DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: JUNE 20-JULY 11
By Miriam Raftery
June 16, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes some amazing events to delight dad this Father’s Day weekend, from an air show to a vintage train ride and a brunch with Cowboy Jack. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including 4th of July Festivities, a country music concert in Santee, and the annual Descanso Days fair and parade. So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!
Now for a preview of coming attractions…
AIR SHOW SAN DIEGO JUNE 20-21
Air Show San Diego will take to the skies over Gillespie Field in San Diego June 20 and 21. This year's "AirShow San Diego" (formerly known as "Wings Over Gillespie") will feature a representative collection of aircraft and acts to support the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. A mock battle with pyrotechnic special effects will be held both days. Gates open at 9 a.m. For ticket information and details, visit the Air Group website at www.AG1.CAF.org.
BOARS AND BREWS AT LAKESIDE RIVER PARK JUNE 20
Lakeside's River Park Conservancy's first ever Boars & Brew event is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th—on the summer solstice. You’re invited for a beer stroll along the section of the San Diego River Trail that the Conservancy manages for an evening full of beer-tastng and food.
The event will begin at 4 p.m. and last until 8 p.m. - or until the Boars & Brew run out. To purchase tickets – or a designated driver – you can visit http://boarsandbrew.weebly.com/
FREE BOWLING FOR DADS JUNE 21 AT VIEJAS
Dads and their kids can enjoy a free game of bowling on Father’s Day, this Sunday, June 21st at the Viejas Bowl in Alpine. You can also enjoy galactic bowling every Friday and Saturday night all summer long. For details, visit www.Viejas.com/bowling.
The award-winning blues and jazz combo, Robin Henkel and Caleb Furgatch, will be perforoming live at Wynola Pizza Friday evening, June 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. Wynola Pizza is located at 4355 Highway 78, in the big red barn in Julian.
BLUES BASH AT MENGHINI WINERY JUNE 20
The 17th annual Blues Bash will be held at Menghini Winery in Julian on Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The music fest will include Jonathon Boogie Long and the Blues Revolution from Louisiana, crowned “King of the Blues” by Guitar Center. The event also features wine-tasting and dancing. For more information or tickets, visit www.JulianCa.com .
VINTAGE TRAIN RIDE JUNE 20 IN CAMPO JUNE 20
Enjoy San Diego's beautiful back-country mountains on the last vintage train ride of the season, departing from Pacific Southwest Railway Museum's Campo depot on Saturday, June 20th at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for a scenic 12-mile journey and museum tour. For ticket information and reservations, visit the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum website at www.PSRM.org .
SHOOT THE MILKY WAY: JUNE 20 AND 21
Famed night sky photographer Dennis Mammana invites you to shoot the milky way during a night sky photography workshop June 20th and 21st in Borrego Springs. As an added bonus, participants are also invited to join in a desert sky shoot, capturing the beauty of the Anza Borrego Desert and the astronomical wonders in the sky above. For reservations and details, visit www.DennisMammana.com.
FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH WITH COWBOY JACK JUNE 21
Pine Hills Lodge in Julian is hosting a Father’s Day brunch on Sunday, June 21st from 9 a.m. to noon with Cowboy Jack singing traditional country music from Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and more, along with acoustic guitar and harmonica. ‘Cowboy Jack’ Johnson is the lead singer from The Hank Show, the Band in Black, and he is the singing cowboy for Rawhide Ranch in Bonsall, CA. For tickets ($15.95 adults, $10.95 kids 11 and up, $5 for kids 5 to 10) and visit www.PineHillsLodge.com.
Now for a preview of coming attractions…
SANTEE SUMMER CONCERT: TOP COUNTRY JUNE 25
The city of Santee’s summer concert series is underway with live music every Thursday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Town Centre Community Park East. On Thursday June 25th, Emerald River will perform top 40 country music hits. The conert series also features free kids activities. For details, visit the city of Santee’s website or our calendar at www.EastCountyMagazine.org.
MOVIES IN THE PARK AT VIEJAS JUNE 26-27
Summer movies in the park are back at Viejas Outlets Center in Alpine – complete with comfy outdoor seating, popcorn and soda for a nominal admission fee ($7); kids under 12 have free admission. Next up, Dolphin Tale II is screening on Friday, June 26th followed by Finding Nemo on Saturday, June 27th. Gates open at 7, with show time at sunset round 8 p.m.
