz Navidad showcases the festive mariachi music of the world-renowned Mariachi Garibaldi performing ensemble from Southwestern College, the first college in the world to offer a degree in mariachi music.

Visitors and town residents will join a luminaire procession to the Community Park for the lighting of the Christmas tree and to sing carols. Jacumba- grown tumbleweed trees, snowmen and other ‘snow creations’ will be on display throughout the community. Jacumba was once known for tumbleweed snowmen and the tradition is being revived. Festivities also include a piñata for the children, craft vendors, baked goods for sale, and raffle items including bountiful gift baskets, bicycles and a Christmas quilt. Complimentary refreshments will be served. For more information visit  www.jacumbahotspringscentennial.org.

LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL DEC. 6

You’re invited to an afternoon of yuletide fun watching animals open their Christmas presents at Lions, Tigers and Bears. The animal rescue facility hosts is annual Christmas Festival Fundraiser on Saturday, December 6th from 1-4 p.m.  You can also do holiday shopping at more than 40 vendor booths, enjoy food from Descanso Junction and visit Santa Claus. In addition, a new bear habitat will be unveiled during the December 6th event featuring rescued bears Albert, Cherry Bomb, Teddy and Baloo.

To buy tickets, or to donate a Christmas tree to give to the animals for play on this special day, visit www.lionstigersandbears.org.

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ON MAINE STREET IN LAKESIDE DEC. 6

The Lakeside Chamber of Commerce will host the 16th Annual Spirit of Christmas on Saturday, December 6th, 4pm to 9pm on Maine Avenue (between Parkside and Laurel) in Lakeside. This free, fun-filled family event will include a community tree lighting, visits with Santa, vendor booths, kids’ activities, food, music and entertainment by local bands & schools.

The evening will kick-off with the arrival of Santa and the lighting of the community Christmas tree at 5 p.m. by the Lakeside Fire Department. Then guests can saunter up and down Maine Street to experience visits with Santa, vendor booths, crafting tables, delicious eateries, kids’ zone and holiday music.

Children are encouraged to bring letters to Santa and drop them off in the special mailbox with delivery just to the North Pole.  Remember to enclose a self-addressed stamped return envelope so Santa can send a letter back.  The special North Pole mailbox will be onsite at the Lakeside Historical Society on Maine Avenue until December 24th. For more information, go to www.lakesidechamber.org,

LAKESIDE HOLDAY HOME TOUR DEC. 6

The Lakeside Historical Society will be hosting its annual holiday home tour on Saturday, December 6 from 10 a,m to 2 p.m.  There are three decorated homes and one business on this tour and many antiques and collectables to enjoy viewing.Tickets ($15) can be purchased from the History Center, 9906 Maine Avenue (corner of Parkside) from 10am until 2pm Tuesday through Saturday or on the self-guided tour.

Also beginning on December 1st the Historical Society has its Mrs. Claus Christmas Resale Shoppe open for shopping for unusual holiday decorations.  For more information call the History Center at 561-1886. 

BORREGO HOLIDAY HOMES TOUR DEC. 6

Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs will also hold its Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, December 6 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.  You canl tour five lovely homes in the Borrego Valley, each uniquely adorned for the holidays. From "ultra-modern" to "old school", each home will reflect the distinct decorating style of the homeowner. All proceeds go to fund educational scholarships for Borrego Springs' graduating seniors and youth organizations. (Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.borego.wix.com/holidayhometour)

BRIGHT MORNINGS, SILENT NIGHTS CONCERT DEC. 6

A free choral concert, “Bright Mornings, Silent Nights” will be presented by the Pacificaires and Cedar Center Chorus on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. in the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue in San Diego.   The concert features Christian and Jewish holiday favorites as well as secular music.

A JOYFUL HOLIDAY MUSIC CELEBRATION: SAN DIGEO FESTIVAL CHORUS & ORCHESTRA DEC. 7

The San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra will present a Joyful Holiday Music Celebration on December 7th at 3 p.m. in the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue, San Diego. The performance will include Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Robert Shaw’s “The Many Moods of Christmas.”

The East County based San Diego Festival Chorus is in its 14th season. The 90-voice, 48-piece orchestra has performed Vivaldi’s “Gloria” on European tours.  “The Many Moods of Christmas” is a choral arrangement of traditional Christmas music by Robert Shaw, former conductor of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

You can hear selections from the performers and purchase tickets ($5-$17) at www.sandiegofestivalchorus.org.

SANTA AT THE LAKES DEC. 7

Santa arrives at Santee Lakes on Sunday, December 7 in a celebration that runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is fun for the whole family including snow sledding, carnival rides, inflatable jumps, boat rides, arts and crafts, food and s’mores.  For details 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 http://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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