Autumn is a magical time to discover San Diego's East County, when the foliage of the rolling foothills and mountains change color and temperatures dip ever so slightly to put visitors in a fall frame of mind. East County's change of seasons is pronounced by festive annual traditions like Oktoberfests and a Native-American Pow Wow, as well as seasonal grape and apple harvests that attract visitors from far and near to sample luscious wines and delicious homemade apple pies, ciders and jams.
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Following are some of San Diego East County's most notable annual fall events.
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AMERICAN TO THE CORE
- A San Diego tradition “as American as apple pie” is the popular Annual Julian Fall Apple Harvest, September through October, celebrating this historic mountain town's famous homemade apple pies and ciders. Visitors can also enjoy acres of colorful fall foliage, apple picking in local orchards, charming bed and breakfast inns, art shows, quaint antique shops, horse-drawn carriage rides and live entertainment.
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- The Julian Apple Days Festival on Oct. 6-7 at Menghini Winery features music and dancing, children's games and activities, gold panning demonstrations, a wine and beer garden, food and merchandise vendors, apple-related contests, the coronation of Mr. and Mrs. Apple Days and, of course, Julian's famous apple pies.
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The festival runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under. The first 250 guests through the gate each day receive a free souvenir pie server.
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VINE TIME
- The Julian Grape Stomp Festa takes place on Sept. 1 at the Menghini Winery in Julian. The charming country town celebrates its bountiful grape harvest with an authentic Old World-style grape stomp and festa with live Italian music, food, wine tasting and bocce ball competitions. Admission is $10 for adults, which includes a commemorative wine glass, $5 for guests ages 20 and under and free for children aged under five.
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DESERT DELIGHT
- Cooler temperatures and the picturesque desert landscape welcome visitors to the 47th Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival, Oct. 26-28, in Borrego Springs, East County's desert oasis town. This popular free celebration features a parade on Oct. 27 with marching bands, floats, classic cars, equestrian groups and Grand Marshal Ricardo Breceda, the local renowned artist who created the unique menagerie of eye-catching, metallic animal sculptures called Galleta Meadows, located on the outskirts of town. The festival also includes the Miss Borrego pageant, live entertainment, a carnival, food vendors, a beer garden, pony rides, a classic car and motorcycle show and more.
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PARADES & FESTIVALS
- On Nov. 18, the 66th Annual Mother Goose Parade, the largest parade in San Diego County, brings crowds of spectators to the city streets of El Cajon. Featuring whimsical floats, clowns, bands, equestrians and celebrity appearances, the parade is a cherished local tradition and the annual kick-off to the winter holiday season.
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- Bratwurst, beer gardens and oompah bands can only mean one thing - Oktoberfest! A number of communities throughout San Diego County celebrate this traditional German holiday, but Oktoberfest in La Mesa, Oct. 5-7, and Oktoberfest in El Cajon, Sept. 28-30 and Oct. 5-7, are two of the largest festivals of their kind on the U.S. West Coast. Visitors can enjoy dancing, German food, Bavarian bands and hundreds of crafts and commercial booths along La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa and Mollison Avenue in El Cajon.
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- The annual Alpine Western Days Parade on Sept. 30 celebrates the community spirit of the picturesque rural town of Alpine. The day-long celebration features fun for the whole family, including a popular craft fair and parade with floats, marching bands, drill teams and equestrian units.
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- El Cajon celebrates its big Centennial Celebration on Nov. 12 with a fun-filled day of activities for the whole family to enjoy, including a festival, parade and dedication of the city's new Centennial Plaza.
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VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
- Visitors are in for some toe-tappin' fun during the Julian Mountain Music Jamboree & Banjo Fiddle Contest on Sept. 15-16 at Frank Lane Park in Julian. The oldest bluegrass festival in California features performances by blues, bluegrass, country, western and mountain bands, plus lively banjo and fiddle playing contests.
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- The city of Santee kicks ups its heels with the Santee Bluegrass Festival on Sept. 22, featuring bluegrass bands Box Canyon and the Tail Draggers, plus food, wine and craft beer tastings.
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- The 56th Annual Julian Melodrama, an old-fashioned comedy-melodrama set in the 1890s and loosely based on the history of Julian, is presented every weekend throughout October at the Julian Town Hall. Audiences are encouraged to participate by cheering on the hero, booing the villain and crying “awwww” for the sweet heroine. A variety show between acts features a variety of local talents, including a choral group and junior cancan dancers.
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INDIAN SUMMER
- The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation presents the 23rdAnnual Sycuan Pow-Wow, Sept. 7-9, on the Sycuan Indian Reservation in El Cajon. This traditional celebration features Indian song, dance, arts and crafts, games and food. The free event is open to the public; on-site camping is available.
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DRIVE IN
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GOOD SPORT
- Bicyclists can test their stamina along 25- and 50-mile routes through East County's scenic mountain terrain during the Tour de Julian on Nov. 3-4. This annual fall event attracts hundreds of riders from throughout the nation.
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Happiness is calling in East County. For more information on fall activities and events in East County and the entire San Diego region, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website, www.sandiego.org and www.sandiego.org/eastcounty, or call 619-236-1212.
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