By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Hot August nights and late summer days bring some of East County’s most iconic events. 

This month’s hot happenings include the Ramona Country Fair, San Diego Dark Sky Fest in Julian, A Gatsby-themed Mt. Helix Food and Wine Festival celebrating the Mt. Helix Park’s centennial, a country music pool party at Sycuan, Santee’s summer concerts,  La Mesa’s classic car show, Julian Mountain brew fest, Macy Gray in concert at the Magnolia, Grammy Award-winning Alabama Shakes at SDSU, Julian Mountain Brew Fest, open farm days at the Oaisis Camel Dairy,  and the new Jacumbia Fest brings Afro-Columbian vibes to Jacumba Hot Springs.

Scroll down for details on these events and more.

You’re invited to East County Magazine' s DIning Club feast at Himalayan Cuisine in La Mesa on Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m.  All proceeds benefit our local news reporting and our wildfire and emergency alerts! Everyone is welcome to attend.

Himalayan Cuisine features delicious cuisine from Nepal, Tibet and India.  Plus we'll have a fabulous raffle with many great prizes including gift certificates to local stores and restaurants, a Himalayan salt lamp, wine lovers gifts, books, an Oriental-style rug, and more.

RSVP’s are required no later than July 14, but if you RSVP before July 10 you’ll be entered in a special prize drawing!

Please RSVP to:  info@eastcountymedia.org with your name, the number in our party, and “RSVP Himalayan” in the subject line.

May 30, 2025 (Julian) -- The Julian Town Square Music Festival brings music to the mountains on June 7 from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Presented by the Julian Community Heritage Foundation and Julian Chamber of Commerce, this event will feature multiple musical performances. 

These include Kimmi Bitter and Westside Twang, Tim Flannery and the Lunatic Fring, Thea The Band, The Ordeal, Donn Bree and Friends,  Dolly’s Revenge, and Subconscious Culture.

By G. A. McNeeley 

May 18, 2025 (Campo) – You’re invited to step back in time to the Wild West and experience the history and culture of San Diego’s East County during Campo Days.  This free event includes visits to four museums in Campo, as well as activities ranging from riding a historic railway to watching exciting demonstration of equestrian skills. 

Campo Days will be held on Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

East County News Service

May 16, 2025 (Descanso) -- The Descanso Town Hall Association will present its annual Descanso Day Fair and Parade on Saturday, June 7. The parade rolls out from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. with grand marshals Brett and Tammy Cooker, owners of Descanso Junction restaurant.

The fair takes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic Descanso Town Hallo, 24536 Viejas Grade Road, Descanso. Big Sky Moon will play live country music and classic rock from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Guests can also enjoy pulled pork sandwich plates and hot dog plates, IPAs and lagers with Burning Beard Brewery, a horse shoe tournament at noon (with signups at 11, for $25), a Kidz Zone ($8 unlimited play, with prizes), cake walk, vendors inside and outside the hall, raffle and silent auction.

East County News Service

May 6, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- Sycuan Casino Resort, in partnership with KSON, is bringing back The River from June through September.

The River at Sycuan is San Diego’s only country concert pool party that will feature “the hottest country artists in the nation,” according to a Sycuan news release.

East County News Service

April 24, 2025 (El Cajon)—On May 3, the Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival returns at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College.  The event features plant sales nurtured by Cuyamaca College Nursery students as well as butterflies, live music, specialty garden-related vendors, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.

The festival coincides with the college’s Coyote Music Festival, with live bands in the amphitheater at the Garden.  In addition, Heritage of the Americas Museum next door will be hosting an arts and crafts fair.

Photo and story by Karen Pearlman

April 19, 2025 (Alpine) – The permanent refuge for a bevy of rescued wild animals, Lions, Tigers & Bears isn’t your average animal sanctuary -- so don’t expect its annual fundraiser to be anything but extraordinary.

The Alpine-based nonprofit will welcome visitors to its big cats and bears haven for the annual Wild in the Country 2025 next month. The annual event, including live and silent auctions, live entertainment, gourmet food, drinks and more, is set for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17. A VIP reception is also offered from 1 to 2 p.m.

East County News Service

April 13, 2025 (Santee) – The Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer returns May 24. This annual event features a beer garden featuring craft brews, wine and spirits, kids’ zones with carnival rides and games, live music and entertainment, plus over200 vendors showcasing local arrtisans and businesses.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the intersection of Town Center Parkway and Riverview Parkway in Santee.

This event, hosted by the Santee Chamber of Commerce and the City of Santee, is for ages 21 and up, and it’s dog-friendly.

By Miriam Raftery

(Click image above to view flyer with sign-up details)

April 10, 2025 (Campo) – You’re invited to join mountain men, fur trappers and pioneer families from the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous for “Shinin’ Times” that rewind back to the 1820s.

The organization’s spring camp will be held May 2-10 at Northcote Ranch,2402 Lake Morena Drive in Campo. Spread over 10 acres of mountain prairie, the reenactment area includes primitive camps, a trader’s row, archery range, tomahawk and knife throwing range, and black powder rifle walk-through range.

Participants can learn primitive skills (such as tomahawk and knife throwing, shooting with a primitive bow and arrow, and fire starting with flint and steel), take aim at a BB gun shooting gallery, and  be immersed in living history.

 For those wishing to go beyond a day visit, you can camp out in a tipi encampment or in the “Tin Tipi” modern camp for tents and RVs.

East County News Service

April 8, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove invites you to hop on over to the Lemon Grove Recreation Center at 3131 School Lane, Lemon Grove for the city’s ninth annual Eggstravanza from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, April 19.

Organizers are seeking a headline sponsor

East County News Service

March 26, 2025 (Escondido) -- Mark your calendars for Valley Vibes, a free, family-friendly fiesta with interactive exhibits, great food, crafts and live music courtesy of North Park Rock-n-Blues Band. Valley Vibes will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead, 12655 Sunset Drive, Escondido. The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy and San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority are hosting the free event to celebrate nature and draw attention to the organizations’ conservation, education and recreation programs.

March 18, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – It’s springtime in East County—the season for flower festivals, Easter egg hunts, Lakeside’s rodeo and Western Days Parade, outdoor roller skating at Viejas , an aerobatics competition in Borrego Springs, and bunny rides aboard a historic train in Campo.

This  April, you can also enjoy a roaring ‘20s party atop Mt. Helix for the  Mt. Helix Park’s centennial celebration, a Taste of Lakeside, a mystery dinner theater in El Cajon, plus a winetasting festival in Ramona.

Scroll down for details on these activities and more.