ONGOING EVENTS

Local Playwrights Showcase
Through June 16
Lamplighters Community Theatre presents four short plays by three playwrights: “Bride on the Rocks” and “An Honest Arrangement” by David Wiener; “Oh, Susannah!” by Janet S. Tiger; and “Dead Play” by Tom Steward. Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. at Lamplighters Community Theatre, 5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa. $15 tickets available at lamplighterslamesa.com.

FEATURED EVENTS

Sunday, June 16

Sundays at Six Concerts:
Trails and Rails

La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation hosts a free concert featuring country music band Trails and Rails. 6-7 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden St. Visit lamesaparks.org.

Tuesday, June 18

‘The Importance of Civil Rights’

College Avenue Center hosts a presentation on civil rights featuring activists Gloria Brown and Deborah Williams. Brown was a leader in the civil rights movement during the late 1960s, where she organized marches and demonstrations against unfair education, employment, and housing inequities. She was present at the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic “I Have A Dream” speech. Williams is a graduate of Northwestern University with a master’s degree of divinity and currently serves as the senior associate pastor of Grace Covenant Christian Church. 12:45 p.m. at College Avenue Center, 6299 Capri Drive. Free. Visit jfssd.org.

Wednesday, June 19

Dive-In Movie Nights:
‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’
The Salvation Army Kroc Center presents a family-friendly evening of swimming and cinema. 7 p.m. at the Kroc Center pool, 6845 University Ave., San Diego. $5 at door, free for members. Visit sd.kroccenter.org.

Thursday, June 20

Red Shoe Day fundraiser
Volunteers are needed from across the county for Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego’s largest volunteer-driven fundraiser to collect generous cash donations from morning commuters from 6:30-9:30 a.m. at more than 200 major intersections throughout San Diego County. Visit

RedShoeDaySD.com to register as a volunteer or create a personal fundraising page to help support Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Ron White

Blue Collar Comedy Tour alumnus Ron White will be the first act to grace the new Heritage Event Center stage at Sycuan Casino Resort, 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon. Tickets for the 7 or 9:30 p.m. shows cost $39-$79, available at sycuan.com.

Sunday, June 23

Sundays at Six Concerts:
San Diego Concert Band

La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation hosts a free concert featuring the music of the San Diego Concert Band. 6-7 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden St. Visit lamesaparks.org.

‘Stars of Tomorrow Shining Today’

Six gifted San Diego area high school musicians, appearing in concert, will vie for scholarship honors in a new program to be featured annually as part of La Mesa’s popular Valerie Victor Concert Series. The featured finalists are Derek Savage, West Hills High – guitar; Lydia Schmidt, Carlsbad High – soprano; Mikel Ibaibarriaga, St. Augustine High – baritone; Jacob Francisco, Montgomery High – baritone saxophone; Andrew Hendrix, Steel Canyon High – alto saxophone; and Kartik Sundaram, Canyon Crest High – tenor. Show begins at 2 p.m. at The Table: United Church of Christ of La Mesa, 5940 Kelton Ave., La Mesa. Free-will offerings are added to the students’ scholarships. Visit tableucc.com.

Artist reception
On view at the Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Visitor and Interpretive Center June 22 through Aug. 3, is an exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist and illustrator Lesley Goren, whose lively and colorful images of plants and flowers are a self-described “love note” to the native vegetation of Southern California. To commemorate her exhibition at the MTRP Visitor Center, Goren has created two new custom greeting card designs for Mission Trails Regional Park to be sold in the Visitor Center’s gift shop beginning in June. The designs highlight the leaves and flowers of Mission Trails. The opening reception for Goren’s solo exhibition and first showing in San Diego County will take place at the MTRP Visitor Center, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, on June 23 from 2-4 p.m. Artwork featured in the exhibition will be available for sale, and a portion of the funds will support the park through the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation.

Monday, June 24

The History Lady Presents

Jeanette Way, “The History Lady,” has an array of wonderful stories, pictures, and artifacts that will help us to better understand history. Did you know that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor met at the Del Coronado Hotel? This is only one of many fascinating facts that Jeanette will cover. Other topics include: The history of Father’s Day, why Flag Day is on June 14, Custer’s last stand, and the birthdays of Anne Frank and Marilyn Monroe. 12:45 p.m. at College Avenue Center, 6299 Capri Drive. Free. Visit jfssd.org.

Saturday, June 29

The Flipside Burners

Grossmont Center’s free summer concert series kicks off with the rockabilly music of The Flipside Burners. 5 p.m. at Grossmont Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa.

Thursday, July 4

Lake Murray Fireworks and MusicFest

Friday, July 5

AG First Fridays:
Full Strength Funk

AG First Fridays is a free concert series in Allied Gardens Community Park on the first Friday each month from 6-8 p.m., June-October. Full Strength Funk is an 11-piece funk band whose playlist spans the decades from the classic funk tunes of the ’70s to the dance hits of today.

RECURRING EVENTS

Mondays

Movies
Visit the College Avenue Center on Mondays at 1 p.m. for an afternoon movie! Free for members, $2 for non-members. 6299 Capri Drive. Visit jfssd.org.

Tuesdays

Food Truck Tuesday
Civita Park plays host to a weekly food truck event. 5:30-8:30 p.m. 7960 Civita Blvd., San Diego. Visit curbsidebites.com for a list of participating trucks.

Fridays

La Mesa Farmers Market
La Mesa’s farmers market offers fresh local produce, florals, pastries, live music, and arts and crafts each Friday. 3-7 p.m. along La Mesa Boulevard. Free.
Visit lamesavillageassociation.org.

Saturdays

Hike Cowles Mountain
Looking for an adventure? Come join Saturday morning hikes at Cowles Mountain. Group photos will be taken at the summit and water will be provided. Meet at the Cowles Mountain Staging Area (located on the corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road) at the trailhead south of the comfort station. 5:30 a.m. Free. Register at bit.ly/2VC7xtF.

 Shop Local Market
Last Saturday of the month at Grossmont Center, participating shops set up tables outside and offer markdowns and new product showcases. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa.

Sundays

Traveling Stories
Visit Grossmont Center each Sunday for an interactive story time for kids. Kids visit the StoryTent, pick out a book that interests them, and then read it out loud to a volunteer. The volunteer asks engaging questions that help the child build reading comprehension and critical thinking skills all while earning book bucks to trade for cool prizes. Free. 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa.