Saturday, Sept. 28

Extraordinary East County Garden Tour
Lush urban gardens across East County San Diego will take center stage when the UCCE Master Gardener Program of San Diego County hosts a fall garden tour. Extraordinary design elements and a wide variety of plants will be on display at nine homes in Mt. Helix, La Mesa and El Cajon. Trained master gardeners will be on hand to demonstrate effective gardening techniques, answer questions and sell hand-crafted bird houses and unique garden art. $30 tickets and information at mastergardenerSD.org.

Thursday, Oct. 3

‘Picasso at the Lapin Agile’
Through Oct. 12
Grossmont College Theater presents a play by Steve Martin set in 1904 Paris. Albert Einstein, a 25-year-old patent clerk, waits for his date at the Lapin Agile, a Parisian watering hole, when 23-year-old Pablo Picasso drops in to meet a recent conquest. Kept company over the course of their evening by an amusingly incontinent barfly, a gullible yet lovable bartender, a wise waitress, and a surprise visitor from beyond, the two geniuses’ conversation bounces like excited molecules and sweeps like bold brush strokes over art, science, love, existence, and the unknown. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. at the Stagehouse Theatre, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon. Tickets range $12–$15, available at bit.ly/2lZT0rB.

Friday, Oct. 4

First Friday Night Market
Taste how delicious a vegan lifestyle can be at the First Friday Night Market at Grossmont Center! Sponsored by Vegan San Diego, this free event gathers the most exceptional vegan vendors all in one spot so that you can savor and sip delectable plant-based food and beverages. 5-10 p.m. at Grossmont Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive. Free.

Community Choice Energy Forum
Climate Action Campaign and the city of San Diego will host a forum on community choice aggregation (CCA). Get your questions answered about the new regional program to provide power as an alternative to SDG&E. The forum will discuss governance structure, best practices, local clean energy development and how to create programs that benefit everyone. Speakers include Sen. Toni Atkins, Mayor Kevin Faulconer, California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild and many more. Breakfast and lunch provided. 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in the Neil Morgan Auditorium at the San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd. Tickets are $195. Register and get more information at bit.ly/2ZqSYad.

Saturday, Oct. 5

Urban Street Scenes Juried Photography Show Reception
Join Nainsook Framing + Art for an evening of fabulous local photography, wine, snacks and friendship! 6-8 p.m. at Nainsook, 8130 La Mesa Blvd. Awards will be announced at 7:15 pm. This free event is open to the public. For more information about entering this show, visit bit.ly/2mjaHTd.

Thursday, Oct. 10

East County Intergenerational Games

Active adults age 50 and up are paired with youth ages 7-12 for non-competitive, fun activities including street hockey, soccer, T-ball, horseshoes, jump rope, corn hole and pickleball. 9:30 a.m.-noon at La Mesa Arts Academy, 4200 Parks Ave. Pre-registration is required for this free event put on by the city of La Mesa. Sign up at cityoflamesa.us/specialevents or call 619-667-1322.

Bruce Hornsby & The Noise Makers
Piano virtuoso and songwriter extraordinaire Bruce Hornsby brings his eclectic music to The Magnolia, 210 East Main St., El Cajon. 7 p.m. doors. Tickets are $45, available at livemu.sc/2lRyaL6.

EDITOR’S PICK

La Mesa Oktoberfest
Through Oct. 6
Strap on your lederhosen and get ready to bust out your best chicken dance at the 46th annual La Mesa Oktoberfest. German food, dress, entertainment and beer are the highlights of this free event — the largest of its kind in the San Diego region. Biergarten passes VIP ticket packages range $5–$45. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. in the La Mesa Village.

Friday, Oct. 11

‘The Sound of Music’
Through Oct. 19
The Highland Players, Helix Charter High School’s Drama Department, presents the classic musical. “The Sound of Music.” Oct. 11-19 at the Helix MainStage Theater, 4200 Lowell St. Evening performances start at 7, with a 6 p.m. performance on Thursday, Oct. 17. There will be 2 p.m. matinees on Oct. 12 and 19. Tickets are $10 for non-students, $8 for students with ASB cards, available at bit.ly/2kMoIIw.

