October 16, 2025 (El Cajon) - Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center will host its first annual Fashion Show Fundraiser – “Boots and Belles: Fashion at the Wieggy” on November 8 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature stunning designs of local artist and designer Dawn Hough Sebaugh, whose WALA Collection blends the color, creativity, and western spirit that defines our community.
Located in the heart of the art district in El Cajon, the museum stands as a tribute to the artist whose vivid portrayals of the American West captured the spirit of a bygone era. Olaf Wieghorst not only painted the West, but he also lived it. Of all the places he could have called home, he chose El Cajon, where he raised his family, connected deeply with neighbors, and truly began his artistic journey.
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Oct. 15, 2025 (Ramona) -- The 13th annual Ramona Art, Wine & Music Festival is heading to the Begent Ranch in Ramona on Saturday, Nov. 1.
The popular event, set from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the ranch at 18528 Highland Valley Road, will include wines and craft beverage tastings, all-day live local music, a live auction at 2 p.m. featuring comedian Josh Lawson as auctioneer, and the opportunity to view and buy handcrafted art from local fine artists.
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Oct. 14, 2025 (San Diego) -- Jewish Family Service of San Diego has found another way to help those impacted by the United States federal government shutdown.
The nonprofit that helps the entire community, along with The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, is hosting a drive-thru food distribution on Oct. 15 at Jewish Family Service of San Diego,Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus in Kearny Mesa for families impacted by the shutdown.
Nearly 200 families of federal workers and those in the military will each receive about 40 pounds of food, including fresh produce, non-perishable and shelf-stable pantry food.
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October 14, 2025 (La Mesa) – The Tony-award-winning play Copenhagen explores explores an explosive confrontation inspired by actual events that have intrigued and baffled historians for more than 50 years: a 1941 meeting between two brilliant physicists, Niels Bohr of Denmark and Germany’s Werner Heisenberg.
The two men were long-time friends whose work together opened the way to the atomic bomb, but who were now on opposite sides of World War II.
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October 13, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Don't let the name fool you -- Family Christmas Tree Farm is geared up for Halloween, too.
As autumn settles in over San Diego County, El Cajon's Family Christmas Tree Farm has rolled out its pumpkins and fall flavors even as it prepares for the winter holidays. It's been rated the 4th best Christmas tree farm in the nation by Yelp.
The 10-acre Christmas Tree Farm at 300 Pepper Drive has been serving the community since 1972, when it started its dedication to cultivating the Christmas spirit in East County.
For 50 years, the Stokes family has nurtured the land, the trees and the local tradition that draws families year after year.
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Oct. 12, 2025 (Lakeside) -- Circle TLC Ranch-Equine Therapy is holding its 14th annual chili cookoff in November.
Dubbing itself "the best chili cook off in East County," leaders of the group say they are currently seeking chili cookers for the event, which costs $25 as a donation to enter a chili to contend.
The cookoff costs $5 (as a donation) that includes tasting and judging chilis as well as a bottle of water to clean the palate and put out any fires from the hot dishes. Children under age 2 will be admitted at no cost.
The event is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11541 Moreno Ave. in Lakeside.
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Nonprofit rescue organization Horses of Tir Na Nog cares for more than 100 animals, including Buttermilk the horse. The rescue group is having an Open House at its site in Guatay on Nov. 1. Photo by Karen Pearlman
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Oct. 11, 2025 (Guatay) -- Horses of Tir Na Nog, the equine-focused rescue in rural East County, is holding it Dia De Los Muertos Open House in November.
Celebrating ranch residents who have passed, Horses of Tir Na Nog's annual open house will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1 at its site at 26930 Old Highway 80 in Guatay near Descanso.
Horses of Tir Na Nog co-founder Amy Pat Rigney said the event will honor the lives of horses and other ranch residents who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge over the years.
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October 10, 2025 (San Diego) - The annual Indigenous Peoples’ Celebration, organized by the San Pasqual Band of the Kumeyaay NationandSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, will take place at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on October 13, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event celebrates Indigenous communities, their cultures, and their commitments to wildlife. The event is open to the public, and all are welcome. Members of Indigenous communities will receive free admission to the Safari Park all day. More details about the event schedule are below and at sdzsafaripark.org/indigenouspeoplescelebration.
