DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS & EVENTS MARCH 14 - APRIL 5

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March 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes Tomatomania, a healthy living fair, a desert art show, and St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Ramona Music Festival, the HarpFest Harmonica extragavanza, and Vallecito Day bringing frontier times to life. Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.

EAST COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY CONCERT MARCH 13

Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theatre

The East County Youth Symphony orchestra will perform a concert in collaboration with the Cuyamaca College String Orchestra and Choir on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. .The concert will be held at the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theater (900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in El Cajon. Admission is $8, or $5 for students.)

FRIDAY WITH FRANK AT SAN PASQUAL WINERY MARCH 13

San Pasqual Winery invites you to Friday with Frank Sinatra, featuring Sinatra-era music and sparkling drinks such as"Bubbly Blonde"& "Classy but Sassy" on Friday March 13th from noon to 9 p.m. For details you can visit http://www.sanpasqualwinery.com/

TOMATOMANIA AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE MARCH 14

Tomatomania, the world’s largest heirloom tomato seedling sale, is coming to Cuyamaca College on March 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event showcases perhaps the most drought tolerant vegetable of all with a  collection of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes. You can also learn how to grow perfect tomatoes in two classes offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. In addition, author Scott Daigre, author of Tomatomania, will be on hand signing copies of his book.

Admission to the Tomatomania plant sale event is free, though there is a nominal fee for presentations ($5 for members of the Water Conservation Garden, $10 for nonmenbers). For more information, visit www.TomatoMania.com.

ST. PATRICK’S WEEKEND RACES, BEER& WINE FESTIVAL MARCH 15

St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities in East County are slated for Sunday, March 15th in downtown El Cajon at Main Street and Magnolia.   Choose from a half marathon, a 5K run or a green mile competition to compete for a large cash prize pot, medals, and  free drinks after the races at the St. Patrick’s Beer & Wine Festival.  There’s also a Leprechaun challenge for racers dressed like leprechauns vying to win a costume contest.

For full details, visit http://www.stpatricksdayhalf.com/

CIRCLE OF ART SHOW IN BORREGO SPRINGS MARCH 14-15

Desert artwork will be on display at the Circle of Art Show in Borrego Springs on March 14th and 15th. This juried art show will showcase “California’s Secret Desert” with exhibits that include paintings, sculptures, weavings, jewelry and photography.  For details visit http://circle-of-art.org/

SPRING INTO HEALTHY LIVING MARCH 18 IN SANTEE

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and partner agencies are hosting a free community health fair called “Spring into Healthy Living” at the Cameron Family YMCA (10123 Riverwalk Drive) in Santee on Wednesday March 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon.  Vendors and exhibitors will be offering free health screenings plus information on Senior Services, County Programs, Healthy Lifestyle, De-cluttering, Maximizing the Brain, Volunteer Opportunities, Breast Health, and much more!  Attendees may RSVP by calling the AARP Reservation line at 1-877-926-8300

GOING NATIVE: ART AND AUTHORS AT O’’DUNN FINE ART MARCH 18

You can meet artist Vanessa Rusczyk and Sunbelt Publishers’ authors Philip Pryde, Diana Lindsay, Jack Innis and Nicholas Clapp, writers covering nature in our region. It’s all part of a “Going Native” spring equinox celebration on Friday, March 20th from 6 to 9 p.m at O’Dunn Fine Art (8325 La Mesa Blvd) in La Mesa. The evening of art and book signings also includes refreshments. For more information, visit http://www.odunnfineart.com/ .

Now for a preview of coming attractions….

VALLECITO DAY MARCH 28 CELEBRATES FRONTIER DAYS AND CATTLE DRIVES

Take a trip back in time to life on the 1860s frontier during Vallecito Day on Saturday, March 28th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Vallecito County Park.  This year’s event focuses on cattle drives and cattle ranching along the Southern Overland Trail, with cattle ranching demonstrations as well as the arrival of trial riders on horseback.

You can also visit with pioneer men and women in period attire, visit a mountain man camp and hear historic talks, as well as experiencing frontier equipment, crafts and firearms.  Visitors are encouraged to dress in frontier attire. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch, since there is no food at the site. Vallecito County Park is located in the Anza Borrego Desert on County Route S-2( at Mile Marker 34-35.  For more information, visit http://www.sdparks.org

RAMONA MUSIC FEST MARCH 28

The Ramona Music Fest will be held March 28th in Ramona, featuring emerging talent and popular San Diego musicians playing everything from rock to reggae and from country to Americana.  This all-day outdoor event benefits the Ramona Rotary and  Kiwanis Clubs.

The festivalwill be held at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, also known as the Rodeo/Fair Grounds at the northeast end of downtown Ramona. For details, visit www.RamonaMusicFest.org.

EASTER BUNNY TRAIN MARCH 28-29 AND APRIL 4

The Easter Bunny Train will be rolling out of the Campo Depot at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum on March 28 and 29 and on April 4th. This annual family event includes a ride aboard the vintage train and an Easter egg hunt. For details visit www.PSRM.org .

EGGSTRAVAGANZA AT SANTEE LAKES APRIL 4

Santee Lakes invites the public to its annual Eggstravaganza on April 4th. This community event features continuous egg hunts for children ages 8 and under, live entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides, craft booths and carnival rides brought to you by the City of Santee and the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. For full details, hop on over to www.SanteeLakes.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 http://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!

HARP FEST HARMONICA EXTRAVAGANZA APRIL 4 IN LA MESA

12 top bands will take stage at the 16th annual Spring Harp Fest, a harmonica extravaganza at La Mesa’s Harry Griffen Park on Saturday, April 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. This will be an all-day harmonica music. This annual outdoor family-friendly musical tribute is a fundraiser to support children’s music education in San Diego. Last year the organization donated $3000.00 of the proceeds to the Blues Lovers United of San Diego’s Blues in the Schools program to help pass the love of the harmonica on to the next generation. For a full lineup see http://www.springharpfest.org/

We’ll be back next week with more festivals, events and attractions in San Diego’s East County!

 


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