By Miriam Raftery

August 6, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – A highlight of our upcoming East County Fest on August 25^th from 6-10 p.m. at Mission Trails Regional Park (advance tickets required) will be prominent artist Chuck McPherson, who will create a painting live to be auctioned off at the event. 

Self-described as “flamboyant and a stand out creative,” this talented local artist and teacher has won international recognition and received hundreds of awards in juried art shows. Cherished by collectors, recent works by McPherson have sold for thousands of dollars.

His works have been displayed around the world, including locally at the Ola Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center, San Diego History Center, California Center for the Arts  and Marston House Museum. Internationally, he holds three Signature Memberships with The San Diego Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society and Western Federation of Watercolor Societies; A Signature in watercolor is like a PhD in medicine.

East County News Service

July 26, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Sip of Julian, Pine Valley Days, Gregory Page in concert at the garden, Lemon Grove concerts in the park, convertible night at El Cajon classic cruises and a Laurel and Hardy fan club film night.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the HeART of Mt. Helix, the Barona Powwow, Sycuan Powwow and the Julian Grape Stomp Festa, So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

Source: Mt. Helix Park Foundation

July 12, 2018 (La Mesa) - Tickets are on sale now for the 11th annual heART of Mt. Helix. You’re invited to come and experience local art, music and cuisine at Mt. Helix Park’s popular celebration/fundraiser held at one of East County’s most extraordinary venues. 

UPDATE: WALK-INS ARE WELCOME! BUT PLEASE RSVP.

July 4, 2018 (El Cajon) -- You're invited to our next East County Dining Club event, which benefits our nonprofit East County Magazine and our East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts.  

Please join us in a Mediterranean Feast on Sunday, July 15 at 1 p.m. at Eat a Pita! (1255 Avocado Road in the Vons shopping center at Chase and Avocado in  El Cajon).

$28 INCLUDES: Mediterranean feast!  Beef kebab, chicken kebab/souvlaki, falafel, dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), rice, Greek salad, pita bread and hummus, tax, tip, beer or wine, soft drink & refill, & 1 opportunity drawing ticket. Prizes include restaurant gift certifictes, a night's stay at Triple H Ranch Bed and Breakfast in Lakeside, jewelry, cookbooks, novels, Kamp's Propane gift certificate, ladybug planter, Prete-a-Porter Salon haircut, Club Pilates class and more!

RSVP BY JULY 10 for earlybird prize drawing: editor@eastcountymagazine.org   or 619-698-7617.

Find Fourth of July fireworks, parades, picnics and more

By Miriam Raftery

June 28, 2018 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes Sha Na Na at Sycuan, the Jamul Wine Tasting Festival, El Cajon’s 4^th of July picnic and fireworks, Deerhorn Valley's Independence Day Parade, Santee Salutes, Julian’s Fourth of  July Parade, the Lake Murray Music Festival, a patriotic painting class, and a 90^th birthday party for Lemon Grove’s giant lemon.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Descanso Days Fair and Parade, open house at the Oasis Camel Dairy, Pine Valley Days, and a local Laurel and Hardy fan club's 40th anniversary film fest party.

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

By Miriam Raftery

June 6, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Star Party at Oakoasis preserve in Lakeside, Lavender Day at Summers Past Farms, Fido Fest in Santee, the Julian Dance and Back Country BBQ, Art in the Park and a firefighters breakfast in La Mesa, the San Diego Concert Band at Harry Griffith Park, a Taste of La Mesa, and the start of Santee’s summer concert series.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Queen Bee Brunch in Alpine, the Jamul Wine Tasting Festival, Julian’s Quilt Show, Santee Salutes, Julian’s star-spangled Fourth of July Parade, and the Descanso Days Parade and Fair.

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

By Miriam Raftery

May 31, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Blue Breeze Band in El Cajon, La Mesa’s Flag Day parade, Our Secret Garden Party at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, and the Lego Ninjago movie playing at Stelzer County Park in Lakeside.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Lavender Day at Summers Past Farms, Fido Fest in Santee, a firefighters pancake breakfast in La Mesa, the San Diego Concert Band in La Mesa, a Taste of La Mesa, Art in the Park in La Mesa’s McArthur Park, Santee’s summer concerts, the Jamul Wine Tasting Festival, a historic quilt show, Santee Salutes and Julian’s Fourth of July parade.