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Oct. 10, 2025 (San Diego) -- The heartbeat of the Borrego Springs art scene is coming to downtown San Diego this weekend.
Metal sculptor Ricardo Breceda's Public Art Roadshow will be on the San Diego County Administration's Lawn No. 2 from Friday, Oct. 10 through Monday, Oct. 13.
Presented by Borrego Community Builders, a Rams Hill initiative supporting community, creativity and connection, the event included a Friday morning meet-and-greet with Breceda, creator of more than 100 metal "Sky Art" sculptures that bring the desert to life.
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October 8, 2025 (El Cajon) – Last month, several dog owners in El Cajon got together to hold a birthday party for their dogs complete with music, cake, doggie gift bags, games and more. That event proved so much fun that organizers will be hosting a community Halloween party complete with dog costume contest, games and food for people, and a prize for the costume contest winner.
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October 5, 2025 (La Mesa)—Oktoberfest continues through 8 p.m. tonight in La Mesa’s downtown village. The three-day festival, which began on Friday, celebrates Bavarian culture complete with good food, live music and fun games.
Some of the prominent German themed dishes available are the homemade root beer, Bratwurst sausages and pretzels, along with many other tasty food options locally and globally. Multiple biergartens offer German beers. Live bands and a DJ offer music ranging from traditional polkas to rock and country. Many servers are dressed in traditional German outfits.
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Photo, L-R: CalFire Chief Tony Mecham, Sheriff Kelly Martinez, & Supervisor Joel Anderson
October 3, 2025 (Ramona) - San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson and Sheriff Kelly Martinez are hosting a wildfire safety town hall during Fire Prevention Week in Ramona on Monday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Ramona Library (1275 Main St., Ramona).
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October 2, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Ready to savor German beers and foods, kick up your heels to traditional German music as well as contemporary bands, enjoy games, carnival rides and vie for prizes? All of these opportunities and more can be found at Oktoberfest celebrations across East County include large festivals in La Mesa and El Cajon this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as smaller Oktoberfest gatherings in Alpine and Julian on October 4.
Scroll down for details on Oktoberfest events across San Diego's inland region.
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Oct. 3, 2025 (Alpine) -- For a unique, once-a-year experience, Lions Tigers & Bears sanctuary in San Diego County is inviting the public to its annual Spooky Campover event on Friday, Oct. 24.
The overnight campout offers the rare chance to sleep under the stars -- surrounded by the sounds of rescued big cats and other sanctuary animals.
The "spooky celebration" packs in a night of Halloween-themed fun.
Attendees will enjoy campfire songs, pumpkin carving and a Halloween costume contest.
For those who dare, an all-ages haunted house will also be part of the evening's entertainment.
Visitors can also test their knowledge in an animal trivia challenge (with clues available on the LTB website), make s'mores, and sip on hot cocoa by the campfire.
The fun doesn't end when the sun comes up the next day. The following morning features the "Pumpkin Bash."
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October 3, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) — Miss Smarty-Plants will bring a “batty” show to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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October 3, 2025 (Borrego Springs, CA) -- Borrego Springs hosts its annual Borrego Days Desert Festival on October 18 and 19. Saturday features a morning flyover and parade, as well as the "Shine and Show" vehicle show.
There's also a beer garden, kids' zone, food stations, and booths featuring everything from art to information. Plus you can enjoy live music and other activities all weekend long.
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
September 29, 2025 (Borrego Springs) – The Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center 2025-2026 season is underway. In October, the center will host the Miss Borrego Springs Pageant on Saturday, Oct. 11, followed by legendary blues musician Doug McLeod in concert on Friday, Oct. 17.
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September 28, 2025 (El Cajon) - The Heartland Coin Club announces its highly anticipated Coin Show, taking place on Saturday, October 25, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the El Cajon Elks Lodge, El Cajon, CA. This event offers opportunity for coin enthusiasts, collectors, and curious minds to come together and explore the fascinating world of numismatics.
