DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS OCT. 15-31

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East County News Service

October 11, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes an air show, a haunted trail, howl-o-ween hounds, fair-trade shopping, a barbecue cook-off, and a pumpkin patch with activities galore.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Haunt Fest on Main, Stoney’s Boo Bash, and the College Area Boo Parade.

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

RAMONA AIR FAIR AND FLY-IN OCT.  15

The annual Ramona Air Fair & Fly-in is back! From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, visitors to San Diego County’s Ramona Airport will have the chance to get close-up looks at vintage WWII airplanes, experimental aircraft, helicopters and firefighting air tankers, plus tour the airport’s air tower. They’ll also get to watch the Red Eagles Formation Display Team fly at noon and listen to the Del Rio Band play country and southern rock music from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will also be free face-painting and balloon-animal making for kids, and drawings to win prizes. Visitors can tour the Classic Rotors Helicopter Museum, the U.S. Forest Service’s helitack base and the CAL FIRE air attack base.

The airport is located at 2926 Montecito Rd. in Ramona.

For more information, visit www.SDCountyAirports.com (or see the event page at http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/airports.html).

OMA’S PUMPKIN PATCH: TUES.-SAT.  IN OCTOBER

Van Ommering Dairy in Lakeside invites you to visit Oma’s Pumpkin Patch, open Tuesdays through Saturdays in October from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Patch includes hayrides, petting corral, play equipment, a cottonseed mountain for climbing and sliding down, a sand pile with toy trucks and tractors, pedal cart and tricycle race track, kid-powered games and a hay bale maze.

You can also choose pumpkins from small to over 100 pounds, check out a farm gift shop and the cow country café.   (Admission $10 per child includes all of the above plus pumpkin and water bottle, $5 per adult.)  For details and directions, you can visit www.OmasPumpkinPatch.com.

 DOS PICOS HAUNTED TRAIL OCT. 15 AND 22

The woods will come to life with creatures along the Dos Picos Park Haunted Trail in Ramona on Saturday, October 15th and 22nd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join rangers and spirit guides in the day-use by the restroom for guided hikes lasting about 20 minutes and challenging terrain. Wear warm clothes or costumes, along with sturdy shoes.  Bring a flashlight and an adult, kids!  Rain will cancel this haunting event. Dos Picos County Park is located at 17953 Dos Picos Road in Ramona. (For details,  call the park at (760) 789-2220 or visit the Facebook event page.)

HOWL-O-WEEN HOUNDS – PET ADOPTION EVENT OCT. 15 IN LA MESA

Over one hundred dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and rabbits from local rescue groups will be at Grossmont Center looking for a loving home on October 15th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will be able to meet, play and learn more about each pet. Plus, if you find your perfect match – you can adopt and take your new furry friend home this Halloween! This event will take place in the West Court by Chuze Fitness and Fuddruckers. For a full list of animal rescue organizations that will be participating, visit www.GrossmontCenter.com.

FAIR TRADE SHOPPING OCT. 16 IN LA MESA

The holiday season is coming and you’re invited for a Fair Trade Shopping event on Sunday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours’ Parish (7710 El Cajon Blvd.) in La Mesa.

Home décor, jewelry, crafts and more will be among the fair trade gift items available.

TAILGATE BARBECUE COMPETITION IN SPRING VALLEY OCT. 16

Fire up your barbecues and get your best recipes ready!  The 7th annual Spring Valley Tailgate BBQ Festival is looking for participants in its annual barbecue competition.

The event is sponsored by Cali Comfort Restaurant and the Marso Walchef Youth Empowerment Organization to raise funds for youth sports.  The barbecue competition will be held on Sunday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Troy Street in Spring Valley outside Cali Comfort’ restaurant.  Besides sampling barbecue, you can also visit a beer garden, shop at street vendors, enjoy live music and plenty of family fun.

For info on how to enter your amateur BBQ team call 619-490-0684 or visit http://www.CaliComfortBBQ.com.


NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS….

HAUNTFEST ON MAIN OCT. 21 IN EL CAJON

The fifth annual “HauntFest on Main” will take place on Main Street in downtown El Cajon on October 21st from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. Costume Contests will be held on the Main Street stage. There will also be carnival rides, crafts, games, a car show, candy challenge, Kids Zone with outdoor movies, face painting, a pumpkin patch, inflatables, rock wall and performances by local dance groups.

