April 27, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Wieghorst Museum Auxillary presents “A Spring Fling Fashion Show” April 28 at the Elks Club, 1400 E. Washington Ave., El Cajon at 11:00 a.m.  The fashions will be from Peggy Harris’ Glamour Girlz with hair and makeup by Marinello School of Beauty.

The event includes a no host bar, boutique, Chinese auction and consulting.  The luncheon will begin at 12:15 p.m.

April 20, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s original fine art festival, Mission Federal ArtWalk is back for its 28th year. Featuring artists who live in the East County area as well as San Diego, the event will be held on Saturday and Sunday , April 28 and 29, when 17 blocks of Little Italy will be transformed for this free festival. ArtWalk offers a unique opportunity for members of the public to engage directly with over 350 artists who will be there to display their original works for exhibit and sale. The art on display will include a wide range of paintings, sculpture, mosaics, glasswork and photography.

April 19, 2012 (San Diego) – A trio of performances this weekend at Mission Trails Park include the play “Squawk”, Edgar Allen Poe readings, and a Santee Community Chorus Concert.  Scroll down for details, or visit www.mtrp.org.

April 19, 2012 -- Join the San Diego Astronomers Association (SDAA) volunteer astronomers and park staff at the Hwy 67 staging area, 16281 Sycamore Canyon Rd., Poway, for a night under the stars starting at sunset. Experience the chance to view the galaxy using the same technology used by the professionals. Viewers will get a chance to see many amazing sights, which they wouldn’t normally see without the trained eye.

April 16, 2012 (Lakeside) – The 48th Annual Lakeside Rodeo will take place at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds. The annual event has been a tradition since the first rodeo was held back in 1920.  It encompasses a series of events April 20-22 that celebrate the community’s Wild West heritage.

Each day’s rodeo performances include seven events: saddle bronco riding, tie down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, and barrel racing. Other events, including Saturday’s Western Days Parade sponsored by the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, are also slated.

April 14, 2012 (San Diego) – The College Area Business District is holding its 2nd Annual College Area Taste on April 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The Old Town Trolley will be available to drop patrons off in front of every participating restaurant’s door.  The tour starts at the BID Office at 4704 College Ave., San Diego.

By Kate Yapjoco

April 14, 2012 (Spring Valley) -- The annual free Spring Valley Community Health and Wellness Festival is being held April 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Spring Valley County Park, 8735 Jamacha Blvd., Spring Valley.

April 14, 2012 (Santa Ysabel) -- Spring is the perfect time to enjoy a guided hike in the beautiful Santa Ysabel Preserve.  Join park Rangers and explore the many wildflowers of the area, and watch for the varied wildlife. The April 22 hike will depart from the Highway 79 Staging area at 9:00 a.m.  The April 28 hike will leave from the Farmer Staging area located at 500 Farmer Rd.

April 13, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Join the Ranger April 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., for a moderate hike to explore the world’s second most endangered habitat, the Coastal Sage Scrub at the Lakeside Linkage Preserve, NE corner of Los Coches Rd. and Ha-Hana Rd. You will learn how the Native Americans used the plants, and will be looking for wildlife that calls this habitat home.

April 12, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Chamber of Commerce is holding its “I Love a Clean Alpine” event on April 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The event begins at the Triangle, 2157 Alpine Blvd. with a free continental breakfast.  Vests and bags will be distributed for cleaning up Alpine Blvd. and Wrights Field. At noon lunch will be provided.

April 7, 2012 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Historical Society has opened a new exhibit at its McKinney House Museum at 8369 University Avenue, La Mesa.  It’s featuring a new room display showcasing the history of old time toys and games from tiddlywinks to spinning tops, tin windup toys, kaleidoscope, checkers, jacks and many more to illustrate a child’s play time long ago.  All of the items come from the collections of the Society and are displayed in a classroom setting with old photos of students from Allison School and La Mesa Grammar School between 1910 and 1929.

April 4, 2012 (Lemon Grove) --  The "History Alive" lecture series continues on Apr. 5 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove, when the Lemon Grove Historical Society presents "A Fireside Chat with Estelle Lauer."   This warm and witty writer, teacher, and former columnist for the Valley Grove News and Life News, is a walking repository of often hilarious tales that reveal the back story of Lemon Grove and its unique cast of people and institutions.  

April 2, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Knox House Museum is open for tours the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The museum, which is the first commercial building in El Cajon built in 1876, is located at 280 N. Magnolia Avenue.  The continuing exhibit is “Shards, Archaeology Tools & Milk Bottles?”