San Diego’s newest film festival screens nominated features, shorts, documentaries, and music videos

July 5, 2022 (San Diego) -- Celebrating the spirit and achievements of independent filmmakers, the San Diego Movie Awards holds its inaugural festival August 2-5, 2022. The festival highlights films with budgets under $1 million, and seeks to promote the work of independent film makers, not only in San Diego, but across the globe. The three days of screenings will take place in-person at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park. View trailer.

The festival also includes a benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association/San Diego and Imperial County on August 2, with a showing of “Not to Forget.”

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2022 (San Diego's East County) - This week’s Destination East County highlights upcoming East County events including the Julian Natural Wonderfest, an art show at a winery, a grape stomp in Julian, the Ramona Country Fair, a Star Party at Mission Trails, a Laurel and Hardy comedy night, community concerts and car shows in several communities, a concert to benefit the homeless in El Cajon, candlelight concerts, the Mt. Helix Food and Wine Festival and more.

East County News Service

July 17, 2022 (Julian) -- On Saturday, Aug. 20, the Julian Natural Wonderfest provides a free community celebration of the world of nature from 4 to 10 p.m. at Jess Martin Park in Julian.

Source: Julian Chamber of Commerce

July 17, 2022 (Julian) -- On Saturday, July 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Julian Chamber of Commerce is co-hosting the 7th annual Sip of Julian. The Sip features many of Julian’s alcoholic beverage purveyors.

By Miriam Raftery

July 11, 2022 (Borrego Springs) – Famed night sky photographer, columnist and instructor Dennis Mammana is offering several fascinating events sure to put stars in your eyes.  They include a Nightfall Star Party, Borrego Night Sky Tours, and Celestial Overnight Campout all in Borrego Springs. For the adventurous at heart, Mammana is also leading an astronomy trip to Alaska to view the Aurora Borealis, or Norther Lights.

Below are details.

By Elijah McKee

July 6, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — Looking for weekend family fun with free admission? On Saturday, July 9, the inaugural Citrus Festival will take place at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring food trucks, inflatables, vendors, games, contests, prizes, entertainment and more.

By Miriam Raftery

June 12, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – East County’s most beloved Independence Day celebrations are back, after a hiatus during the pandemic.

Here are the many fun and festive Fourth of July activities in our inland region, including fireworks, a parade, a music festival and more.

By Henri Migala

Photo, left: ECM editor Miriam Raftery with Allan Durden, organizer of La Mesa’s Juneteenth event.

June 21, 2022 (La Mesa) -- Several hundred people came out to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth at MacArthur Park in La Mesa on Sunday, June 19, with food, music, history, entertainment, including the MLK Choir, step-show dance groups, bounce house with slide, crafts, and family fun.

This La Mesa Juneteenth and Friends celebration is a grassroots community effort to bring the rich heritage, culture, and fun of a Juneteenth Jubilee to La Mesa, East County and the wider San Diego region.

Juneteenth commemorates the official end of slavery in the U.S., when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedoms on June 19, 1865, over two years after U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The inaugural commemoration of it was in 1866, and it was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

East County News Service

June 19, 2022 (Mt. Helix) – You’re invited to celebrate the historic nature preserve, native plants, and the wildlife that rely on the native habitat at Mt. Helix Park at a family-friendly Nature Day on Saturday, June 25.  Take a free shuttle to the event from the fire station at 10105 Vivera (corner of Vivera and Mt. Helix Drive) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. since there is no parking on Mt. Helix during the event.

East County News Service

June 11, 2022 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Village Association invites you to enjoy the La Mesa Classic Car Show running each Thursday night from 5 to 8 p.m. throughout June, July and August.  Visitors can stroll down La Mesa Blvd. between 4^th Street and Spring to see beautiful pre-1974 cars, trucks, and vans. Also enjoy live music from local bands that play atop the iconic La Mesa Lumber truck "stage" located at 3rd & La Mesa Blvd., as well as a DJ during the festivities.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

(Photo, left, stock photo of Dan Foster next to the Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor taken by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson) 

May 27, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) Memorial Day, or “reason for the season” is to honor U.S. military personnel who died serving the U.S.A. Although Memorial Day, with the typically 3-day weekend attached to the holiday, is also associated with BBQ’s, Memorial Day sales, trips to the beach or trips out of town. It is observed on the last Monday of May.

Here's a rundown of East County events to commemorate the occasion:

East County News Service

Photo: Creative Commmons by SA

May 12, 2022 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon families can enjoy free vegan food, crafts for kids and information on local environmental issues, at an Every Day is Earth Day event on Saturday, May 28. The free event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Hillside Center Park at 840 Bueno Terrace, El Cajon. Grilled vegan hamburgers and hot dogs will be available while they last, and kids can paint terracotta pots and plant succulents in them to take home.

East County News Service

May 6, 2022 (Descanso) – You’re invited to don your cowboy attire for Descanso Days. The annual fair and parade will take place on June 4, with the parade rolling out at 9 a.m.  The fair and live music begin at 10 a.m. and run until 6 p.m.

East County News Service

May 3, 2022 (San Diego) – The San Diego Concert Band has announced five concerts in its upcoming “summer of music” series including a performance July 10 in East County at La Mesa’s Harry Griffin Park.

Below is the full schedule of events.

Source:  City of El Cajon

Photo:  cc via Bing

April 14, 2022 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon is hosting a FREE April Pools Day event to help kick off May as National Drowning Prevention Month on Friday, April 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Fletcher Hills Pool, located at 2345 Center Place in El Cajon.