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By Miriam Raftery
March 27, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Spring Harp Fest in La Mesa, a comedy film night in Spring Valley, Hawk Talk at Mission Trails, a Lilac Festival in Santa Ysabel, and jazz great Chuck McPherson at Cuyamaca College.
Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including an event honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest, Meet the Winemakers Weekend, a dance presentation of the Constitution, Sweet Pea Days at Summers Past Farms, Cajon Classic Cruises season opener, Heritage of the Americas Museum’s anniversary celebration, an antique and crafts fair, and the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra’s spring concert.
So scroll down for all of these events and many more!
SPRING HARP FEST MARCH 31 IN LA MESA
Harmonica players from far and wide will participate in the 19th annual Spring Harp Fest on Saturday, March 31st from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa.
The lineup of top players and a harmonica jam fest at the event all help benefit music programs in local schools. You can also shop for harmonicas and other musical items.
For details, visit SpringHarpFest.org.
THE SAPS AT SEA PROUDLY PRESENT COMIC CALAMITIES NIGHT MARCH 31
Saps at Sea, San Diego’s Laurel & Hardy fan organization, continue their slam-bang festival of funtastic films on Saturday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Church in Spring Valley.
The Saps will screen a Tex Avery cartoon and the hilarious short "Going Bye-Bye!" followed by a mistaken identity laugh fest in “The Pip from Pittsburgh” and more. For details, visit the Saps at Sea San Diego Facebook page.
HAWK TALK APRIL 1 AT MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK
Mission Trails Regional Park invites you to a “Hawk Talk” this Sunday, April 1st from 9 a.m. to noon in the Visitor Center.
Local falconer Bob Gordon and his feathered friend, Huxley, a Harris Hawk, will be on hand to allow you an opportunity to get an up-close look at this majestic bird of prey while learning about local raptors.
Learn more at the Mission Trails Regional Park website at MTRP.org.
JAZZ GREAT CHUCK MCPHERSON AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE APRIL 5
Here’s music to the ears of jazz fans: legendary jazz saxophonist Charles McPherson will give a free talk and music demonstration April 5 at 11:30 a.m. at Cuyamaca College’s theatre.
“Conversations with a Legend: Charles McPherson” is part of a class titled “Arts and Culture in San Diego” taught by communication instructor Lindy Brazil. The program is open to the public.
Brazil calls McPherson “a delightful story-teller and masterful musician.”
McPherson, who is 79 and lives in San Diego, has inspired generations of musicians and listeners for more than a half-century. Most famous for his work from 1960 to 1972 with virtuoso bassist and composer Charles Mingus, McPherson’s rich style, rooted in the blues and bebop, and his jazz-improvising skills are still very much a part of the jazz music scene.
He has recorded with many famous artists including the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. He continues to tour worldwide and give clinics, including the summer jazz programs at Stanford University and UC San Diego.
For more information, you can visit www.cuyamaca.edu.
LILAC FESTIVAL CONTINUES EACH WEEKEND THROUGH APRIL 29
Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures invites you to a Lilac Festival at their site, located on Highway 78 in Santa Ysabel just outside of Julian. The event takes place each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting March 24th and running through April. On April 1st, there will also be an Easter Egg hunt.
Festival activities include tours of the lilac groves, a petting zoo, hayride, jug band show, archery, tomahawk throwing and a ghost town slingshot range. Visitors can also paint vases and dip candles to take home, as well as plant seeds and learn about gardening. For more information, you can visit www.FortCross.com.
NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS…
REMEMBERING MARTIN LUTHER KING. JR. APRIL 7 IN LEMON GROVE
The Lemon Grove Historical Society will continue its Remembrance Project on April 7th at 2 p.m. in the Lemon Grove branch of the county library, to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Discussing this shattering historic moment will be Dr. Dayo Gore professor of Ethnic Studies at UCSD and Dr. John Warren recipient of a 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. "unsung hero award" from the California state legislature and publisher of San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, the area's leading African American newspaper for over half a century.
Lemon Grove historical society president Helen Ofield will moderate the panel. Head librarian Charlotte King-Mills will introduce the program and display related books on Dr. King.
PEG LEG SMITH LIARS CONTEST APRIL 7
The Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest dates back more than a century, and you’re invited to come spin your best treasure hunting tale. This year’s event will be held April 1 starting at 7 p.m. at a new location: the American Legion Hall (4515 Borrego Springs Road) in Borrego Springs, where you also enjoy a chuckwagon dinner.
Thomas Smith, known as “Peg Leg” was a mountain man, fur trapper, guide, prospector, horse thief and notorious liar. He boasted of finding a fortune in gold, but claimed he fled from Indians and could never find his lost riches again. Many have searched since then, but the trove has never been found.
