By Miriam Raftery

September 19, 2015 (Borrego Springs) -- The Borrego Days Desert Festival has a long history of launching the peak season for Southern California’s desert region—welcoming snowbirds and enticing locals to join together after a long summer for a weekend of celebration.

 This year, the festival marks its 50^th anniversary with a theme of “Those Were the Days” Oct. 23-25, aiming to create new memories for young and old alike. Live entertainment on the main stage, artists, a children’s fun zone, outdoor shopping, gourmet food trucks, beer and beverage garden, vendors, as well as a Saturday parade featuring flyover, equestrians, marching bands, floats, clowns, dancers, classic cars and more are all planned.

East County News Service

September 12, 2015 (El Cajon) -- The city of El Cajon is home to more than 40,000 Chaldeans, one of the largest Chaldean enclaves in the United States.  Chaldeans are an integral part of the local business community as well as the community at large, and would like to invite neighbors to sample the culture at the upcoming 5^th Annual Chaldean American Festival on September 19 and 20. The City of El Cajon has proclaimed September Chaldean American Month, and invites the whole community to attend the Chaldean American Festival. The family event will feature authentic homemade Chaldean faire, traditional music and dancing, games for children, as well as local vendors for all to enjoy.

September 11, 2015 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Latino Film Festival and a Cuyamaca College Latino Heritage Celebration highlight an array of special events honoring Hispanic Heritage Month at the two East County colleges beginning Sept. 15.

All of the events are free and open to the public.

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

September 10, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County features a Car-B-Que at Santee Lakes, live musical theatre productions, the Sycuan pow-wow and a bluegrass festival in Santee.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Julian Music Festival, the opening of the silver anniversary season of the Poway Performing Arts Center featuring Kenny Loggins as well as some major fall festivals including Julian Apple Days, Fall Fest, and of course, Oktoberfest!

So scroll down for all of these events and much, much more.

September 3, 2015 (Santee) - The Santee Lakes Foundation invites you to enjoy CarBQue at Samtee Lakes—a day of classic cars, bikes, antique tractors and farm equipment plus barbeque food, live entertainment and fun for the entire family. The event takes place on Saturday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Listen to a podcast of Destination East County, originally aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

This week’s Destination East County features a grape stomp, a pow-wow an art show and a deep pit barbecue.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a production of the hit show Hairspray, Santee’s bluegrass festival, a dinner theatre show and as the season turns to Indian summer, yet another pow-wow.

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

September 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay nation will host its 26^th annual pow-wow September 11-13 at the tribe’s pow-wow grounds, next to the Casino at 5459 Sycuan Road on the Sycuan reservation in El Cajon.

August 24, 2015 (San Diego) – The Barona Band of Mission Indians invites San Diegans to experience Native American dancing, music and traditional food at the 45^th annual Barona Powwow, which will be held on Labor Day weekend at the Barona Sports Park located on the Barona Indian Reservation. The three-day celebration starts on Friday, September 4 with Gourd Dancing at 6 p.m. and the spectacular Grand Entry at 7 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free.

“For the past 45 years, the Barona Powwow has been a wonderful opportunity for Native Americans to not only celebrate our heritage and traditions with each other but to share our culture with San Diego,” said Barona Tribal Councilwoman Beth Glasco. “Over the years our Powwow has grown to become one of the most anticipated in our area and we are proud to invite the community out to experience this wonderful cultural celebration.” 

East County News Service

August 26, 2015 (Spring Valley)—The SAPS, a local Laurel and Hardy group, will show comedic classic films on August 29^th in Spring Valley, featuring their favorite “students of laughter 101 in some of their greatest misadventures,” organizers promise.

The event,  “Back to Skool, I mean School Night" SAPS at Sea event  will take place in Williams Hall at Trinity Church, 3902 Kenwood Drive in Spring Valley. Doors open at 6:30 with show time starting at 7 p.m.  A donation of $6 per person is requested.

August 18, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- Subscribers and donors to East County Magazine are cordially invited to celebrate summer's end (and our 7tht anniversary!) at our Barbecue Bash at our editor's home on Mt. Helix on August 30th from 4 to 7 p.m.

Not yet a subscriber?  Sign up for our weekly newsletter and/or wildfire alerts here FREE,  or donate here.  Then join us as we show our appreciation for our wonderful subscribers and donors! You can also sign up at the door at 4438 Hideaway Place, La Mesa.  Suggested donation: $20.

This festive celebration will include live reggae music with Ed Barrena, wine tasting by Ramona Valley Vineyards, bourbon grilled chicken from Pick Up Stix, BBQ pulled pork (slow-roasted), juicy watermelons from Baron's Market and scrumptious deserts from Grove Pastry Shop. We'll have drawings and a silent auction with lots of prizes including a large barbecue grill with all the fixings, Visionary Dance Theater "Hairspray" show tickets, wine baskets, pottery from Get Centered Clay studio, Julian Wolf Preserve passes, Santee Lakes passes, wine tasting coupons, Water Conservation Garden memberships, Kwai Sun karate lessons, a hand-painted treasure chest, and much, much more!

Listen to a podcast by clicking the audio link of Destination East County originally aired on KNSJ.

August 20, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--This week’s Destination East County features the Julian Wild & Scenic Film Festival, singers and song writers of the  ‘60s, grape stomping at a vineyard, a top comedian's performance and movies in the park.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Native American pow-wow, a Bluegrass  Festival in Santee and Descanso’s Deep Pit BBQ.  

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

August 17, 2015 (El Cajon) – The public is invited to an Emergency Resource Fair at Parkway Plaza mall in El Cajon on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. organized by Senator Joel Anderson. You can learn about earthquake safety, fire safety and how to prepare for emergencies. Organizations participating include American Medical Response, Community Emergency Response Team, SDG&E, American Red Cross, Heartland Fire & Rescue, and FEMA.

August 14, 2015 (Santee) - Smokey and the Bandit will be the featured outdoor film on Friday, August 21^st at Santee Lakes.  Showtime starts at 8 p.m.  The film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason is rated PG-13 and this special showing will also include a beer garden.