December 17, 2015 (Mt. Helix) -- Our holiday parties are legendary! Come join the fun Sunday, December 20 from 2-6 p.m. at our editor's home on Mt. Helix.

• Delicious feast! Glazed ham and yams, cinnamon baked apples, beet/strawberry and eggplant salads from Baba al Hara,  pasta and salad from Olive Graden, desserts from New York Bakery
•  Wine tasting with Grant James Vineyard and Pearson Bros. Winery, plus holiday beverages (21 and up.)
• Live music (folk, rock, and holiday songs) with Paul Nichols, Cindy Burnham, Tim and Marijo Luranc,
• Holiday games, prizes and surprises! Prizes include a mountain vacation,  wine lover’s baskets, dance lessons, silver jewelry, hand-woven shawl from Weaving Works in Santa Ysabel, California Wolf Preserve tour in Julian,  Passes and big-cat feeding for 2 at Lions Tigers &  Bears, dinner at Descanso Junction, Glamour Girlz gift basket, personal trainer for a month at CHN Fitness in Santee, yoga lessons at CHN Yoga, and much more. 
  

East County News Service

December 9, 2015 (Ramona)--The Ramona Valley Vineyard invites you to take a break from the holiday hustle and give yourself and and your friends a unique holiday wine experience.  You can join  Join 15 RVVA member wineries on December 12th & 13th for the second weekend of wine, fun and holiday spirits along the Holiday Wine Trail.

Your “Get Your Merry On” Holiday Wine Trail Passport is your ticket to great deals and festive fun over all four days of the wine trail.  Each participating winery is offering different holiday wine trail specials including heavily discounted tastings and pairings, bottle and merchandise discounts, unique holiday gift items featuring local artisans.

East County News Service

November 30, 2015 (Alpine) – The community of Alpine welcomes visitors to the 20^th annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights and Snow Festival on Friday, December 4^th.

The free Snow Festival includes a real snow hill, lighting of the Alpine Community Christmas Tree, Santa Claus (bring your camera!), family activities, vendors, crafters and more.  The parade starts at 6:30  p.m. (with entrants lining up starting at 6 p.m. at Alpine Blvd. and West Victoria Drive,) and ends at the Alpine Creek Town Center (1347 Tavern Road) for the Snow Festival from 7 to 9 p.m.

November 30, 2015 (Descanso) – You’re invited to a Holiday Open House at Alpacas of San Diego, located at 10499 Highway 79 in Descanso, on December 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Admission is free.

Learn all about alpacas and alpaca ownership see why these animals are so loveable and eco friendly, and you can do some holiday shopping for gift items such as luxurious alpaca scarves, throws, socks, yarn skeins and plush toys.  There will also be a craft table and activities for the kids, as well as a raffle gift basket giveaway.

East County News Service

November 25, 2015 (La Mesa)—You’re invited to join the City of La Mesa in celebrating completion of the $5 million downtown streetscape renovation project on La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa’s quaint village. Experience the newly brightened Downtown Village on December 9th from 4:00-6:00 pm.

La Mesa Shimmer will feature a lighting ceremony at 4:30 pm at Palm Ave. and La Mesa Blvd.  Refreshments will be provided during the event at Palm Ave. and La Mesa Blvd.  and near Date Ave. and La Mesa Blvd.  Live bands and students from Peter Pan Junior Theatre will perform along the Boulevard from 4:00-6:00 pm.

East County News Service

Photo, left: historic buildings at the Guy B. Woodward Museum in Ramona's Old Town

November 23, 2015 (Ramona)--The Ramona Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Christmas tree lighting event on December 5^th from 5-8 p.m. in Old Town Ramona. The event features sleigh rides, carolers, Santa’s Village, performers and Santa Claus.

The tree-lighting will be at the Guy B. Woodward Museum (645 Main St..),  which includes a collection of historical buildings form Ramona's western past. The Holiday Craft Village with Santa will be in Ramona’s Town Hall.  Around town, watch for other activities and shops competing for the best-dressed window contest.

In addition, Old Town Ramona shops invite you to join in a “Find the Elf” contest from 3 -8 p.m. on the same day.

By Robert Gehr © 2015

November 21, 2015 (El Cajon )—El Cajon’s first-ever Holiday Lights on Main celebration will be held November 28^th from 12 noon to 7 p.m.  Festivities take place at Prescott Promenade Park and in downtown El Cajon.

