East County News Service
March 18, 2025 (Lakeside) -- The Maine Avenue Revitalization Association (M.A.R.A.) invites you to the Taste of Lakeside, its upcoming fundraise on April 8 from 5-8 p.m. This event brings together ten local restaurants, including Cali-Stack, Ranch House, Octavio's, East Bound, Yogurt Barn, The Parks, Caffeine Queens, and the VFW, offering attendees the opportunity to sample their culinary delights.
To prevent overcrowding at any single location, participants will receive one of four maps. This will ensure a pleasant and enjoyable evening of food and fun. A $30 donation grants access to the event, including a lanyard to be presented at each participating restaurant.
Tickets may be purchased from a M.A.R.A. member, Mary's Donuts, or the Lakeside Historical Society on Saturdays. A QR code is also provided at the bottom of the flyer for convenient ticket purchase. All funds raised will directly support Downtown Historic Lakeside.
By Miriam Raftery
March 18, 2025 (Mt. Helix) – You’re invited to join the 100th anniversary celebration of Mt. Helix Park with a Roaring ‘20s themed party on April 12 from 4:30 - 8 p.m. in the Mt. Helix Nature Theater. Enjoy delicious appetizers and dinner from Bekker's Catering, followed by dueling pianos and dancing under the stars. Beer, wine and soft drinks are included as well.
All tickets include shuttle service to and from the parking lot, entertainment, appetizers, dinner, dessert, beer, wine, and soft drinks.
Ticket Price: $125 Single - $1,250 Table of 10
Optional add-on VIP Valet from the Top: $50 per car
Buy tickets at this link: TICKETS
The 501(c)(3) Mt. Helix Park Foundation was formed by community members to save the historical amphitheater and nature preserve in 1999. Governed under the original Yawkey Family Trust from 1925, the Foundation does not receive government funds, and the board of directors, in partnership with volunteers and our two staff members, works year-round to raise money to cover expenses and ensure the park will remain free and available to future generations.
East County News Service
March 18, 2025 (Julian) - Fort Cross Adventures in Julian hosts its spring lilac festival from April 19 through May 11 on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Preregistration is advised to assure space.
General admission ($10) includes entry into a lilac maze, family farm area and more.
A festival activity package ($25 per person) including a wagon ride, treasure hunt, interactive reptile show, visits with farm animals, hoedown and jug band show, painting craft and lilac-themed candle dipping. Additional activities are available for a fee.
Visitors can also purchase fresh lilac bouquets at the farm stand seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For reservations and information, visit fortcross.com/lilac-festival.
East County News Service
March 18, 2025 (Santee) – The city of Santee invites you to hop on over to Santee’s Bunny Trail on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Santee Trolley Square.
Guests can enjoy photos with the bunny, games, crafts, face painting, giveaways and carnival rides.
Santee Trolley Square is located at 9884 Mission Gorge Rd.in Santee.
East County News Service
March 17, 2025 (San Diego) - You’re invited to a concert by the San Diego Concert Band presenting music of John Williams on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in the Joan B. Kroc Theatre, 6611 University Ave. in San Diego. Nick Grant will be featured on the theme from “Schindler’s List,” a film based on Oskar Schindler, the German who saved 1,200 Jews from the Holocaust.
Violinist Nick Grant won a position with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra at age 17. After graduating from San Diego High School, he won a full scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Winner of the Julia Klumpkey Memorial Competition in San Francisco, he also took first prize twice in the Musical Merit Foundation as well as first prize in the Arizona National String Competition.
He has been a featured soloist for tours of Japan, Europe and the U.S. and is noted for his performances of the Bach, Ysaye and Paganini violin cycles.
Grant is the longest serving principal player in the San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s 115-year history. He began playing piano at age 4 and violin at 8. He performs on an 1850 Joseph Rocca violin.
East County News Service
Photos by Ken Jacques
March 13, 2025 (Scripps Ranch) -- Scripps Ranch Theatre continues its Season 45 with Mary’s Wedding, written by Stephen Massicotte. Directed by Kate Rose Reynolds, the production runs April 4th - 27th on the campus of Alliant International University. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There will be a preview performance on Friday, April 4th with a Press Opening on Saturday, April 5th at 7:30 p.m. Patrons can purchase Tickets online at https://scrippsranchtheatre.org/showtickets/ or contact SRT Patron Services at 858-395-0573.
Synopsis: Mary and Charlie meet in a deserted barn and begin a whirlwind romance. But World War I is looming, and the lovers must part as Charlie joins the war effort and Mary is left alone with her dreams. This deeply romantic dream-play is an exquisitely personal examination of the cost of war. The talented cast includes Dennis O’Connor and Lilliana Talwatte.
Director Kate Rose Reynolds shared, “I have had a decade-long love affair with Mary’s Wedding, ever since I was lucky enough to perform in it in upstate New York. The show is a powerful, poignant balancing act - deeply romantic without veering into melodrama, heart-wrenching while still feeling hopeful, highly theatrical without seeming contrived. Even the writing reflects this dichotomous nature; Massicotte transports us with rich, poetic narration, and then grounds us with charming, everyday dialogue.”
She adds, “It’s a rare gem of a play that feels both familiar and entirely fresh and inventive, that can speak to us of love and war (two tales as old as time) and yet leave us in suspense, waiting for the next moment. The dream play structure, with its nonlinear storytelling and charged surreality, deepens the already profound emotional resonances. This highly theatrical framework allows all of the artists involved to shine - it’s a tour de force not just for the actors, but for each member of our incredible design team as well. I am thrilled to invite audience members to dream this dream with us.”
East County News Service
March 2, 2025 (Borrego Springs) – The Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association invites you to the 2025 Borrego Home and Garden Tour on Saturday, March 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Explore four special homes in the heart of the desert, at your own pace. Each home showcases unique architecture, landscaping and design elements.
Tickets are available online at www.abdnha.org/gardentour or visit the ABDNHA Desert Nature Center (652 Palm Canyon Drive, (760) 767-3098).
East County News Service
March 2, 2025 (Julian) -- Friends of the Julian Library will present a concert by Sean Gaskell on the kora, a 21-stringed West African harp. This performance, titled “Music on the Mountain,” will take place on March 7 at 3 p.m. in the Julian branch of the county library, 1850 Highway 78 in Julian.
Gaskell studied under the extensive instruction of Moriba Kuyateh and the late Malamini Jobarteh in Gambia, and both Youssoupha Cissokho and Mamadou Cissokho in Senegal. The kora is traditionally played by oral historians known as Griots. Many songs featured on the kora preserve an 800-year history dating back to the founding of the Mande empire.
Gaskell has presented adult, youth and family programs at over 400 libraries and a multitude of k-12 schools, colleges, universities and assisted living facilities throughout the United States and Canada.
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.
In addition to u-pick daffodils, visitors can also enjoy other activities for a fee including a petting zoo, rock climbing, swings, picnic areas, a tractor-pulled hayride and more.
For details, visit https://www.JulianFarmAndOrchard.com/daffodil-days-spring.
East County News Service
March 1, 2025 (Mt. Helix) -- Mt. Helix Park invites you to Nature Day atop Mt. Helix on March 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This event will feature live animals, a butterfly release, booths from over 30 nature organizations, activities, crafts and a native plant sale.
Shuttles for the public are available (free) from Grossmont High School.