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September 29, 2025 (El Cajon) -- On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC), in partnership with the San Diego and Imperial Small Business Development Center, will host the 10th Annual East County Manufacturing Expo at Cuyamaca College.
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September 28, 2025 (Santee) -- The ninth annual Ladies at the Lake Fall Market will be Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Lake 1 event area at Santee Lakes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoppers and craft fair goers throughout San Diego are expected to attend the event that celebrates women owned businesses, and a few men as well.
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Sept. 27, 2025 (Alpine) -- While most San Diego County residents are planning their Thanksgiving feasts, a much wilder kind of holiday celebration is in the works for a special group of residents in Alpine.
Lions Tigers & Bears, the county’s only accredited big cat and bear sanctuary, will be hosting its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Bash in the days after Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 27) at the venue at 24402 Martin Way in Alpine.
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Sept. 27, 2025 (Santee) – The San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) will host an American Archives Month Celebration to highlight San Diego County history from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the ARCC’s East County office, 10144 Mission Gorge Road, Santee. Admission is free.
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September 17, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- October brings Oktoberfest celebrations in La Mesa and El Cajon and Borrego Days in the desert, as well as an array of spooky events such as a haunted circus, haunted trails in county parks, a Day of the Dead celebration, Hauntfest on Main in El Cajon, a haunted harvest in Julian, pumpkin patches, costume contests for people and dogs, a Boo Bash at Viejas, a haunted train ride in Campo, a pumpkin bash and spooky sleepover at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, and an autumn festival at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park.
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September 19, 2025 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announces its 15th annual Salute to Local Heroes, which will incorporate the theme “Top Hat & Tails” This night celebrates local heroes, recognizes the incoming Chamber Board of Directors, includes a silent auction, raffles and more.
This event will be held on October 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at the Sycuan Casino Resort in the Heritage Ballroom.
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Sept. 18, 2025 (San Diego) -- The free two-day Adams Avenue Street Fair, considered San Diego's favorite music festival, and attended by more than 50,000 people in Normal Heights, is happening this weekend, Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21.
Presented by San Diego Foundation, the 43rd annual Adams Avenue Street Fair features 75 musical acts on seven stages. The event -- Southern California's largest free two-day music festival -- will go from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. both days.
Adams Avenue businesses sponsor this event, held along 10 city blocks, from 32nd Street to 36th Street. In addition to a varied musical performance schedule, the event features carnival rides, beer gardens, festival foods, performances by the Fern Street Circus and 300 exhibitors with unique offerings.
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Sept. 18, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Spooky fun is coming to downtown El Cajon with the annual HauntFest in October.
The community-centered event that typically draws more than 20,000 people, is set for 4 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17.
The city says that the annual free Halloween block party is the largest in San Diego County and features something for everyone.
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Sept. 17, 2025 (Lemon Grove) -- The annual St. John of the Cross Catholic Parish Fall Festival, the Lemon Fest, is coming to the church on Broadway this weekend.
The community event, from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20 and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 21, will feature a car show and lemon baking contest.
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Photo: Compassion Experience participants step into the global mission field without leaving the country.
September 17, 2025 (San Diego) -- College Avenue Church in San Diego will host Compassion Experience, an immersive experience transporting visitors to vulnerable communities where Compassion International works on Sept. 19-21. This free, family-friendly event is designed to inspire compassion and action for children living in poverty around the world.
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Sept. 16, 2025 (Spring Valley) -- Mount Miguel High School Class of 1965 is getting ready for its 60th class reunion.
Leaders from the Matadors 1965 class have put out the word that they are looking for classmates from thier year to join them in the event set for 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Town & Country Resort and Hotel.
Tickets are $110 per person and include dinner and dancing. A limited number of free tickets are available for those who need financial assistance.
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Photo courtesy Jewish Family Service
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Photo courtesy Family Christmas Tree Farm
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By Miriam Raftery
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By Miriam Raftery
Source: Heartland Coin Club
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Sept. 17, 2025 (Lemon Grove) -- The annual St. John of the Cross Catholic Parish Fall Festival, the Lemon Fest, is coming to the church on Broadway this weekend.
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