At the contest, no reading is allowed. You can speak, sing, or recite poetry to convey your tall tale of searching or finding Peg Leg’s lost gold – all around a blazing campfire. Costumes and props are encouraged, along with team work – so feel free to bring along your merry band of prevaricators, musicians, a mule or two, or whatever else may enhance your presentation.
Families are welcome and there is a children’s category, too. In the past, the event was held at the Peg Leg Smith monument, but that site is now within the Anza Borrego Desert State Park and no longer available for the event. Fortunately, the American Legion Post offered up its venue to the Committee to Accumulate Curious Tales of Incredibility, or CACTI, organizers of the annual liar’s contest-so the fabulous fib-fest will go on.
You can find more information on the calendar at www.EastCountyMagazine.org.
MEET THE WINEMAKER WEEKEND APRIL 7-8 IN RAMONA
The Ramona Valley Vineyard Association presents Meet the Winemaker Weekend, taking place at 10 local Ramona wineries on April 7th, 2018 and April 8th. The event features a behind the scene taste including award-winning wines and exclusive meetings with the winery owners and winemakers.
The weekend also includes winery tours, a happy hour at Reds, Whites and Brews, boxed lunch and breakfast, depending which day you attend. For tickets, you can visit RamonaValleyVineyards.com.
KIDZ DANZ KOMPANY PRESENTS “THE CONSTITUTION” APRIL 13 AND 14
Constitution, the dance, is coming to the San Diego Performing Arts Center (4579 Mission Gorge Place) April 13-14 thanks to La Mesa based Kidz Danz Kompany and Visionary Dance Theatre.
This show is about “the Constitution and its impact on our country, from its founding, to its present day, and things such as the 3/5 clause of the constitution which states that African Americans were only 3/5 of a human being,” says Powell, who founded the dance group in the 1990s.
For tickets (available online through March 31) and more information, visit http://visionarydancetheatre.org/Visionary/2018-TheConstitution. Tickets will also be available at the box office if not sold out in advance.
SWEET PEA DAY AT SUMMERS PAST FARMS APRIL 14 IN FLINN SPRINGS
Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs, just east of El Cajon, invites you to Sweet Pea Day on Saturday, April 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit a towering sweet pea maze at this event celebrating the fragrant, old-fashioned flowers in their full glory.
You can preview the maze from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and cut your own bouquet starting at 11 a.m. until they are gone—which doesn’t take long!
Guests can also enjoy live music with Jim Earp on a shady pavilion, savor snacks at an outdoor coffee bar, or picnic on the grass to round out an idyllic spring day.
For more information, you can visit SummersPastFarms.com.
10TH ANNUAL JAMUL HOT ROD AND CHILI COOK-OFF APRIL 14
The Jamul Kiwanis are revving up for their 10thAnnual Hot Rod and Chili Cook off. The event will be held on April14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pio Pico/Thousand Trails, 14615 Otay Lakes Road, Jamul.
There's something for everyone in the entire family: classic cars, trucks and motorcycles; live entertainment by Roadkill Band and DJ Mr. Bogart. Best of all, savor the Chili Cook-off and taste the best chili's in East County.
Other food vendors are serving Mexican food and burgers. Many other commercial vendors, raffle prizes, silent auction, beer from Ballast Point, Alesmith and Jamul's own Jamul Brewery. There's even a game room and swimming pool for kids.
For more information, go to JamulKiwanis.org or call (619) 993-9904.
CAJON CLASSIC CRUISE SEASON OPENER APRIL 18
The Cajon Classic Cruise will rev up its season opener on Wedneday, April 18th from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown El Cajon.
Thousands of people from across the region come to Cajon Classic Cruise nights each Wednesday, all summer long.
In addition to viewing classic vehicles with a different theme each week, visitors can enjoy musical entertainment at Prescott Promenade on Main Street just east of Magnolia, or arrive early to dine at an outdoor café for a roadside view of the Cajon Classic Cruise.
For more information, you can visit DowntownElCajon.com.
HERITAGE OF THE AMERICAS ANNIVERSARY APRIL 14
Heritage of the Americas Museum is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special event on Saturday, April 14th from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring guest artist Alfredo Rodriguez.
The celebration also features a catered buffet, music, auction, drinks and good times. For more information, visit heritageoftheamericasmuseum.com/.
ANTIQUES AND CRAFT FAIR APRIL 21-22 AT SUMMERS PAST FARMS
An Antiques and Crafts Fair will be held at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs on Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can view works by over 70 craftsman and artisans while shopping for crafts, collectibles, antiques, and garden items. Find details at SummersPastFarms.com.
SAN DIEGO FESTIVAL AND CHORUS SPRING CONCERT APRIL 29
The San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra will present its spring concert titled “Musical Journeys” on April 29th at 3 p.m. at the College Avenue Baptist Church.
The concert will include John Rutter’s Requiem as well as music from West Side Story and the Wizard of Oz. For tickets and details, 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!
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