April 29, 2013 (Julian)--Following last year’s success, Julian’s 2nd Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival, benefiting Volcan Mountain Foundation, returns May 17 – 19, 2013. This year's festival features an expanded program of 44 new films, almost 12 hours of unrepeated screening time broken into 9 sessions from Friday evening to Sunday evening.

The weekend is packed full of entertainment to delight audiences of all ages, as well as other activities ranging from wine-tasting to a hike up  Volcan Mountain to a party with dancing and live music for festival attendees.

May 4, 2013 (San Diego) -- The 11th Annual Explore Mission Trails Day is May 18 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (most of the events will occur between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.) at Mission Trails Regional Park, 1 Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego.  The celebration highlights everything Mission Trails has to offer and features events throughout the park, including free guided nature walks, talks and programs.  There will even be live animals and special programs for children. 

May 8, 2013 (Lakeside) – Internationally renowned horseman Chris Irwin is bringing his inspirational message on Horse Sense to Mountain View Ranch, 15665 El Monte Rd., Lakeside for a special one day clinic.  Irwin, a best-selling author, specializes in teaching communication skills for people with horses.  People learn to use horse body language to become better leaders and communicators, to be “the better horse”.

Honors to be presented to “pioneering women” in local wine industry at Maness Vineyards’ event

May 27, 2013 (Mt. Helix) –  East County Magazine  Editor Miriam Raftery is among three honorees slated to receive an “Award of Merit” on June 15 from 12 to 4 p.m. at the 5th annual Maness Vineyards; Food & Wine Mixer.  This year’s event will be held at Stephanie Young’s Manor Vineyard on Mt. Helix.  Other honorees are Supervisor Dianne Jacob and Teri Kerns, Executive Editor of the Ramona Valley Wine Region Magazine.

Guests are invited to bring two bottles of wine to share and enjoy a barbecue luncheon and wine-tasting. An opportunity drawing will also be held, with proceeds benefitting St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center for developmentally disabled adults.

By Miriam Raftery

May 3, 2013 (El Cajon)—Now through the  end of summer, you can enjoy free concerts and discounts on fine dining every Friday night in downtown El Cajon.   Downtown El Cajon business partners presents Dinner and a Concert, featuring new band performing live each week on the Prescott Promenade from 6-8 p.m.

The schedule of performers is as follows:

By Miriam Raftery

May 3, 2013 (Ramona) – Ramona is planning a "humdinger" of a celebration.  On May 4 and 5, the Ramona Bluegrass and Old West Fest will culminate nine days of musical celebration in Ramona at the Ramona Rodeo grounds.  This year, in addition to live music, the festivities will also include a focus on Old West history including an encampment with mountain men, cowboys and Civil War era characters. Visitors can enjoy music workshops, fireside storytelling, dancing, and break-out jam sessions.

Some bands and musicians will lead music workshops ranging from fiddle and mandolin to musical harmony. Kids of all ages are encouraged to bring their instruments and play along in this unique learning experience.

Musical entertainers include:

May 2, 2013 (Lake Moreno) -- History comes alive for the next two weeks at a pre-1840 North American fur trade encampment in East County. It's all part of the 20th annual Manzanita High Mountain Rendezvous. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 28, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)—Cuyamaca College hosts its 5^th annual Coyote Music Festival from 12-5 p.m. on May 4, featuring nine bands/solo artists on two stages showcasing their original music compositions.

Performers will take stage on the grand lawn on campus at 900 Rancho San Diegio Parkway in El Cajon. Genres at this event, which has free admission, include acoustic, rock, and folk by these talented home-grown songwriters.

The music festival is produced by students in the Music Industry Seminar class.  You’ll find plenty of shade and free parking.  For details and directions, see:  www.coyotemusicfest.com .  Scroll down to see the complete line-up.

March 26, 2013 (Jacumba) – From wildflowers to waterfalls, the Jacumba Hikers have announced  a variety of unique hiking destinations for their outings this spring. Scroll down for a list of hikes and descriptions of hikes set for April and May.

