DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS MARCH 6-27

By Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2019 (San Diego's East County) – This week’s destination East County includes the musical Mary Poppins in Spring Valley, Tomatomania at the Water Conservation Garden, and Quartet Luminosos at Mission Trails.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Baroque, Renaissance and Classical music in El Cajon, Arlo Guthrie performing in Poway, a St. Patrick’s Day lucky adventure at Fort Cross in Santa Ysabel, Hooleyfest and more St. Patrick’s Day activities at Grossmont Center, Sha Na Na at Sycuan, the Danny Green Trio at Cuyamaca College, Les Miserables at Steele Canyon High School,  the 1000 Lights Festival at Santee Lakes, Arbor Day in El Cajon, Latin heart throb Roberto Carlos in concert at SDSU and an Off Broadway Live performance of The Bridge in Santee.

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

MARY POPPINS MARCH 7-17 IN SPRING VALLEY

Young Actors Theatre will present the musical, “Mary Poppins” March 7-17 at the Encore Theatre in Spring Valley. Based on the books and the classic Disney movie, the stage production of Mary Poppins received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. 

Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the magical nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it." You can get tickets at the Young Actors Theatre website at www.YATsandiego.org.

TOMATOMANIA MARCH 9-10 AT THE GARDEN

Tomatomania, the world’s largest heirloom tomato seedling sale, is coming to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego on Saturday and Sunday, March 9th and 10th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

You can choose from dozens of varieties to plant in your garden and talk with experts about the various tomato varieties. For more information, you can visit www.TheGarden.org.

QUARTET LUMINOSO MARCH 10 AT MISSION TRAILS CHURCH

Quartet Luminoso will perform on Sunday, March 10th from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mission Trails Church (4880 Zion Ave., San Diego) as the Second Sunday community concert series continues. The quartet includes clarinet, violin, viola and cello.

For a full list of all upcoming concerts in this series, visit the Facebook page for Second Sunday Community Concerts.

BAROQUE, RENAISSANCE AND CLASSICAL MUSIC MARCH 16 IN EL CAJON

A celebration of music spring concert on March 16 at 4 p.m. will feature the combined forces of San Diego State University choirs, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts choirs, plus a battalion of brass, organ and percussion. The performance will be at the the First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon, 500 Farragut Circle, El Cajon.

The musical groups will perform Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic music.

For tickets ($8 in advance, at the door $10), call 619-442-2583.

ARLO GUTHRIE MARCH 16 IN POWAY

Famed folk musician Arlo Guthrie will perform a special concert at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts (15409 Espola Rd., Poway) on Saturday, March 16th at 8 p.m.

Son of activist singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie’s career in music has spanned nearly 60 years. He first performed in public at age 13 and his first debut song of his own, Alice’s Restaurant, became a protest anthem.  He grew up around such well-known artists as Pete Seeger, with whom he collaborated for over 40 years. 

For tickets, visit http://www.powaycenter.com.  

ST. PATRICK’S DAY LUCKY ADVENTURE AT FORT CROSS OLD-TIMEY ADVENTURES MARCH 17

You’re invited to a St. Patrick’s Day Lucky Adventure on March 17th at 2 p.m. at Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures in Santa Ysabel, just outside of Julian.

Learn some history about St. Patrick as you kick up your heels with an Irish jig and jug band music, see snakes like those driven out of Ireland in a reptile show, target some four leaf clovers with slingshots, enjoy a petting zo, and venture into a land of leprechaun magic as you seek some special treasures in a scavenger hunt. For information on costs and details, you can visit https://www.fortcross.com.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LA MESA MARCH 16-17

Several St. Patrick’s Day activities are planned in La Mesa in March.

Hooley’s Public House is celebrating 20 years in East County with the return of Hooleyfest on Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17 at Hooley’s Grossmont Center location. The hours Saturday are 5 p.m. to midnight and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Ticket are available in advance at Hooleys or at the door.

On Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on March 17th, Grossmont Center kicks off a St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun Run, followed by a kids’ concert from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Later on Sunday, Grossmont Center will host Whiskey Ridge and the ‘80s All Stars in concert.

SHA NA NA MARCH 17 AT SYCUAN

Rock and roll doo-wop legends Sha Na Na will appear in concert at Sycuan’s Live Up Close theatre on March 17th at 8 p.m.

