May 13, 2025 (Julian) -- The Julian Town Square Music Festival brings music to the mountains on June 7 from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Presented by the Julian Community Heritage Foundation and Julian Chamber of Commerce, this event will feature multiple musical performances. 

These include Kimmi Bitter and Westside Twang, Tim Flannery and the Lunatic Fring, Thea The Band, The Ordeal, Donn Bree and Friends,  Dolly’s Revenge, and Subconscious Culture.

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – A major storm system will bring strong winds and rain across our region, with heavy snow forecast starting tonight in East County mountains.  Mount Laguna could receive up to a foot of snow, with up to eight inches on Palomar Mountain and three inches in Julian by Friday morning. Heavy snow will make it difficult to travel above 4,000 feet in elevation.

In urban areas, flooding is possible.  El Cajon, La Mesa, and other areas are expected to receive up to an inch and a half of rain, the National Weather Service predicts.

Along the coast, a small craft advisory is in effect through Friday morning due to expected high surf and high seas.

East County News Service

March 2, 2025 (Julian) - Julian Farm and Orchard invites you to Daffodil Days, held each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from March 7 through April 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

East County News Service

Update Feb. 4, 2025 -- Supervisor Joel Anderson has launched a petition to oppose Snavely's placement in Julian. You can sign his petition here.

February 1, 2025 (Julian, CA) – San Diego County Superior Court has ordered the conditional release of Gary Snavely, a sexually violent predator (SVP) at 3452 Wynola Road in Julian.  The public can submit comments from Feb. 3 through Feb. 16; hearing set for March 7.

Snavely was convicted of molesting two girls ages 8 and 9 in Orange County back in 1987. In 1996 he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in San Diego County and went back to prison.  After his release, he was placed in Jacumba in 2008 but after he abused his psychotropic medication and lied to his supervising staff he went back to Coalinga state hospital, though he was not accused of committing new crimes. Violations included failing to remain appropriately clothed at all times on his property while in public view, and failing to report any and all instances of sexual thoughts and fantasies involving sexual deviance to treatment staff.

East County News Service

July 7, 2024 (Julian)—Banner Ranch invites you to try your luck at panning for gold just as prospectors did in the 1870s at Banner Creek.  On July 12., you can rent a gold panning kit for four hours (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to  6 p.m.) and a glass tube container to take home any findings.

Banner City was founded in 1870 when Louis Redman tripped over gold quartz in a canyon 1500 feet below Julian.  He marked his gold find with an American flag, hence the town became known as Banner. Some claim the yield that year from Banner’s mines surpassed those of Julian’s gold prospecting.  Even today, there are over 150 placer claims in the area.

By Jonathan Goetz

June 17, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – In celebration of Independence Day on July 4, there are many Fourth of July festivities in San Diego's East County to choose from including the Lake Murray Fireworks and Music Fest, El Cajon’s fireworks and family fun activities, a family picnic and fireworks in Ramona, Santee Salutes with carnival games, music and fireworks, parades in Julian, Deerhorn Valley and Crest, Poway’s old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration complete with vintage train rides and more.

Here's the lineup of fun-filled, family-friendly July 4th activities here in East County.

East County News Service

April 3, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)—Yet another storm is forecast to bring rain and snow to East County Thursday night and Friday. The snow level is expected to drop down to the 3,000 to 3,500 foot level.

Mt.Laguna could receive 3 to 4 inches of snow, with up to 2 inches in Julian. Interstate 8 east of Alpine could also get snow, so use caution if traveling in this area.  Other areas that may receive snow include Pine Valley, Cuyamaca, and Warner Springs.

Winter storm warning in effect for mountains through Thursday, Feb. 8 at  12 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Laguna Mountain Lodge webcam

February 7, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)—Several inches or more of snow blanketed San Diego County’s mountains overnight.  Snow fell in Julian, Pine Valley, and many other mountain communities, with more precipitation forecast today.

Due to weather and road conditions, several school districts are closed and have a snow day today, according to the San Diego County Office of Education:  Julian Union Elementary , Julian Union High, Mountain Empire,  Spencer Valley,  Warner Unified.