This special event features a Santa’s village complete with Santa Claus and an elf making an appearance just in time for Christmas! There will also be an ice skating rink, craft and food vendors, a train ride, community acts, plus live music featuring Danielle Tucker from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.

A special Christmas tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. in front of Starbucks and Urbn St. Brewing Co. at Main St. and Magnolia Ave. will coincide with all the lights throughout downtown and Prescott Promenade Park being turned on to brighten the holidays for everyone.

East County News Service

Lions, Tigers and Bears invites you to a Christmas Festival on  Saturday, December 5^th from 1 to 4 p.m.  You can watch the animals open their Christmas presents –and get holiday shopping all in one day at the exotic animal rescue facility east of Alpine.

There will be also be many local vendors, food, entertainment and a special appearance by the man in red--Santa Claus.

November 17, 2015 (La Mesa) - Marking your calendar for the holiday season?  Mt. Helix Park has some winter events for the whole family...from Christmas caroling to a hike to start off the New Year.

East County News Service

November 10, 2015 (El Cajon)--Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon will be hosting a Holiday Music Festival that’s free for the community from Saturday, November 28^th through Wednesday, December 23. 

These holiday concerts will include jazz, big bands, saxophone, fiddle, violin and vocal performances.

November 9, 2015 (ElCajon)—The sign-up is now open for Jingle Paws, an annual holiday walk to benefit the El Cajon Animal Shelter through ACES, an organization that funds surgeries for shelter pets and helps meet other needs.  You can sign up online to walk with your pet at https://www.crowdrise.com/JINGLEPAWSWALKFORPETS2015 or arrive early and register at the event.

This year, Jingle Paws will be held at the beautiful Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on December 5th.

East County News Service

November 7, 2015 (Ramona) – One of East County’s most unique holiday traditions is Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona. 

Instead of battling crowds at the mall on the post-Thanksgiving weekend, why not head up to the Pomegranate Festival to enjoy feeding pomegranates to camels, camel rides for kids 3-14 (just print the coupon below)  watching a turkey stampede  (as seen at the county fair),  tropical bird show, and this year, circus performers as the high-flying McCandles family brings their aerial show to the site.

You can also buy holiday gift items such as a new product this year, Camel Milk Bath Bombs. Owners claim, “Cleopatra herself never had such a luxurious milk bath!”

East County News Service

November 6, 2015 (Mission Trails) –Join San Diego City Councilmember Scott Sherman, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, and La Mesa Councilmember Kristine Alessio on Saturday, November 7th at 10:00 a.m. at the East Kwaay Paay Trailhead, just west of Bushy Hill Drive and the Kumeyaay Lake Campground, on Father Junipero Serra Trail to officially launch Mission Trails Regional Park’s new 5-Peak Challenge program.

The 5-Peak Challenge involves hiking to the summit of the five highest peaks in the park: Cowles Mountain (1,592’), Pyles Peak (1,579’), North Fortuna (1,291’), Kwaay Paay (1,194’) and South Fortuna (1,094’).   Complete the challenge by hiking to the summit of all five peaks in any order and within your own timeframe. This will provide you the opportunity to discover all the less-visited areas of the park.  After completing the 5-Peak Challenge, not only will you have seen San Diego from different perspectives, but you may also adopt your new favorite hiking trail along the way.   

Here’s how to officially complete the 5-Peak Challenge: http://mtrp.org/five_peaks01

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

East County News Service

November 5, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes guitar concerts, a Plantstravaganza, the Toast of East County featuring local wineries, the Ramona Art and Wine Festival, and a Punkin Chunkin contest!

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including a  harmonica concert, Wrangler at Red Mountain Ranch dinner theatre, a storytelling celebration, and the Mother Goose Parade. Scroll down for details on these events and many more.

By Helen Ofield, President, Lemon Grove Historical Society

Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there.

November 1, 2015 (Lemon Grove) -- He will be. The witching hour is 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 in the H. Lee House, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove.

Of course, you knew that.  Come November, neither you, we, nor anyone within earshot is exempt from visions of sugar plums, the hope of reindeer hooves on the roof, the hearkening to Donner and Blitzen, and the careful setting out of a post prandial libation and figgy pudding for The Great Claus.

He is William Swank and the name fits.  He is swell, swank, super-duper and silver-tongued.  He's been Santa Claus for 14 years, including seven in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. He's an author of 10 books, too, bringing us to the main event.