DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS APRIL 13 - MAY 15

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

 

 

East County News Service

April 12, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes an Eggstravaganza in Santee, an Easter carnival in Alpine, Spring Harp Fest in La Mesa, a Save El Monte Valley fundraiser in Lakeside, the opening of Cajon Classic Car season and a Clint Black is Back concert at Sycuan.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Lakeside’s Western Days, parade and rodeo, spring garden festivals, butterfly releases, a fashion show to benefit local arts, the Art of the Quilt in Lemon Grove, community concerts, and Vintage Alpine, a wine tasting experience in the country to benefit children’s causes.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

THIS WEEK:

EGGSTRAVAGANZA APRIL 15 AT SANTEE LAKES

The City of Santee and Santee Lakes present the 14th annual Spring Eggstravaganza at Santee Lakes on Saturday, April 15th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kids of all ages can enjoy games and activities including carnival rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatable jumps, spring crafts and live entertainment by Primo DJ. 

Egg hunts run continuously for children ages 3 through 8.  Be sure and bring your child’s basket for all of those eggs! 

Food will be available to purchase on site, or families are welcome to bring a picnic of their own to enjoy at the Park. For details, visit www.SanteeLakes.com.

EASTER EGG HUNT AND CARNIVAL IN ALPINE APRIL 15

An Easter Carnival and Egg Hunt will be held at Joan MacQueen Middle School in Alpine (2001 Tavern Rd.) on Saturday, April 15th.  The egg hunt starts at 11 a.m. and the carnival runs from 9 a.m. to noon. This family-fun event also includes pony rides, a petting zoo, live music and entertainment, inflatable games, a cake walk, face painting and an Easter Bunny photo booth.

Plus, snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn and hotdogs will be available. 

SPRING HARP FEST APRIL 15 IN LA MESA

The 18th annual Spring Harp Fest, showcasing harmonica players musical jam fests will be held on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park (9550 Milden St.) in La Mesa.  Donations from this event are used to purchase harmonicas for local schools.  Get the lineup of talent scheduled at www.SpringHarpFest.org.

SAVE EL MONTE FUNDRAISER APRIL 17 IN LAKESIDE

Lakeside residents seeking to save El Monte Valley from a proposed sand mining project are raising money for a legal battle. On Monday, April 17 from 5-10 p.m., a benefit will be held at Eastbound Bar and Grill (10553 Maine Ave.)  in Lakeside.

Eastbound will donate 10% of proceeds to the Cleveland National Forest Foundation.  The money will be earmarked for a special fund to save Lakeside's beautiful El Monte Valley.  The event includes prize gift baskets with horse supplies, fishing tackle, gardening tools and more.

CAJON CLASSIC CAR SHOW OPENS APRIL 19

The Cajon Classic Car Show opens its 2017 season on April 19. Shows will continue every Wednesday night through October 25th.  The first car show will involve a full street closure of East Main Street between Magnolia and Claydelle Avenues from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This popular car show is held in the area of the Prescott Promenade in Downtown El Cajon and is hosted by the Downtown El Cajon Business Partners. For more information, visit www.cajonclassiccruise.org.

CLINT BLACK IS BACK: APRIL 23-24 AT SYCUAN

Clint Black, the country music super star, is back with his first album in 10 years-and he’ll be performing at Sycuan’s Live Up Close Theatre on April 23rd and 24th. He’s sold over 20 million albums worldwide including 22 number one hits.

Recordings such as “A Better Man,” “Killin’ Time,” “When I Said I Do" and “Nothin’ But the Taillights” have won honors from the Grammys, Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, plus membership in the Grand Ole Opry.  For tickets, you can visit  Sycuan.com.

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

BACK IN THE SADDLE: LAKESIDE RODEO KICKS OFF APRIL 28-30

The 53rd Annual Lakeside Rodeo brings the exciting action of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to the Lakeside Arena April 28th, 29th & 30th, with four full rodeo performances featuring the seven events of rodeo: bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing (WPRA), tie down roping, and team roping.

In addition, the Kids Stick Horse Race is hilarious to watch at each performance.  You’ll also find vendors to visit, snack bars with tasty treats, beer and a Specialty food booth.

All proceeds benefit the youths of Lakeside. For more information and a full schedule of events visit http://www.LakesideRodeo.com.

LAKESIDE WESTERN DAYS PARADE APRIL 29

The 52nd annual Lakeside Western Days Parade will be held on April 29th starting at 9:35 a.m.  This year’s theme is “Courage, honor and sacrifice: a salute to our law enforcement.”

The Western Days Parade is a highlight of Lakeside’s Western Days, which also includes the Lakeside Rodeo April 28-30 to benefit local youths in Lakeside.

The parade route is along Woodside and Maine Avenues. For details visit www.LakesideChamber.org.

 SPRING BUTTERFLY AND GARDEN FESTIVAL APRIL 29

The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College will host its Spring Butterfly and Garden Festival on Saturday, April 29th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Activities include butterfly pavilion and garden tours, butterfly releases, face painting, kids’ activities and craft vendors, animal exhibitors, educational exhibits and presentations, us edible, ornamental and native plant sales. You can also sign up for landscape design consultations.

For more information, visit http://www.TheGarden.org.

FIVE CHOICES DRAWING AT HERITAGE OF THE AMERICAS MUSEUM APRIL 29

In conjunction with the Spring Garden Festival and the Butterfly Festival at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, the Heritage of the Americas Museum holds a very special drawing each year:  the "Five-Choices Dream Drawing."  The drawing will take place at the museum on Saturday, April 29, at 2:30 p.m.  

The prizes represent the four wings of the Museum:  Natural History, Archaeology, Anthropology, and Art. 

Proceeds from the drawing will support the nonprofit museum’s educational programs that benefit over 5,000 local school children each year.  

For details, you can visit:  www.HeritageOfTheAmericasMuseum.com.

THE ART OF THE QUILT APRIL 29 IN LEMON GROVE

The Lemon Grove Historical Society and the Lemon Grove Library are teaming up to present an encore lecture from "History Alive" -- the hugely popular "The Art of the Quilt" with quilt historian Sylvia Wallace. This event will be held at the Lemon Grove Library on April 29th at 2 p.m.  (Free!)

Wallace's fabulous quilt collection tells the story along with her words, as she traces the quilt from the Egyptians to modern times.

From shroud, to domestic necessity, to political statement, to work of art, quilts have emerged not only as treasured family heirlooms, but as museum-quality textile artworks.

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER AND A CONCERT SEASON STARTS MAY 5 IN EL CAJON

El Cajon’s Friday Night Dinner and a Concert season starts May 5th and will continue all summer long (through Sept. 29) from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Prescott Promenade on Main Street in downtown El Cajon. 

Guests are encouraged to arrive early to dine at a local restaurant or bring your picnic and lawn chairs. These concerts (free!) are hosted by the Downtown El Cajon Business Partners. You can see the full line-up of bands soon at www.downtownelcajon.com.

BLOOMING FASHIONS MAY 6 IN EL CAJON BENEFITS EAST COUNTY ARTS

Friends of East County Arts, Inc., which has supported the arts in East County since 1984, will present “Blooming Fashions”, a fashion show at the El Cajon Elks Club, on Saturday, May 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This year’s event promises participants a relaxing afternoon of complimentary champagne catered lunch and the latest fashions from “Macy’s” at Grossmont Center. You will also be able to participate in a silent auction, and opportunity drawings, or purchase fusion glass flowers made students at Flying Hills Elementary, by a past grant recipient.

Friends of East County Arts has contributed more than $800,000.00 to art-based

BUTTERFLIES AND WATERWISE PLANT SALE IN ALPINE MAY 6

The Alpine Garden Club presents the Waterwise & Butterflies Plant Sale & Festival in Alpine on Saturday, May 6th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Alpine (1460 Midway Dr.)

Guests will see birds of prey, hummingbirds, shop at vendor booths, and enjoy opportunity drawings and a silent auction. There will also be a “Monarch Mania” with butterfly releases at noon, with monarch host plants for sale at Baron’s Market in the Alpine Creek Town Center.

VINTAGE ALPINE MAY 7

The 27th annual Vintage Alpine event will be held on May 7th from 1 to 4 p.m.  This “Wine Experience in the Country” will take place in the lovely gardens at Summers Past Farms (15602 Old Highway 80) in Flinn Springs, hosted by the Alpine Kiwanis Club.

Guests will savor premium wines from California and around the world, also sampling the best that local restaurants from across San Diego County have to offer.  The event also includes live music in a garden setting and a silent auction.

Al proceeds will benefit children’s causes across our region, in partnership with the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.  This event is for those age 21 and up. For tickets and details, you can go to www.VintageAlpine.org

SAN DIEGO FESTIVAL CHORUS & ORCHESTRA SPRING CONCERT MAY 15

The San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra will present its spring concert on May 7th from 3 to 5 p.m. at the College Avenue Baptist Church, performing Mozart’s Requiem, one of the master’s greatest works.

 In addition, the musical groups will present “A Salute to Andrew Lloyd Webber” showcasing his unforgettable Broadway musical songs from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” and more.

For tickets and details, you can visit, www.sandiegofestivalchorus.org.

That’s all for this week!

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!


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.