East County News Service

March 19, 2023 (Lakeside) – Reflections Day Spa invites you to its 7^th annual Haircuts for the Homeless event on Sunday, April 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations of items to help the homeless are sought, including sleeping bags, blankets, tents, socks, jackets, beanies and toiletries.

Reflections Day Spa is located at 9909 Maine Ave., Lakeside, CA 92040.  Questions? Call (619) 334-2240.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of Parkway Plaza

March 14, 2023 (El Cajon) – Parkway Plaza  shopping mall in El Cajon will host its annual Easter Eggstravaganza on Tuesday, April 4 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

East County News Service

March 11, 2023 (La Mesa) – The city of La Mesa invites you to the La Mesa Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MacArthur Park (4900 Memorial Drive, La Mesa).

Source:  American Association of University Women 

March 11, 2023 (La Mesa/El Cajon) - The La Mesa-El Cajon AAUW Branch is hosting Susan Carol McCarthy, a Carlsbad resident, as the featured speaker at their 21^st annual scholarship benefit and luncheon, held at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley, 950 Hotel Circle North on April 29 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

East County News Service

March 9, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – With springtime fast approaching, East County has an array of events coming up, including St. Patrick’s Day festivities, a butterfly jungle, Easter extravaganza, a harmonica festival, classic cruise nights, a charity golf tournament, an Earth Day fair, Coyote Music Festival, Spring Garden Festival, Vintage Alpine and more.

Hooleyfest, the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in East County, will return next weekend after a hiatus—and that’s no blarney. The celebrating will span three days from March 17^th through 19^th at Hooley’s Irish Pub and Grille in La Mesa’s Grossmont Center.

Plus, you can enjoy live Irish music such as the Rebel Celts and Piper Ben, other music by bands such as 80’Z All Stars and Whiskey Ridge as you hoist a pint of Guinness and savor traditional Irish foods and cheer.

East County News Service

March 8, 2023 (San Diego) – The San Diego Film Festival is celebrating its 30^th anniversary. This year’s festival, produced by the nonprofit Media Arts Center, will take place March 9-19 at two locations: AMC Mission Valley Cinemas  (1640 Camino Del Rio N., San Diego) and at the Digital Gym Cinema (1100 Market St. 2^nd floor, San Diego).

The San Diego Latino Film Festival is an 11 day celebration of Latino Cinema, Arts & Culture. The festival will present over 160 films from Latin America, the United States, and Spain as well as Opening Night and Closing Night Parties, the 5th Annual Sabor Latino – Food, Beer & Wine Festival, Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, free student screenings, and more. Audiences will have the rare opportunity to meet filmmakers and actors from all over the world. Full lineup to be announced in February 2023.

Spring-themed Festivities Scheduled March 18 – May 14, shining spotlight on local wildlife

East County News Service

Photo by Emily Senninger

March 7, 2023 (Escondido) -- Celebrate the arrival of spring in full color at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, with the return of Spring Safari Featuring Butterfly Jungle. Visitors and their families can embark on a wild, global adventure without ever leaving Southern California—and every visit contributes directly to saving wildlife in our own backyard and around the world.

East County News Service

Photos courtesy Steve Covault, rockmusicphotos.com

March 3, 2023 (La Mesa) – Local and national stars will be playing American blues harmonica music at Spring Harp Fest. The family-fun event, which raises funds to benefit music education countywide, will be held April 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street in La Mesa.

Since 1999, the Spring Harp Fest has introduced local musicians and music lovers to the great American art of Blues Harmonica. The unique once-yearly showcase includes local jams, competition among unknown players, and some of the best professional players in the music scene.

East County News Service

February 24, 2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – For its annual Earth Day celebration, the Desert View Tower and Boulder Park will host a Boulder Fair on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

East County News Service

February 20, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County has a wide range of creative events, from Black History Month to Fido Fest, from birdwatching tips to the return of HoooleyFest, Touch-a-Truck, a liar’s contest in the desert, a harmonica festival in La Mesa, a chili cookoff in Lemon Grove, and an Earth Day Boulder Fair in Jacumba Hot Springs.

East County News Service

Note: This event was postponed due to rain from Feb. 25 to March 11.

February 20, 2023 (Ramona) – The County of San Diego invites you to its “Love Your Heart Community Fair” on Saturday, March 11 from 12-3 p.m. at the Ramona Library, 1275 Main Street in Ramona.

Learn about good heart health and how to control your blood pressure—and get a free blood pressure monitor as well as a blood pressure check.

Plus there will be information booths, a Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Murals walk, and food distribution. In addition, the fair includes vaccines available free for COVID-19 and flu, as well as Naloxone distribution to prevent overdoses.

East County News Service

Photo: Pegleg Smith state historical marker;  CC by SA-NC

February 17, 2023 (Borrego Springs, CA) – Telling a whopper is usually taboo.  But at the Peg Leg Liars Contest, named for the purported discoverer of a yet-to-be-found treasure in black gold, you can win prizes for spinning the best tall tale.

After a two year hiatus due to COVID, the contest will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at the American Legion Post, 4515 Borrego Springs Road in Borrego Springs (across from La Casa del Zorro). The contest starts at dusk.

Begun informally in 1916 and formally in 1948, the event is the longest ongoing story-telling competition in the West.

Services for East County children in need is Saturday, February 25

Source:  San Diego County Dental Foundation

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

February 9, 2023 (El Cajon) - The San Diego County Dental Foundation will host the free Give Kids a Smile preventive dental treatment program for East County children in need at the El Cajon Family Health Center on Saturday, February 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2023 (La Mesa) – San Pasqual Winery has Valentine’s week happenings in the Barrel Room at its tasting room in La Mesa’s downtown village.