East County News Service

October 12, 2019 (El Cajon) – The Welcome Newcomer Network will host its third Multicultural Festival on November 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at EJE Academies, 851 Johnson Ave. in El Cajon.

The event will include multicultural food, cultural dance, a show of traditional costumes, story-telling, games and raffle drawings. Organizers say that they anticipate close to 1,500 attendees this year. 

Barons Market to serve up bites paired with Modern Times brews for the final Backroom Beer Pairing of the year.  In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all proceeds to benefit Michelle’s Place and Susan G. Komen® San Diego

East County News Service

October 10, 2019 (Alpine) -- Barons Market and Modern Times will turn up the heat in the kitchen and crack open their best brews for Southern Californians to enjoy at all eight market locations, including Alpine in East County This will mark the last Backroom Beer Pairing of the year and, as always, guests will support their community as they socialize at Barons’ patios and stockrooms. Barons Market will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from tickets sold for its eight store locations directly to breast cancer awareness organizations Michelle’s Place and Susan G. Komen® San Diego.

Source: Grossmont Center

October 12, 2019 (La Mesa)-- Give an animal the treat of a forever home this Halloween! Grossmont Center and the San Diego Animal Support Foundationinvite you to the annual Howl-O-Ween Hounds MEGA Adoption Event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, at Grossmont Center (5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa).

During the free Howl-O-Ween Hounds event, dozens of rescue groups and shelters bring hundreds of dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, birds, turtles, and tortoises to the Center—and all of them are ready to be adopted into a loving home! You can find many different kinds of dog breeds at this mega adoption event, everything from the tiniest Chihuahuas to the grandest Great Pyrenees, as well as unique and adorable All-American “mutts.” This family-friendly event is the perfect way for every member of your household to choose a new pet together.

Kitchens for Good is making celebrity chefs rethink kitchen waste

Source: Kitchens for Good

October 8, 2019 (San Diego) -- Kitchens for Good will host WASTED: A Celebration of Sustainable Food on Oct. 20 sponsored by Sysco. This tastemaker event will feature 35 local and national celebrity chefs and mixologists who will be competing to prepare winning dishes and cocktails using food that would otherwise be discarded. The goal of the event is to bring awareness to sustainability for chefs and consumers, creating a call to action about the way people consider food waste. All proceeds will support Kitchens for Good, a non-profit organization that tackles issues of food waste, poverty and hunger.

Play continues through Oct. 12 at Grossmont College’s Stagehouse Theatre 

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2019 (Alpine) – You’re invited to pack your camping gear for a wild and ghoulish overnight adventure at Lions, Tigers and Bears animal sanctuary in Alpine on Friday night, October 25th and Saturday morning, October 26th.

By Miriam Raftery

October 3, 2019 (Lakeside) – Spooky stories and s’mores, campsite trick-or-treating, creepy crafts and a campsite decorating contest are all part of Spooky Camp-o-Ween at Lake Jennings the last two weekends in October.

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County features Oktoberfests in El Cajon and La Mesa, fall festivals in Jacumba and Jamul, Kids Care Fest in Lemon Grove, the Ramona Air Fair, Fall at the Farm and Julian’s Autumn Jubilee.

Plus, we have a preview of coming events including Ms. Smarty Plants Goes Batty at the Water Conservation Garden, La Mesa’s Fair Trade gift faire, a spooky campover at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, vocalist Lillian Palmer at Mission Trails Church, headliner shows at The Magnolia Center in El Cajon, a chamber music series at Cuyamaca College, the Borrego Days desert festival and parade, Pints 4 the Park in Borrego Springs, a Spooky Camp-O-Ween at Lake Jennings, a Green Homes tour, Haunt Fest on Main in El Cajon,  Halloween costume contests for people and dogs at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center, and Trunk or Treat in downtown El Cajon.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

Earlybird ticket rates extended to Oct. 2 for our Oct. 5 fiesta

East County Magazine and our East County Dining Club invite you to party hearty at our 

FALL FIESTA!

When: Saturday, October 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where:  D&S Farms, home of Granite Lion Cellars Winery

                                                                     (in their shaded oak grove at 2801 Jamul Highlands, Jamul)

• Catered dinner from La Loteria de Jamul (choice of entrees: chicken poblano or fish in jalapeño/pineapple sauce, plus apple salad, ceviche, chips and salsa, potatoes, roasted vegetables, avocado aioli, and churro)
• Music by Sergio D. Tala (Spanish, Caribbean, rhumba and flamenco. Ole!)
• Wine tasting, wine by the glass available
• Prizes galore, festive fun and more! Prizes include:  $300 gift basket from E-Med spa (facial and skincare products), $200 gift basket from Ava Hair Salon, gift certificates from La Loteria del Jamul,  Round Table Pizza, Home Depot and others, original wine-themed art by Annette Cirillo, purse with fringe and rhinestones, wine lovers' gifts, jewelry and more.

Cost: $33 with RSVP by Oct. 2,  $38 after Oct. 2 (if not sold out); designated driver/no alcohol $28

Tickets:  Click arrow below for menu of ticket options to pay via credit card or Paypal:

East County News Service

September 24, 2019 (La Mesa) – From jazz to classic and modern music, to swing infused with an indie-pop vibe, plus country, pop, blues, and retro-funk, Ed Kornhauser plays it all. The pianist and keyboardist will be live at The Table: United Church of Christ in La Mesa (5940 Kelton Ave.) on Sunday, October 27 at 2 p.m.

East County News Service

September 24, 2019 (Valley Center) -- Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center (15954 Woods Valley Rd.)  invites you to bring your dog, enjoy the pumpkin patch and compete in a Howl-o-ween doggie costume contest and parade.  The fun takes place on Saturday, October 26th.  

By Miriam Raftery

September 23, 2019 (El Cajon) – The 8^th annual HauntFest in downtown El Cajon is expected to draw around 40,000 visitors in Friday, October 25^th from 5 to 10 p.m. 

This year, HauntFest includes live music on two stages, costume contests on the Main Street stage, expanded carnival rides and games, candy challenge activities, a Kidz Zone, face painting, performances by TNT dancers and the Arts in Motion Crew and Junior Crew. There’s also the St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center Pumpkin Patch, craft and game booths, an LED rock wall, inflatable jumps for kids, showings of the first two Harry Potter movies and more.

East County News Service

September 23, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) -- Are you ready to have fun and learn about creatures whooo go BOOOO in the night?  The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College invites you to don your Halloween costume for “Ms. Smarty-Plants Goes Batty” on October 12 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

East County News Service

September 21, 2019 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announced its lineup of alcohol that will be served on Friday, October 4th at the "First Friday Night Market" Chamber beer garden at Grossmont Center.  The styles of Mike Hess Brewing Company's beers being offered are:  Grapefruit Solis, an IPA with grapefruit, Hop Cloud, the first of their Hazy IPAs, offering unlimited pineapple, mango and citrus, and Steel Beach, a crisp, light-bodied and refreshing lager beer that defines craft lager beer.