March 18, 2011 (Santee)—Thousands of East County residents are expected to party hearty at Saturday's “52 from Sea to Santee” grand opening festival being held right on top of the new freeway connector, State Route 52, on March 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The long-awaited stretch of freeway will connect to State Route 67, creating a straight route to Santee from I-5 and the sea.

This one-of-a-kind community festival will include a three-mile run/walk/ride, music, ribbon cutting ceremony, sponsor/vendor booths, and fun for all ages. East County Magazine will have a booth there, along with many local businesses. See below for location and parking details.

March 17, 2011 (Lakeside) – Roundup the kids and head on out to Lakeside on Sunday, March 20th, where carnival activities, an astro jump, barbecue and auction are all part of a fundraising event to benefit the East San Diego County Junior Fair.

March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) – San Diego River Park Foundation and Family Kayak Adventure Center invite you on a guided tour of East County’s El Capitan Reservoir, one of the only places where you can kayak on the San Diego River.

Cost is $50 for adults, $35 for children and includes kayak, paddles, life vest, basic instruction, lake entrance fee, guide and a light lunch. The event launches on Sunday, March 13 from 9-11 a.m., with lunch to follow.

March 8, 2011 (Rancho Jamul) – Rangers at the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in Rancho Jamul invite you to join in an easy to moderate “”Discover Wildflowers” hike with a U.S. Fish & Wildlife service ranger, featuring native plant experts from RECON Environmental Inc. The hike will be held on Saturday, March 26 from 9-10:30 a.m.

March 3, 2011 (Santee) -- Grab your gardening gloves and head on out to the SanTree Fest, a fun family event in Santee.  Guests can volunteer to help plant  over 50  trees or assist with river cleanup, enjoy live musical entertainment, sample healthy foods, enjoy kid crafts, and visit interactive environmental booths.

On our visit last year, some booths were also giving away plants, flowers, and even a potted pine tree. Kids and grown-ups had fun getting dirty--while helping to beautify the community.

February 24, 2011 (San Diego) -- Young Audiences of San Diego and The Salvation Army Kroc Center invite the public to a free Family Arts and Literacy Night Thursday, February 24th at 6:30 pm. Hundreds of families will gather in the Kroc Center Multipurpose Room-Education Building for an evening of fun for the “Carnaval Around the World” event and each child will take home a brand new book.

For this family-friendly Carnaval event, Afro-Cuban/Afro-Brazilian dance group Sol e Mar will perform. There will also be Capoeira and Samba workshops with musician and dancer Claudia Lyra.

February 11, 2011 (Escondido)--What could be sweeter on Valentine’s Day weekend than to indulge at the second annual “For the Love of Chocolate and SweetArt Festival” on February 12? Bring your sweetheart—or just your sweet tooth.

February 6, 2011 (San Diego) -- The second annual San Diego County Library Acoustic Showcase series starts this month. With a total of 30 concerts taking place at twelve libraries across the county from February to June, the Acoustic Showcase series offers a variety of some of San Diego's best singer/songwriters, folk music performers and story tellers. These concerts are free to the community.

THE JIM AND ANN SHOW, LIVE IN THE LEE HOUSE MARCH 3

February 5, 2011 (Lemon Grove)--Jim and Ann Elliott, for 30 years the last word in printing, mailing and political consulting at Western Graphics in Lemon Grove, will bring tales from the trenches and little-known backstories of politicians on the prowl to "History Alive," the monthly lectures series sponsored by the Lemon Grove Historical Society on Mar. 3 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove.

January 31, 2011 (Escondido) – As part of its “Free First Wednesdays” series, California Center for the Arts in Escondido will present Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters on February 2 from 4-7 p.m. in the Center Theater.

January 27, 2011 (Escondido) – The California Center for the Arts in Escondido and Mike Pettite Presentations will present the musical comedy Forever Plaid on Saturday, January 29 at 7 p.m.

Artist’s reception for Abigail Kurtz Migala  on February 6

 January 16, 2011 (Borrego Springs) – Famed night-sky photographer Dennis Mammana announces a series of photography classes and lectures in Borrego Springs in January, February and March, plus a celestial overnight campout in the Anza-Borrego desert January 29-30.