JULIAN GOLD RUSH DAYS JUNE 27-28
Experience the history of the Old West with costumed hosts who interpret what life was like in a California mining camp in the 1880s at the Julian Gold Rush Days on June 27th and 28th. There are activities throughout the historic gold-mining town.
The Eagle-High Peak Mine and Museum, one of the more prosperous mines during the gold rush, offers mine tours, a museum and gold panning. There will also be historical encampments featuring miners, mountain men and cowboys, plus gunfighting, reenactments, mock claim jumping and tomahawk throwing. Plus enjoy an arts and crafts market, gem mining and children’s pioneer games.
Be on the lookout for the "golden nugget" at participating stores in Julian to join in a scavenger hunt. The folks at Julian Train & Gold Mine Tour at Smith Ranch will be offering a very special train ride. (Call (760) 765-2288 for reservations.)
Julian Doves & Desperados will present historic comedy skits at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. in the stage area between Julian Fitness Center & the Julian Market & Deli.
On Saturday only, Julian Mining Company (4444 Highway 78) will have gold panning and square dancing, plus opportunities to learn woodcrafting, pottery making or make your own craft for a fee.
For details visit www.JulianCa.com (or http://www.julianca.com/gold-rush-days.html).
JULIAN HERITAGE QUILT SHOW JUNE 27
The annual “Heritage Quilt Show” presented by the Julian Woman’s Club, will be located upstairs in the Julian Town Hall on June 27th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On display will be quilts from as far back as the 1800s, many treasured from local families’ ancestors. A beautiful king size quilt made collectively by local quilters, will be raffled off, with the winner announced on July 4th. There will also be hand-made items for sale at the event.
JULIAN 4TH OF JULY PARADE
Julian hosts an all day 4th of July celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. including a flyover at 11 a.m. and a parade rolling out at noon down Main Street, plus musical talent and entertainment. After the Parade, there will be a BBQ and music at the American Legion for a fee.
4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN EL CAJON
El Cajon invites you to celebrate Independence Day with games, musical entertainment and fireworks at the City of El Cajon’s Fourth of July Celebration.
On Saturday, July 4th, the El Cajon Recreation Department will once again have a celebration event at Kennedy Park, located at 1675 East Madison Avenue in El Cajon. The fun starts with carnival games, an inflatable jump, kiddie train and skate park from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be free crafts and family games from 2 to 6 p.m., two live bands from 3 to 9 p.m., followed by the finale – a 9 p.m. fireworks show with synchronized music.
SANTEE SALUTES JULY 4th
The city of Santee hosts its annual Santee Salutes 4th of July celebration at Town Center Community Park from 3:30 to 10 p.m. on Independence Day. The festivities include live music features 80zAll Stars, a patriotic ceremony at 6 p.m., a kids fun zone from 3:30 to 10 p.m. and a spectacular fireworks display at 9 p.m. There will be also food vendors available. The event is free, but there are fees for parking ranging from $5 to $15 at locations near the park, or you can take a free shuttle service from the Costco parking lot.
MARY POPPINS ON MT. HELIX JULY 9-AUGUST 2
Can you say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?” Christian Community Theatre San Diego celebrates its 35th anniversary at the beautiful Mt. Helix Park amphitheater with this summer's production of Mary Poppins.
Enjoy an evening with everyone's favorite nanny from July 9 through August 2. For more information or to purchase tickets visit cctsandiego.org.
DESCANSO DAYS PARADE AND FAIR JULY 11
The 46h annual Descanso Days Annual Parade & Fair will roll out on July 11th, starting at 10 a.m. on Vieas Grade in Descanso. Sponsored by the Descanso Town Hall Association, the parade features a fly over by the vintage World War II aircraft fighter planes from Gillespie Field, followed by a parade with vintage cars and tractors, horses and riders, and more. After the parade, the Just Friends Blue Grass band will perform, followed by the Nitro Express Western Band. The day’s festivities will also include dancing, contests, children’s games, and western reenactments by the Grand Ladies of the Old West, ending at 6 p.m.
That’s all for this week! You can find details on all of these events and more on our Calendar and in our Festivals and Events section online at eastcountymagazine.org.
If you have an event you’d like added to our calendar, or if you would like to sponsor the Destination East County column on our website, or the Destination East County show on KNSJ radio, you can contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org . Destination East County is the most-read feature on our website!
We’ll be back next week with more festivals, events and attractions in San Diego’s East County!