In addition, this Halloween-themed event features live music on 2 stages including “Out of the Ashes” with Linda Ray from 5:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., and the “Amazing 80's All Stars” from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  For more information, you can check out www.Hauntfest.org.

OAKOASIS HAUNTED TRAIL OCT. 22 IN LAKESDE


You’re invited for a dark and scary hike at Oakoasis County Preserve (12620 Wildcat Canyon Road) in Lakeside on Saturday, October 22nd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

A park staff Spirit Guide will lead you along the haunted trail, weather permitting.  Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers. (For more information, call the park at (619) 561-0580 or visit the Facebook event page.)

STONEY’S BOO BASH OCT. 27 AT SYCUAN

On Halloween weekend, Sycuan Golf Resort will host Stoney's Boo Bash is on Thursday, October 27 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit needy children in East County through Stoney’s Kids Legacy.

A costume is optional, but you can enjoy a cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres, live and silent auctions, dinner, a no-host bar and a costume contest.  It promises to be a spooktacular evening!

For tickets and reservations, you can visit http://www.stoneyskidslegacy.org/.

COLLEGE AREA BOO! PARADE OCT. 29

Celebrating its 12th year, the Boulevard BOO! Parade will be held on Saturday, October 29th starting at 10:00am. With over 70 entries of live entertainment marching on one mile of El Cajon Boulevard the parade will entertain you with spooky ghouls, goblins, ghosts and witches to fill you with the Halloween spirit.

Special guests from the past 12 years include local and national celebrities and political personalities, and a Grand Marshall to bring a smile to all who attend. Hosted by the College Area Business District, the Boulevard BOO! Parade attracts thousands of spectators. You can best view the BOO! Parade is best along the south side of El Cajon Boulevard between Rolando Boulevard and 60th Street.

For more information, visit http://collegeareabid.com/.

JULIAN MELODRAMA EACH WEEKEND IN OCTOBER

The Julian Triangle Club presents its 60th annual melodrama, “The Stalwart Surveyor” otherwise known as ”The Man Who Sank the Cuyamaca Float.” The melodrama will be presented Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoons each weekend in October. 

This was the first Melodrama that was written specifically for and about the town of Julian 49 years ago. The features a heroine in distress with the handsome hero rescuing her from the evil villain in a tale about actual events surrounding a property dispute that took place in the Julian-Cuyamaca Lake area. That includes an evil-doer trying to acquire land through shady means and the surveyor who persevered to save the land for its rightful owners. Of course, there is romance brewing and tense moments when danger lurks and all seems lost.

For tickets and details, visit www.JulianMelodrama.com.


HALLOSCREAM SAPSTRAVAGANZA OCT. 29 IN SPRING VALLEY

Saps at Sea, a local Laurel and Hardy club, invites you to experience that “wonderful time of the fear”—the return of the ”Halloscream Sapstravaganza” on Oct. 29 at Williams Hall Trinity Church (3902 Kenwood Drive) in Spring Valley.

The event includes showings of the spooky cartoon Pink Plasma, in which the Pink Panther arrives at Dracula's Castle for a good night’s sleep. Then in the film Habeas Corpus, Laurel and Hardy arrive at the home of a mad scientist who needs a body from the local Cemetery for his experiments. As a special added treat, Russ Peck will perform a live musical score with sound effects. There will also be a surprise guest comedian and a showing of The Laurel and Hardy Murder Case, plus more.

You can come in costume to win a prize and enjoy treats.  For more chilling details, you can visit http://www.SapsatSea.com.

SCOTTY’S SCARE TRAIL:  THURS-SUN.  NOW THROUGH OCT. 30

Scotty’s Scare Trail, one of East County’s most haunting attractions, will be open at the abandoned Marshal Scotty’s amusement park in El Cajon for a full month every Thursday through Sunday now through October 30th between 7 to 11 p.m.

The trail is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of former park employees.  This year, you can see the Bumper Car carnage, the Slaughter trailer and the haunted park offices, visit the frightening Ferris wheel and brace yourself as you walk through the remains of the death coaster. Organizers promise that Marshal Scary Scotty's Scare Trail is packed full of spine tingling, heart pounding effects that are so real they will keep you screaming for your life as you try to find your way out.

(The park is located at 14039 Ridge Hill Rd., El Cajon at the Lake Jennings exit, next to Canyon Speedway.  Tickets are $15.This attraction is not recommended for children under 10 or those subject to seizures. Pregnant women, infants and small children are not allowed.)

For more information, you can visit  http://www.scottysscaretrail.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!


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