The group rose to stardom with their portrayal of Johnny Casino & the Gamblers in the movie Grease—the highest grossing musical film of all time, performing six songs on the soundtrack. The band’s piano player, “Screamin’” Scott Simon, co-wrote the song “Sandy” for John Travolta to perform. The group also starred in four seasons of their own TV series, the Sha Na Na Show.

Sha Na Na’s latest album, Greaser High School Hop, showcases 25 of the greatest dance hits of the ‘50s and ‘60s, including “The Bop,” “The Twist,” “The Stroll,” “The Monkey,” “The Jerk,” “The Cha Cha,” and “The Hokey Pokey.”

For tickets, you can visit www.Sycuan.com.

ARBOR DAY IN EL CAJON MARCH 16

The City of El Cajon will hold its 30th annual Arbor Day celebration on Saturday March 16th at 8 a.m. at Hillside Park (840 Buena Terrace), receiving the Tree City USA Award.

Trees can reduce the erosion of topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. 

Volunteers are invited to help 20 plant trees in Hillside Park, along with the Lion’s Club and Key Club from Granite Hills and El Cajon Valley High School. 

SDG&E arborists will be on hand to provide tips on tree planting, plus you can get conservation information at displays by SDG&E, Waste Management, the Helix Water District and the San Diego Regional Urban Forests Council will have displays providing conservation tips.

DANNY GREEN TRIO AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE MARCH 21

The Danny Green Trio will perform at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego on Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 p.m. 

This jazz group’s debut CD won the 2009 San Diego Music Award for best jazz album. The trio is led by pianist, composer and Grossmont College music instructor Danny Green ando also includes Grossmont College music instructor and jazz bassist extraordinaire Justin Grinnell plus the versatile Julien Cantelm on drums.

For tickets ($5) visit the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Department’s webpage. Visit www.cuyamaca.edu for a full list of concerts.

LES MISERABLES MARCH 20-24 AT STEELE CANYON HIGH SCHOOL

Steele Canyon High School in Spring Valley (12440 Campo Rd.) presents the world’s longest running musical, Les Misérables March 20-24.This modern classic, based on Victor Hugo’s novel, features one of the most memorable musical  scores of all time. The production includes live orchestral accompaniment.

The musical, set in 19th century France, features Jean Valjean, released from years of unjust imprisonment, as he struggles to start a new life and gain redemption amid turbulent times including a Paris student uprising. Poignant, epic and uplifting, Les Misérables illustrates the triumph of the human spirit epitomized in the song, “Do You Hear The People Sing?”

Discount tickets can be reserved and purchased online at www.schscougars.org or at the box office.

1000 LIGHTS FESTIVAL AT SANTEE LAKES MARCH 23

The 1000 Lights Festival will be held at Santee Lakes on March 23rd from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring a beautiful spectacle of twinkling lights from floating lanterns as well as lively entertainment and food.

For tickets, visit www.1000LightsFestival.com.

ROBERTO CARLOS AT SDSU MARCH 24

Roberto Carlos, Brazil’s number one singer, will be performing on Sunday, March 24 at 8 p.m. at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at San Diego State University. The Latin music idol revered in many nations for his romantic music and sensual performances returns after five years to stage his “Amor Sin Limite” (Unlimited Love)” in cities across the U.S. Carlos had written over 600 ballads and has recorded duets with Jenifer Lopez and Alejandro Sanz. 

For tickets ($39 to $149), visit www.BrazilianNites.com or call (818) 566-1111.  For more information, visit https://gem.godaddy.com/p/5b84bd.

OFF BROADWAY LIVE’S “THE BRIDGE” CONTINUES NOW THROUGH APRIL 13 IN SANTEE

Off Broadway Live theatre in Santee will present “The Bridge”, which opened March 2nd and runs through April 13th.  A special showing on March 24th will benefit homeless children and teens at Father Joe’s Villages.

The musical focuses on six people whose lives were forever changed by what happened one night on a bridge. The bridge knows their secrets and during a reunion of their high school football championship season, everyone will be there – and the bridge is waiting.

For tickets and details, visit https://www.OffBroadwayLive.com.

​That’s all for this week! You can find details on all of these events and more in the

calendar and events section at our website, www.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!