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

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Taste of Julian, the Coyote Music Festival at Cuyamaca College, the Jukebox Kings in downtown El Cajon, a Salsa fiesta in Lemon Grove, Sherlock Holmes Final Adventure at Grossmont College, and the Manzanita High Rendezvous in Lake Morena.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Mother’s Day hike on Volcan Mountain in Julian, a salute to military families including kayaking and mountain biking at Lake Morena, a star party at Oakoasis in Lakeside, hiking in Flinn Springs, wilderness survival for families in Lake Morena, a bicycle ride and safety talk at Lindo Lakes in Lakeside, the Ramona Rodeo, the America on Main Street festival in El Cajon, Wild in the Country at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, Laurel and Hardy comedy night in Spring Valley, La Mesa’s Flag Day parade, a Secret Garden Party at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, Fido Fest in Santee and Santee’s summer concert series.

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

By Miriam Raftery

May 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the premier of El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert series, a Dive-In movie at Kroc Center, the La Mesa Beautiful plant sale, Vintage Alpine wine and food tastings, and a production of Sherlock Holmes, the Final Adventure at Grossmont College.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Manzanita High Rendezvous in Lake Morena, Salsa and Salsa in Lemon Grove, a Taste of Julian, the Coyote Music Festival at Cuyamaca College, film nights in the Lemon Grove library, the Ramona Rodeo, La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade, and the San Diego Concert Band at La Mesa’s Harry Griffen Park.

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

East County News Service

April 30, 2018 (Lemon Grove) - San Diego County Library’s Lemon Grove branch is partnering with the City of Lemon Grove for the second  annual Art Days: Family Art Festival. The event takes place in front of the Lemon Grove Library (3001 School Lane) on May 19 from 1-3 p.m.  The highlight will be an engaging community art project, led by local artist Ben DeHart. Art Days allows the community to get creative and participate in a variety of explorative art options, including button making and painting.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2018  (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Julian Gold Rush Days, open farm day at the Oasis Camel Dairy, a Martin Luther King remembrance in Lemon Grove, the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest in Borrego Springs, Meet the Winemaker Weekend in Ramona, and a Lilac Festival in Wynola.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a dance production of the Constitution,  a Warbirds Expo at Gillespie Field, the Jamul Hotrod and Chili Cookoff, Cajon Classic Cruises, Heritage of the Americas Museum’s anniversary party, a meteor watching night at Oakoasis Park, a hike for you and your dogs at the Santa Ysabel East Preserve, a  crafts fair in Flinn Springs, a Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival, a Spring concert by San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra, and medieval music at Mission Trails Regional Park.

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

By Miriam Raftery

February 22, 2018 (Ramona) – You’re invited to meet artists, art teachers, furniture artisans and celebrate the life of the late, great artist Helen Petre  on Friday, March 2 from 6-8 p.m. at the 2Create Gallery, 438 Main Street in Ramona.  The event is the first of a series of “First Friday” art events that the gallery plans to host, each featuring art, music and refreshments.

Helen Petre was a colorful and acclaimed artist who lived in Julian and continued creating works of art well into her nineties. Known for her stylish hats and fashionable clothing that she designed herself, during her long and productive life she became a prolific artist excelling in collage, monoprinting, mixed media and bookarts. 

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

January 26, 2018 (El Cajon) - Cuyamaca College’s Native American Student Alliance is hosting its 4th Annual Powwow on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Communication Arts complex quad in the center of the picturesque Rancho San Diego campus. The free, public event celebrates American Indian culture with a variety of activities including bird singing, gourd dancing and storytelling steeped in spiritual significance.

January 7, 2018 (La Mesa) --You’re invited to a Russian and Ukrainian feast with our East County Dining Club on Thursday, January 25^th  at 6:30 p.m. at Village House Kalina (8302 Parkway Drive, La Mesa). As always, we’ll have prizes galore! Proceeds benefit East County Magazine and our wildfire/emergency alerts.

 Join us on our culinary adventure to the land of hearty and flavorful fare  – food that nourished the creative powers of Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky,  Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Pasternak, Cossack dancers and the Bolshoi Ballet.  Da!

This restaurant seats only 38 people so we expect to sell out; early RSVPs are recommended.

We must receive your RSVP no later Jan. 24, along with choice of entree (see list below) since these special dishes take time to prepare!

Source: Ramona Valley Vineyard Association

December 2, 2017 (Ramona) -- Participating wineries from the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) are featuring a  “Holiday in the Country” when you “Follow the Ramona Wine Trail” in the heart of San Diego Wine Country during the first three weekends of December: 2/3, 9/10, and 16/17.

Wine fans can visit 14 wineries decked out for the holidays. In addition to discounted tastings, individual wineries are presenting their own selected special holiday happenings to accompany tasting, such as tree lighting ceremony, tree trimming, holiday music, crafters’ goods for a little shopping, signed magnum bottles, and the introduction of white wines for a White Christmas theme. Santa is also expected to hover.