“We could’ve been burned out last night. Nobody would have known, and it was windy.” -- Lora Devault,  Pine Hills resident

”I think we are going down a slippery slope...and I have a problem telling people what they can do with their properties.” --Katy Morelli, planning group member

By Jessyka Heredia

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE

November 17, 2023 (Julian)—Campers at a short-term rental (STR) property in Julian’s Pine Hills neighborhood started an unauthorized campfire on Sunday and failed to properly extinguish it. The embers sparked a brush fire, causing damage to the owner’s property and panic for nearby neighbors.

On Monday, residents spoke out at the Julian Community Planning Group (JCPG) meeting to voice concerns about the growing number of short-term vacation rentals in Julian and disruptions some guests have caused in the community.  The most heated concern focused on off-site owners, such as the vacation site in question, which has rentals both inside a home and outside at tent camping sites. Some vacation rental owners also spoke up in defense of property rights for responsible STR owners.

An East County Eater review for East County Magazine

By Henri Migala

Photos by Miriam Raftery

July 25, 2023 (Julian) – If you live in San Diego, you have probably taken a leisurely country drive to enjoy the historic mountain town of Julian. But now there’s another exciting reason to visit Julian – Kali’s Garden Café &Juice Bar.

Open just a few weeks ago in a  charming little cottage with relaxing outdoor seating at 1921 Main Street, Kali’s Garden is already enjoying nearly 900 followers on Instagram, a 4.5-star rating on Yelp – and a 5-star rating from this reviewer.

The restaurant features entirely plant-based foods, such as jackfruit-based tacos and mock-pulled pork sandwiches with jackfruit. I love meat, but found jackfruit an entirely satisfying substitute with the taste and texture of real pork. The jackfruit tacos came with mangoes and more for a delicious burst of flavor.

Second tragedy in a week occurs at popular waterfall site

By Miriam Raftery

June 17, 2023 (Julian) --  The U.S. Forest Service has closed the trail to Three Sisters Falls unitl further notice while first responders search for a missing man, 27, who was last seen swimming late  yesterday.  Helix Water District has shut off water from a dam feeding the falls to aid rescue efforts.

Deputies with the Julian Sheriff's Substation received a call for help on Friday, June 16 just before 5:00 p.m. “Two people were swimming at the middle level of the falls. One went underwater and did not resurface,” says Lieutenant William Amavisca.

East County News Service

May 14, 2023 (Julian) — The Julian Community Heritage Foundation will host its second annual Town Square Music Festival on June 3rd. This music festival will feature seven live bands, as well as food, local artisans, raffles, silent auctions and more.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner NBC 7

April 18, 2023 (Julian) - An El Cajon handyman who waded into a pond left by rainwater in Julian to retrieve his dog contracted a rare flesh-eating bacteria.

East County News Service

March 25, 2023 (San Diego) -- This year’s Brewers Cup of California included 1,306 entries from 191 breweries. There were 83 categories and a total of 37 medals were awarded to breweries within San Diego County, including 13 gold, 8 silver and 16 bronze. The overall total is nearly double the 19 medals collected by local breweries at the 2021 competition. 

East County’s winning brewers include Burning Beard Brewing of El Cajon, Julian Beer Co. and Smoking Cannon Brewery of Ramona. Julian took silver, while Burning Beard and Silver Canyon won both silver and bronze medals. Gold medalists included Mike Hess Brewing of North Park, though Mike Hess also has a brewery in Alpine. 

See below for a full list of San Diego County winners: 

Story and photos by Nadin and Tom Abbott

February 27, 2023 (Julian, CA) -- We decided to go up the mountain to Julian yesterday because it’s beautiful after a snowstorm. So we woke up bright and early and packed the Jeep for an adventure in the mountains. We also wanted to introduce my service dog to snow. As always, we packed our press passes and camera equipment, the latter because we wanted to take photos of this amazing winter wonderland, and in this, we were not disappointed.