DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: NOV. 21-DEC. 6

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

By Miriam Raftery and Leon Thompson

November 18, 2015 (El Cajon)--This week’s Destination East County includes the Mother Goose Parade in El Cajon, cowboy and Indian tales along the Butterfield stage coach route, Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy, and the start of Parkway Plaza’s holiday music festival.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including Santa Claus and snow at Santee Lakes, a joyous holiday music concert by the San Diego Festival Chorus, the Christmas in Alpine homes tour, a production of Kracked Nutz, and a Christmas  festival at Lions, Tigers and Bears.

THIS WEEK'S MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

MOTHER GOOSE PARADE NOV. 21 IN EL CAJON

The Annual Mother Goose Parade, always the weekend before Thanksgiving, will be Saturday, November 21 at 10:00 a.m. The parade includes over 100 colorful and exciting parade entries, such as floats, marching bands, giant helium balloons, clowns, eloquent equestrians, special guests, and of course Santa Claus at the end of the parade. 

The route begins at East Main Street and Ballantyne, traveling westbound on East Main Street down to Johnson Avenue, ending at Plaza mall where the Motther Goose Carnival will be held in the southwest corner of the mall.  For more information visit the Mother Goose Parade website at www.mgpelcajon.com.

COWBOYS, INDIANS & THE BUTTERFIELD STAGE, SATURDAY, NOV.  21

Discover the Old West of Western novelist/artist Marshal South with historian and travel writer Diana Lindsay along the Butterfield Overland Stage Route on Saturday, November 21st. This one-of-a-kind journey aboard a California Overland Adventures vehicle begins at 9 a.m. at the Carrizo station and ends with an optional hike to the relics of South’s homestead atop Ghost Mountain. 

South promoted Anza-Borrego’s history in the 1930s and ‘40s , as well as Native American culture and desert lore through his cliffhanger western novels reminiscent of Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour. On this excursion back in time, you’ll travel the old stage route and explore the places that inspired South and still echo with the past. 

Admission includes two of South’s republished novels and a bonus book; all reservations include lunch.

Reservations required. Call 760-767-1232. 

POMEGRANATE DAYS AT THE OASIS CAMEL DAIRY NOV. 27-29

One of East County’s most unique holiday traditions is Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona.  This year, Pomegranate Days will be held the weekend after Thanksgiving, November 27th through 29th.

You can feed pomegranates to camels, enjoy camel rides for kids ages 3-14, watch a turkey stampede and a tropical bird show, and new this year,  see dazzling circus performers as the high-flying McCandles family brings their aerial show to the site.  You can also buy holiday gift items such as Camel Milk Bath Bombs. There is an admission charge for this event.  For details and directions, visit  http://www.cameldairy.com

HOLIDAY MUSIC FESTIVAL AT PARKWAY PLAZA NOV. 28-DEC. 23

Parkway Plaza will host a Holiday Music Festival that’s free for the community from Saturday, November 28th through Wednesday, December 23.  The Tinseltones will open the concert series on the Macy’s Stage November 28th . 

After that, concerts will continue each Saturday until Christmas from 1 to 5 p.m. with performances by the Southwestern College Big Band and Jazz Improvisation Ensemble December 5th, the Fiddle Cats on December 12th and the Salvation Army Brass Band December 19th.

Additional musical performances on saxophone and violin will be staged Christmas week at a stage by the Carousel inside the mall. For details you can visit ShoppingParkwayPlaza.com.

 

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL DEC. 5

Lions, Tigers and Bears invites you to a Christmas Festival on  Saturday, December 5th 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 Santa Claus! For details on admission, tickets and more, you can visit www.LionsTigers.org.

KRACKED NUTZ DEC. 3-5

This holiday season, Visionary School for the Performing Arts presents “Kracked Nutz”, a holiday musical revueat the Visionary Performance Space (7202 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego) on December 3rd-5th at 7 p.m. directed by the VSPA teaching artists.

This fun, holiday musical revue showcases some traditional and some not-so-traditional holiday music featuring the diverse and talented members of Visionary Youth Theatre and Kidz Danz Kompany.  For tickets and details, visit http://visionarydancetheatre.org/Visionary/kracked-nutz/

SANTA AT SANTEE LAKES DEC. 6

Ho, ho ho! Santee is coming to Santee Lakes on Sunday, December 6th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.   This event will also feature snow!  In addition you can enjoy sledding, carnival rides, boat rides, inflatable jumps, arts and crafts, food and s’mores.  Admission is free, though there is a small fee for ride tickets and parking.  For directions and details, visit www.SanteeLakes.com

JOYOUS MUSIC FOR THE SEASON DEC. 6

You are invited to attend the San Diego Festival Concert “Joyous Music for the Season” on December 6th  at 3 p.m. in the College Avenue Baptist Church in San Diego.  The program includes Felix Mendelssohn's majestic, "Hymn of Praise" and other seasonal choral music helpingto set the stage for your holiday celebrations.  For tickets visit www.SanDiegoFestivalChorus.org.

"CHRISTMAS IN ALPINE” HOME TOUR, DEC. 12

The Alpine Woman’s Club will hold its Eleventh Annual “Christmas in Alpine” Home Tour on December 12th. You will have an opportunity to stroll through five stunning country estates, and visit Alpine’s beautiful Country Garden Shop. The Historic Town Hall will be open from 1 p.m. on for ticket holders to enjoy light refreshments and to pick up a surprise gift. 



You can get your tickets early at the Postal Annex 2710 Alpine Blvd. Tickets are available for pick up and purchase at the Alpine Woman’s Club 2156 Alpine Blvd. on Saturday Dec 12th starting at 9:30am. 



Proceeds benefit the Alpine Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund and the maintenance of the Historic Town Hall which was built in 1899. For more information, contact Karin at her at karinshouse64@yahoo.com.

 

That’s all for this week! You can find details on all of these events and more on our Calendar and in our Festivals and Events section online at eastcountymagazine.org.

If you have an event you’d like added to our calendar, or if you would like to sponsor the Destination East County column on our website, or the Destination East County show on KNSJ radio, you can contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org   Destination East County is the most-read feature on our website.

We’ll be back next week with more festivals, events and attractions in San Diego’s East County.

Audio: 

Destination 11-20-15

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