DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS & EVENTS APRIL 5 - MAY 15, 2017

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

East County News Service

April 5, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Spring Carnival at Lake Jennings, Sweat Pea Day at Summers Past Farms, a Hot Rods and Chili Cookoff in Jamul, a Taste of Julian, a Bunny Train ride in Campo, and a production of the Dresser in La Mesa.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including a Mariachi concert at Cuyamaca College, an Egg-stravaganza at Santee Lakes, Spring Harp Fest in La Mesa, the opening of Cajon Classic Car Show and outdoor concerts in El Cajon, Clint Black in concert at Sycuan, a Spring Butterfly and Garden Festival, and the San Diego Festival Chorus’ Spring Concert.

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

THIS WEEK:

SPRING CARNIVAL AT LAKE JENNINGS APRIL 8

Thousands of eggs and 1,700 pounds of trout are among the attractions at the Spring Carnival at Lake Jennings slated for Saturday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.   The event will also feature free paddle boating for the whole family, a Kid’s Pond for children under age 10, rainbow trout fishing and of course, an egg hunt. 

The carnival kicks off Spring Break, when Lake Jennings will be open every day from April 7th to April 23rd.  Camping is also available.  You can reserve a campsite online–or a tipi—by visiting lakejennings.org or call (619) 390-1623. 

SWEET PEA DAY APRIL 8 IN FLINN SPRINGS

It’s Sweet Pea Day at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs on Saturday, April 8th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can cut your own bouquet starting at 11 a.m. – until the beautiful blooms are gone. 

You’re invited to weave through a towering sweet pea maze in full glory. You can also picnic on a grassy area or enjoy live music in the coffee bar’s shady pavilion while savoring springtime in East County.  For details and directions, visit www.SummersPastFarms.com.

HOT RODS AND CHILI COOKOFF APRIL 8

The Jamul Kiwanis Club is revving up for its 9th annual Hot Rod and Chili Cook-off on April 8th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pio Pico/ Thousand Trails in Jamul.  Guests can savor chili tasting, check out classic hot rods, cool off in a beer garden, or vie for prizes in drawings and a silent auction.  For more information, you can visit www.JamulKiwanis.org.

TASTE OF JULIAN APRIL 8

The 9th annual Taste of Julian will be held on April 8th, serving up a rural dining adventure.  Taste of Julian is a self-guided culinary tour of unique restaurants, wineries and breweries.  For tickets and details, go to www.VisitJulian.com.

BUNNY TRAINS APRIL 8, 9 and 15 IN CAMPO

Looking for a new way to celebrate the Easter holiday with your family?  Hop aboard the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum’s Bunny Train complete with a train ride, a visit from the Easter Bunny, and an Easter egg hunt as you travel through our beautiful back country.

Bunny Train rides are available on April 8th, 9th and 10th with several departure times. You can purchase tickets at the Campo depot. For details, visit the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum website at www.PSRM.org.

LAMPLIGHTERS THEATRE PRESENTS “THE DRESSER” NOW THROUGH APRIL16

Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa presents “The Dresser" that opened in March and continues through April 15th.  The play focuses on a troupe of Shakespearian actors struggling to keep their group going in the midst of World War II air raids.

For tickets and details, you can visit www.LamplightersLaMesa.com.

NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…

MARIACHI CONCERT APRIL 13 AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE

Arriba! Mariachi Real de San Diego will perform a concert on April 13th at 7:30 p.m. at Cuyamaca College’s Performing Arts Theatre in Rancho San Diego.

The mariachi band has performed in movies, TV shows, the Super Bowl, the World Series and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. 

For tickets ($8 adults, $5 students) and details visit www.cuyamaca.edu.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA APRIL 15 AT SANTEE LAKES

The City of Santee and Santee Lakes present the 14th annual Spring Eggstravaganza at Santee Lakes Recreation on Saturday, April 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Lake number 5.

Kids of all ages can enjoy a variety of 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 during the event on Egg Hunt Island for children ages 4 through 8 and in the Egg hunt basket for those ages 3 and under.  Parents, please 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.

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.

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. 

Black has sold over 20 million albums worldwide including 22 number one hits. Recordings such as “A Better Man,” “Killin’ Time,” “Like the Rain”, “When I Said I Do" and “Nothin’ But the Taillights” have led to honors from the Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music, The Grammys, and the American Music Awards, as well as membership in the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. 

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

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. 

Parade applications are available at 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.

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.

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.