To view flyer with details, including difficulty/accessibility of hikes, click here.

April 25, 2013 (El Cajon) – In celebration of El Cajon’s Centennial, the El Cajon Historical Society will sponsor a tour of the Historic JPR Hall Ranch House in El Cajon on Saturday, May 4, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Lemonade and iced tea will be available in the garden. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Reserve space by mailing checks to ECHS, P.O. Box 1973, El Cajon, CA 92022.

This home is rarely open to the public. Proceeds benefit the El Cajon Historical Society.

Below is an excerpt from Bus and Auto Tour of Historical El Cajon by the El Cajon Historical Society. The excerpt describes the Historic JPR Hall Ranch House, which was the focal point of a 60-acre ranch with wheat, hay, an orchard and a vineyard planted by the parents and siblings of W.D. Hall.

By Janis Mork

 April 24, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)- The 20^th annual spring garden festival hosted by the Water Conservation Garden and Cuyamaca College, will be taking place this Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cuyamaca College. This festival includes experts on raising urban chickens, beekeeping and vegetable gardening, as well as garden professionals, a plant sale, animal encounters for kids, live music and more.

Elizabeth Ramos, director of marketing and events at the Water Conservation Garden, participated in an exclusive interview with ECM last week to give more details about the garden’s mission and the festival.  Listen to a recording of our interview with Ramos here: http://kiwi6.com/file/df12etpwb7.  For more details, scroll down.

April 12, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)—“The Museum’s Five-Choices Dream Raffle is always a hit at the Spring Garden Festival.  Because it’s our 20th anniversary, we really went all out this year,” says curator Kathleen Oatsvall at Heritage of the Americas Museum on the campus of Cuyamaca College.  So the Museum chose five fabulous prizes—one to honor each wing of its museum (natural history, archaeology, anthropology and art) plus the museum gift shop. 

Options include a massive amethyst cathedral crystal, pre-Columbian artifacts, a Hopi Kachina and other artifacts dating from after 1492, an oil painting titled “Medicine Horse” by Douglas Weaver, and a gift certificate to the Museum Store.

Event is prelude to nine days of music, with Ramona Bluegrass Festival May 4-5 as finale

April 13, 2013 (Ramona)–Sara Petite and a variety of exceptional music artists will rock Dos Picos County Park during the sixth annual Ramona Music Fest on Saturday, April 27. The event will feature headlining acts, well-established performers and exciting local talent. This is the kick-off event for the nine days of music in Ramona, rolling into the Ramona Bluegrass & Old West Fest ending with the Ramona Bluegrass Festival the following weekend.

Among those set to appear on two stages are the Combos, HarryJoe Reynolds, Ramona High School Royal Blues Jazz Band, the Shirthouse Bluegrass Band, and Roy Rapid and the Rhythm Rock Trio. Musical styles will include ska, rock, Americana, rockabilly, blues, jazz and bluegrass.

Annual event has become one of the largest community events in East County

April 11, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)--With farmer’s markets, community gardens and urban farming growing ever popular among the health- and conservation-minded in East County, it’s no wonder the Spring Garden Festival at Cuyamaca College has become such a major draw.

This year’s festival on Saturday, April 27, marks the 20th anniversary of the event, which began in 1993 as the Urban Forest Field Day, an outreach activity for arboriculture students to demonstrate what they’ve learned. The free festival has grown to become a showcase event for the college’s entire ornamental horticulture program, as well as the Heritage of the Americas Museum and the co-sponsoring Water Conservation Garden, both located on the Rancho San Diego campus. With the addition of local artisans, vendors, kid-friendly activities, and a variety of plant and garden societies, the festival now attracts about 7,000 visitors annually.

April 18, 2013 (Lakeside) –For nearly half a century, Lakeside has celebrated its cowboy heritage with the annual rodeo and Western Days Parade.

This year, the parade rolls out on April 20 at 9:35 a.m. along Woodside and Maine Avenue .   The Lakeside Rodeo will be held April 19-21 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds.