DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS MARCH 25-MAY 20

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By Miriam Raftery

March 22, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – There’s a wide assortment of events coming up across San Diego’s East County, including a Revolutionary War reenactment, a supper club show with an SNL comedy star, a butterfly jungle, Easter egg hunts, car shows, Earth Day celebrations, wolf center tours, music festivals, a Western Days parade, a wine and food festival, and a Wild in the Country event at an exotic animal sanctuary.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR REENACTMENT MARCH 25-26 IN JULIAN

Julian Farm and Orchard is going back in time for “Revolution in the Orchard,” a Revolutionary War reenactment set to coincide with Daffodil Days. On March 25 and 26, the farm will be transformed into the scene of the War of Independence. This family friendly event will feature dozens of historical interpreters representing the soldiers and civilians of the American Revolution.

The 25-acre farm will be completely taken over by the reenactment. Both the British and Patriot camps will be prominent with battle fields and activity stations open for exploration. Guests will also get an up-close look into civilian and military life during the war.

This event will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Guests can purchase tickets in advance and get a full schedule of events at www.JulianFarmAndOrchard.com.

General admission tickets provide access to the farm and all the experiences related to the Revolution in the Orchard. Visitors can also choose to purchase activity wristbands for additional unlimited access to the farm’s hayrides, axe throwing, petting zoo, and more.

All attendees can also participate in U-pick flowers as Daffodil Days is in full swing. Daffodil Days is a seasonal favorite at Julian Farm and Orchard and offers the largest U-pick daffodils in Southern California.

BUTTERFLY JUNGLE WEEKENDS NOW THROUGH MAY 14 AT THE SAFARI PARK

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido invites you to a Spring Safari featuring a Butterfly Jungle. Visits can wander through the Hidden Jungle aviary among hundreds of colorful, fluttering butterflies, have a chance to feed them, and learn how they contribute to our ecosystem – as well as help save wildlife in our own backyard.

Spring Safari Featuring Butterfly Jungle will shine a spotlight on the incredible local wildlife in the Southwest region—including San Diego, a biodiversity hotspot. Guests are also encouraged to visit the Safari Park’s Native Nectar Garden and Baja Gardens. Guests can also enjoy live music, dancing, juggling, and strawberry-themed treats.

The Spring Safari featuring Butterfly Jungle will take place March 18 through May 14, with check-in from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Find more information at sdzsafaripark.org/spring-safari.

COMEDIAN DARRELL HAMMOND AT JAMUL CASINO APRIL 1

Jamul Casino will welcome Darrell Hammond to The Rooftop for a one-of-a-kind dinner and comedy show on Saturday, April 1st, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.. 

Widely recognized for his sharp humor and masterful impressions of politicians, celebrities and newsmakers on Saturday Night Live, Hammond has been keeping audiences laughing for nearly three decades. He comes to Jamul Casino as part of its Supper Club at The Rooftop series.

Darrell Hammond is one of the most prolific comedians of his time.  He holds the title for being the second-longest running cast member on SNL at 14 seasons and has served as the show’s announcer since 2014.  He has appeared in a number of feature films as well as numerous television shows. He’s known for his ijmpersonations of famous people including presidents and has performed at the White House Correspondents Dinner, among many other venues.

Tickets can be purchased here. For more information about Jamul Casino, visit www.jamulcasinosd.com

WOLF CENTER TOURS APRIL 2 IN JULIAN

California Wolf Center in Julian invites you to book a guided tour of their conservation facility on April 2 to see a pack of critically endangered wolves and learn about wolf conservation. This unique experience is fun for all ages.

The one-hour tours are by reservation only and are offered at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. You can make reservations online at californiawolfcenter.org/wolf-tours

 

EGG PAINTING CHARITY EVENT, BUNNY HOP RACES, EASTER BUNNY AND MORE AT PARKWAY PLAZA APRIL 4

Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon will host its annual Easter Eggstravaganza on Tuesday, April 4 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Get ready to hop into spring as four local elementary schools compete in a live giant egg painting competition in the center court for a chance to win a $500 donation to their arts program.

For those not participating in the egg painting content, there will be face painting, an Easter egg hunt, craft stations, bunny hop sack races and characters roaming around the mall.

To participate in the Easter egg hunt, guests will receive an egg passport and hunt for hidden eggs throughout the mall. Those who complete the passport will enter for a chance to win amazing prize packs.

The Easter bunny will also be at the mall and available for photos from March 25 until April 8, reserve a time slot here. All other activations are free to participate in and guests can register here.

EASTER EGG HUNTS APRIL 6-9 AT SAN DIEGO ANIMAL FARM & SANCTUARY IN ALPINE

You’re invited to hop on over to the San Diego Animal Sanctuary & Farm in Alpine to celebrate Easter with the animals and participate in one of four Easter egg hunts. The annual egg hunts are a tradition at the Farm and this year, there will be one hunt per day from Thursday, April 6 through Sunday, April 9.  

The Easter Egg Hunts will begin at 11:00 a.m. each day.. More than 4,000 eggs will be filled with plush animals, toys, and candy, spread out across the 20-acre farm, with a chance to find one of three Golden Eggs with family passes each day. The Farm’s sweet bunnies will be there too in their brand-new location. Lastly, the Easter Bunny will be there every day at 11:00 a.m. for pictures and cuddles.

The San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm is home to more than 200 domesticated livestock and exotic animals. Most of the animals were pets who lost their homes due to their owner’s illness, death, or financial difficulties. 

For tickets and details, visit  www.SanDiegoAnimalSanctuaryAndFarm.org.  

EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA AT GROSSMONT CENTER APRIL 8

Grossmont Center in La Mesa will host an Easter Extravaganza on April 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 pm. filled with family fun including a scavenger hunt for kids with prizes, face painting, balloon animals, games, and photos with the Easter Bunny.

This is a BYOB event – bring your own basket.  For details or to register, visit https://grossmontcenter.com/easter-extravaganza/ .

SDSU POWWOW APRIL 8

The San Diego State University Pow Wow is a cultural and social event that is held annually to bring together the Native American community at SDSU. This year’s pow wow will be held on Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This event is open to the public. It includes dance contests, cultural displays, arts and craft booths, food vendors, and informational booths.

SPRING HARP FEST APRIL 8

Local and national stars will be playing American blues harmonica music at Spring Harp Fest. The family-fun event, which raises funds to benefit music education countywide, will be held April 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa.

The annual showcase includes local jams, competition among unknown players, and some of the best professional players in the music scene.

Guests are encouraged to bring their harmonica, hula hoops, cameras, bubbles, and dancing shoes. Food will be available for purchase. Locals who want to test their prowess can even compete to earn the title of “Best of the Unknown Players,” selected through audience applause during the 2 p.m. jam. 

Spring Harp Fest has helped raise funds to purchase 5,000 harmonicas for local school music programs, and annually helps fund summer blues camps.

For more information, visit www.SpringHarpFest.org.  

CAJON CLASSIC CRUISES START APRIL 12

Opening night for Cajon Classic Cruises will be Wednesday, April 12th along Main Street in downtown El Cajon. The car shows will continue each Wednesday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. all summer long.

SAPS AT SEA APRIL 15

The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the official Laurel & Hardy fan organization, will host its April gathering, "A Very Special Night," on April 15 at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley.

The Saps will screen a special feature:  Robert Youngson's The Golden Age of Comedy.  The film features  Laurel & Hardy, Will Rogers, Jean Harlow, Ben Turpin, Carole Lombard, Harry Langdon, The Keystone Kops and more and will be introduced by film historian and author Manny Pacheco. Pacheco will also bring copies of his book Forgotten Hollywood:  People and Places of the Golden Age of Tinseltown.

The Laurel & Hardy short They Go Boom will be screened, plus the usual cartoon and guest comedian.  Plus treats!  Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7.  For more information, visit the Saps at Sea Facebook page.

SHELTER TO SOLDIER GOLF TOURNAMENT AT SYCUAN APRIL 21

Shelter to Soldier is a nonprofit that adopts dogs from local shelters and rescue organizations and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Military Sexual Trauma.

The nonprofit group will hold its 4th annual Saving Lives, One Swing at a Time” golf tournament and dinner on Friday, April 21 on the Championship Oak Glen Course at Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan.

To register or get details, visit https://www.sheltertosoldier.org.

LA MESA EARTH DAY FESTIVAL APRIL 22

The city of La Mesa invites you to the La Mesa Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MacArthur Park (4900 Memorial Drive, La Mesa).

The free event will include arts and crafts, eco-friendly vendors, a bicycle rodeo and bike activities, a fix-it clinic, food truck, kids zone with bounce house, tile painting for Collier Park, giveaways and more.

For more information or to become a vendor, contact friends@lamesaparks.org

EARTH DAY BOULDER FAIR APRIL 22

For its annual Earth Day celebration, the Desert View Tower and Boulder Park will host a Boulder Fair on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The festivities will include live music by Sage, Victor Bosc, and Sunrise Highway as well as arts and crats, gifts, jewelry, displays of rocks and gemstones, healing herbs and medicinal plants, gardening tips and a plant sale, organic produce, cacao and superfoods, tie dye products, a desert plant walk and a kid zone.

There will also be tamales and Mexican food to purchase, as well as a gourmet coffee truck. Desert View Tower and Boulder Park are located just off I-8 on In-Ko-Pah Road in Jacumba Hot Springs. 

You can learn more at the Desert View Tower page on Facebook.

RAMONA CAR SHOW REVS UP APRIL 22

The Ramona Senior Center will host a car show on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grace Community Church, 1234 Barger Place in Ramona. The event is presented by the Over The Hill Gang Car Club and Ramona American Graffiti Cruise.

Visitors can see muscle cars, classic and custom vehicles, motorcycles, hot rods, trucks and off-road vehicles.

No preregistration is required to participate, though donations are welcome.

The event will also include a silent auction, All Pro live sounds and DJ, raffle prizes, drinks, free hot dogs and trophies for winning participants.

COYOTE MUSIC FESTIVAL, SPRING GARDEN BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL AND MORE ON MAY 6

On May 6, Cuyamaca College is combining several major events for a true springtime extravaganza.

Coyote Music Festival will present a range of amazing artists in The Garden’s Amphitheater all day, from rock-and-roll bands to singer-songwriters’ melodic tunes.

The Water Conservation Garden will host its Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival on May 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Guests can watch butterfly releases and children can join Miss Smarty-Plants and Miss Monarch at a Pollinator Party to hear stories and craft their own Pollinator wings. The Garden will also have specialty vendors, workshops, and food trucks.

In addition, Cuyamaca College’s Ornamental Horticulture Department will hold its largest plant sale of the year in their brand-new nursery. Plus, the Heritage of the America’s Museum will be hosting tours throughout the day.

Find more details at https://thegarden.org.

VINTAGE ALPINE MAY 7 IN ALPINE

You can savor tastes from 25 wineries, 3 breweries and 20 local restaurants at  Vintage Alpine on May 7 from 1-4 p.m. at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs

Vintage Alpine began in 1990 and is now one of the biggest events of its kind in San Diego County.  More than 500 people from all over the Southwest attend the event, which also features relaxing live music in a beautiful garden setting, as well as a silent auction and opportunities to meet wine and food experts.

All proceeds of Vintage Alpine are used by the Kiwanis Club of Alpine to provide services and programs supporting the children of San Diego.

For tickets and reservations, you can visit https://vintagealpine.org/.

WILD IN THE COUNTRY MAY 20 AT LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS IN ALPINE

Lions, Tigers & Bears, a nonprofit exotic animal sanctuary in Alpine, invites you to their annual fundraising bash, Wild in the Country on May 20.  This year’s event features emcees Jagger and Kristi from Magic 92.5 radio, as well as Broadway stars Sandra Joseph and Ron Bohmer, lead actors in Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.  Dinner will be prepared by world renowned chef Jeffrey Strauss, known as “Chef to the Stars” for pleasing the palates of dignitaries, presidents, royalty and entertainment icons.

The main event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on May 20. There is also a pre-event reception for platinum and gold level ticket holders at 1 p.m.

For tickets, visit https://www.lionstigersandbears.org/our-events/wild-in-the-country.

 

LAKESIDE WESTERN DAYS PARADE MAY 20

The theme of this year’s Western Days Parade in Lakeside will be “Fighting for Justice.” District Attorney Summer Stephan will service as grand marshal of the parade on Saturday, April 29.

The 59th annual parade begins at 9:35 a.m. and will proceed along Maine Avenue in downtown Lakeside.

The parade is organized by the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce.  For more information on participating, viewing or sponsoring the parade, visit www.LakesideChamber.org.



 

 


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