June 28, 2012 (Julian)—The historic gold rush town of Julian honors stars, stripes and pioneers at this year’s 4th of July parade.

Known far and wide as the “best little small town parade in America,” Julian presents a homegrown event that celebrates the town’s gold rush era history, the dedication of veterans and active duty military who serve our country, and local residents who cherish the special qualities of the little town tucked into the Cuyamaca Mountains east of San Diego.

June 28, 2012 (Santee) – The City of Santee will host “Santee Salutes” festivities on July 4 featuring live musical entertainment by 80z All Stars, patriotic ceremonies, an inflatable zone for kids, food trucks,  and of course, fireworks.

This year, the event moves to a new location in Town Center Community Park East at 550 Park Center Drive in Santee.  Festivities run from 3:30-9:30 p.m..  A patriotic ceremony with color guard will be held at 6 p.m. and the fireworks display starts at 9 p.m. 

June 23, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Center Summer Concerts in the Park begin on July 1 with the Marine Corps Band.  The free concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. at Alpine Community Center Park, 1830 Alpine Blvd., Alpine.  Food is available at the concerts.

June 13, 2012 (Julian)—Music lovers will want to head east to Julian this weekend for a pair of popular events, both at the Menghini Winery.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery

Mayan Avitable, Nadin Abbott, and Serena Scaglione also contributed to this report

June 10, 2012 (San Diego County) – It was a tough job, but someone had to do it. So we took a team of our reporters and photographers to a media night preview of the San Diego County Fair at Del Mar, which opened yesterday.  We watched bungee jumpers, an acrobatic dog, and 4-H kids with pigs and goats. We savored our fill of fair food. Plus we met up with some East County participants--including Chief Don Butz and the Viejas firefighters, who showed off the shark-toothed, souped-up car they will be driving in the demolition derby on June 16.

Here are our helpful hints and highlights for your fair-going enjoyment this season:  

June 9, 2012 (La Mesa) – Gingham Restaurant is hosting Backyard Movie Nights on its patio, at 8384 La Mesa Boulevard every Wednesday beginning at 7:30 p.m.   The show will go on rain or shine and the popcorn is free.

June 9, 2012 (La Mesa) – Le Mesa will host “Movie in the Park”, featuring “How to Train Your Dragon”, July 27 at La Mesita Park, 8855 Dallas Street, La Mesa.  The movie begins at 8:00 and will be played on a high definition Blu-Ray projection system that includes a twenty-sex foot wide screen and amplified sound.

June 6, 2012 (San Diego) – The San Diego Shakespeare Society will perform excerpts from several of William Shakespeare’s “Nature Related” works on June 10 at 3:00 p.m. in the Mission Trails Regional Park’s Visitor Center Outdoor Amphitheater.  The readings will include the Pyrmamus & Thisbe scene from a Mid Summer Night’s Dream, Rupert’s Readers performing an interactive open reading and Surprise Sonnet presentations.

June 7, 2012 (Jacumba) – Telemagica’s Galaxia 2012 takes place June 8, 9 and 10 beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Friday on the grounds of the Institute of Perception (Railroad Street) in Jacumba. 

The event is a yearly gathering of collective performance art dedicated to the evolution of the human spirit through the arts.

June 2, 2012 (Lemon Grove) --   The Lemon Grove Historical Society is kicking off Dr. Amorita Treganza Centennial Week with a Flamenco Potluck Birthday Party on June 3 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at her ancestral home, 3251 Kempf Street in Lemon Grove.  There will be a performance by the Juan Carlos and Juanita Flamenco Dance/Guitar/Singer Troupe from 4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

May 24, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--The Olaf Wieghorst Western Heritage Center will present the 2nd Annual Wieghorst Western Music Jubilee!  The event will take place on Saturday, June 2, at the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theater in Rancho San Diego.

Belinda Gail, Sourdough Slim, The Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Tom Hiatt & The Sundown Riders, are just a few of the artists who will be entertaining. The show begins at 7:00 p.m.