‘On Golden Pond’ Through Nov. 10
Lamplighters Community Theatre presents a play written by Earnest Thompson, made famous by its 1979 film adaptation. The plot focuses on aging couple Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend each summer at their home on a lake called Golden Pond. During the year the story takes place, they are visited by daughter Chelsea with her fiancé Billy Ray and his son Billy Ray Jr. The play explores the often-turbulent relationship the young woman shared with her father growing up, and the difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. at Lamplighters Community Theatre, 5915 Severin Drive. Tickets are $23 general: $20 seniors, students, active military; $18 groups of 10 or more, available at bit.ly/2kPmvMr.

‘Matilda the Musical’
Through Oct. 26
“Matilda the Musical” at Young Actors’ Theatre, a San Diego Youth Theatre premiere! Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning “Matilda The Musical” is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Fridays and Thursdays at 7 p.m, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. at ENCORE! Theatre, 9620 Campo Road, Spring Valley. $13 tickets available at bit.ly/2lYmo1f.

Saturday, Oct. 12

Ms. Smarty Plants Goes Batty
Learn what goes boo in the night and have fun at a spooktackular Halloween-themed event held at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, 121222 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. Enjoy a family-friendly event with a Ms. Smarty Plants show, a trick-or-treat trail, creepy critter encounters and a costume contest. 5:30-8 p.m. $5, free for children under 3.

Sunday, Oct. 13

A Fair Trade Event
St. Martin of Tours invites the public to “Shopping That Makes a Difference” at its Fair Trade Event. 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall, 7710 El Cajon Blvd. Shop for fair-trade gifts, home décor, clothing and jewelry from a variety of vendors. Enjoy fair-trade coffee, teas, ice cream and chocolate. Fair wages create brighter futures for families in developing countries. Call 619-466-3241 for more information.

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Chamber Breakfast with Fire Chief Steve Swaney
This is your first opportunity to meet and hear from your new fire chief! La Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosts 7:30-9 a.m. at Marie Callender’s, 6950 Alvarado Road. Visitlamesachamber.com for more details.

Saturday, Oct. 19

 Sunrise Rotary Garage Sale
The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club, a nonprofit organization, will hold their next Garage Sale on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at 6210 Lake Shore Drive, San Diego 92119. Proceeds to benefit local projects in schools, parks, scholarships, and other community programs. Come shop, donate, and learn about the good work Rotary does in our community.

RECURRING EVENTS

Mondays

Note Catchers
California Note Catchers, four-part harmony chorus, invite ladies of all ages to their rehearsals 7-9 p.m. Performances throughout SD. Located in Social Hall of La Mesa First United Methodist Church, 4690 Palm Ave. 619-464-3727.

Tuesdays

La Mesa Walks!
Enjoy a fun walk with friends and neighbors. First and third Tuesdays, meet at various locations, second and fourth Tuesdays meet at 9 a.m. at La Mesa Library, 8074 Allison Ave. Call 619-667-1300 for more information.

Wednesdays

Senior Women’s Support Group
City of La Mesa offers senior women’s support group, every Wednesday 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, 8450 La Mesa Blvd. Please contact 619-667-1322.

Wellness Wednesday
Wellness Wednesday is a health series normally held on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Herrick Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa. Admission is free and advance RSVP is not required. Light refreshments and informational handouts will be available. For more information, call the library at 619-825-5010 or visit herricklibrary.org.

Grossmont Center Farmers Market
Grossmont Center hosts a produce-only farmers market, 2-6 p.m. in the back lot in front of the Dollar Tree.

Thursdays

Movie Matinee
The La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center hosts a series of modern and classic film viewings every Thursday at 1 p.m. in the center’s main hall. Cost is $2 per ticket. For movie listings, visit bit.ly/2FVrOSQ.

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.

Saturdays

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.