Printer-friendly version
By Miriam Raftery
September 4, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County features berry picking in Julian, the Sycuan powwow, Kids Care Fest, grape stomps in Julian, Campo and Ramona and the grand opening of the Magnolia Center in El Cajon.
Plus, we have a preview of coming events including the Santee Bluegrass Festival, Fall at the Farm in Julian, Astronomy Night on Mt. Helix, Mean Mary in concert in Santee and concerts and classic cruises in El Cajon.
So scroll down for all of these events and many more!
BERRY PICKING AT JULIAN FARM AND ORCHARD
Julian Farm and Orchard has 24 acres with over 2,000 berry plants. On Saturdays and Sundays from now through September, you can pick blackberries and raspberries from 12 to 3 p.m.
The farm is located just up the road from Julian Mining Company at 4381 Highway 78 on the Santa Ysabel side of the highway.
SYCUAN POWWOW SEPT. 6-8
The Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay nation will hold its 30th annual powwow from Friday evening, September 6 through Sunday, September 8 at the Sycuan powwow ground (5577 Dehesa Rd., El Cajon).
The event features bird singing and Native American dance competitions, drumming, Native arts and crafts vendors, foods and more.
For details on the powwow, visit https://sctca.net/flyer/30th-annual-sycuan-powwow/.
JULIAN GRAPE STOMP FESTA SEPT. 7
Fall is harvest season at East County’s wineries. On September 7th, the 23rd annual Julian Grape Stomp Festa will be held at Menghini Winery (1150 Julian Orchards Drive) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can join in the Old World tradition by kicking off your shoes and squishing grapes beneath your feet. There is an admission cost, as well as an optional VIP package that includes shaded seating, a gourmet cheese platter, snacks and more.
For full details or tickets, check out VisitJulian.com and click on the September 7th Grape Stomp Festa event on their calendar. (https://visitjulian.com/to-see-do/special-events/grape-stomp/)
CAMPO GRAPE PICKING AND STOMPING PARTY SEPT. 7
Campo Creek Vineyards (29556 Highway 94 in Campo) will host a grape picking and stomping party complete with barbecue on September 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event admission ($20 for ages 6 and up) includes barbecue trip tip and chicken provided by Heftyboy BBQ and one beverage.
Additional drink tickets are available, along with wine by the glass, water and soda.
RSVP by September 1t at (619) 478-5222 or at www.CampoCreekVineyards.com.
MAGNOLIA CENTER OPENING SEPT. 10
The Magnolia Center, formerly know as the East County Performing Arts Center, will host its grand reopening on September 10th from 5 to 8 p.m. The City of El Cajon and Live Nation invite the public to the event which includes food, fun, activities, prizes, tours, presentations.
The Magnolia has a full season of stellar entertainment lined up starting September 12th. For tickets and the full lineup, visit www.MagnoliaSanDiego.com or the Magnolia on Facebook.
RAMONA GRAPE STOMP SEPT. 14
The annual Ramona Grape Stomp will be held on Saturday, September 14th from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center (421 Aqua Lane).
Guests are invited to take part in the grape stomp competition or squish grapes just for fun. You can also sample award-winning local wines and craft beers, do some early holiday shopping with over 40 artisans and merchants, find treasures in a silent auction, and for kids, there will be face painting and other children’s activities.
For tickets to the Ramona Grape Stomp and more information, you can visit https://www.ramonagrapestomp.com/.
SANTEE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL SEPT. 14
The City of Santee Parks & Recreation Committee’s annual Bluegrass Festival, a fundraiser for people, parks, and programs, is scheduled for Sept. 14 at Town Center Community Park. This year’s event marks a decade in existence for the festival.
This year’s musical lineup features two talented bluegrass bands, the Vulcan Mt. Boys and MohaviSoul plus tastes from local restuarants, wineries and breweries.
Beyond the music, food and drink samples, the event includes giving trees featuring a wide range of donated gifts, including gift certificates for restaurants and local attractions, hotel stays, and more. Attendees can also purchase opportunity drawing tickets for a chance to win additional prizes.
Since the inaugural charity event in 2010, the festival has generated nearly $325,000, and attendance has grown to nearly 2,000.
Proceeds from the festival are used to support the Santee Teen Center, park improvement projects, and to subsidize recreation scholarship programs for seniors and low- and moderate-income families.
Festival information is available at www.santeebluegrassfestival.com.
ASTRONOMY NIGHT ON MT. HELIX SEPT. 14
The San Diego Astronomy Association will host Astronomy Night in the Mt. Helix Park on September 14 starting at 6 p.m.
Park at the fire station on Vivera to take a shuttle to the top of Mt. Helix, where telescopes will be set up and lights turned off. If you are disabled and need assistance, call 619 741-4363.
Here are some of the celestial sights you may observe: a nearly full moon rising, bright planets including Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, constellations, the Andromeda Galaxy, nebulas and more.
You can find more information at www.MtHelixPark.org.
MEAN MARY IN CONCERT SEPT. 21 IN SANTEE
International touring musician Mean Mary will be performing in Santee on September 21 at 7 p.m. in the Summit UU Fellowship on Cottonwood Ave.
Known internationally for her lightning-fast fingers and throaty vocal sound, Mean Mary’s songs travel the genres of roots, bluegrass, blues, and folk rock.
Her real name is Mary James, and she could read music before she could read words and started writing songs at age five. By age seven she was proficient on vocals, guitar, banjo, and violin, setting out on road shows, pus TV, radio, and film appearances. Today, she plays eleven instruments and tours internationally.
She is also an award-winning song writer. Her original banjo song, Iron Horse, the story of Native American maiden and her horse racing against a train, was named best Americana song by the Independent Music Award.
Born in Alabama to a family that lived in a tent before building a cabin in the woods, Mary grew up roughing it before launching her musical career. But just as her success was taking off, a vehicle accident injured her neck, paralyzed one of her vocal cords. She kept singing—and it paid off when miraculously her vocal cord recovered.
The September 21st show in the Santee UU Fellowship Church will include songs from Mean Mary’s new Cold album CD to be released Oct. 4--and a lot of her old favorites as well.
FALL AT THE FARM SEPT. 21-OCT. 31
Julian Farm and Orchard (4381 State Route 78) invites you to Fall at the Farm, each weekend from September 21st through October 31st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The fun includes hayrides, apple cider pressing, a pumpkin patch, farm animals, berry and apple picking. You can also see an apple pie making demonstration, or try your hand at archery, candle-dipping or axe-throwing.
A seasonal farm store called “The Farmer’s Wife” features farmhouse décor, homemade candles, poutpourri, goat’s milk soap and more country wares.
You can find more information at www.JulianMiningCompany.com and click on the U-pick link to find activities at Julian Farm and Orchard, under the same family ownership.
KIDS CARE FEST OCT. 5
Grossmont Healthcare District invites you to Kids Care Fest on Saturday, October 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center (3131 School Lane in Lemon Grove).
The event includes healthy fun for the kid in all of us including fun and active games, plus dental and vision screenings, flu shots and more. For details, visit www.KidsCareFest.org.
DINNER AND A CONCERT SERIES IN EL CAJON
El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert series is held each Friday evening at Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon from 6 to 8 p.m. Shows will continue through September. You can bring a picnic dinner, or dine early at one of the many restaurants nearby before rocking out at the outdoor concerts.
Upcoming concerts include Stars on the Water-Yacht Rock on September 6th, a Tom Petty Tribute by the Pettybreakers on September 13tg, The Mighty Untouchables with contemporary and dance music on September 20th and Back to the Garden’s Beatles Show on September 27th for the season finale with a special 6:30 start time.
For full details, visit www.DowntownElCajon.com.
EL CAJON CLASSIC CRUISES EACH WEDNESDAY
El Cajon’s Classic Cruise Nights continue in the fall months each Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. along Main Street in the heart of downtown El Cajon.
For a full schedule of events, you can visit https://downtownelcajon.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 soon with more festivals, events and attractions in San Diego’s East County!
Recent comments