It's a Busy Fall Weekend in Santee

We’ve reached the end of summer and it’s time to celebrate the first weekend of fall. Friday marks the first day of the season and the weekend forecast promises cool weather with some clouds to boot. Enjoy the new season with some fun events and activities for you and the family. We’ve got the best bets, near and far, listed below.

This weekend, Sept. 23-25, get out in Santee and take the trolley for some travel and entertainment, travel to the lakes for a good-cause 5k, help remove invasive trees from a local park, get into a museum for free and audition for a dance opportunity downtown. Saturday is the big Wine and Bluegrass Festival, so get your tickets!

Looking to move out of Santee for the weekend? La Mesa has a kids health fair and Lemon Grove is hosting a three-day fall festival with good food and rides. Coronado’s the place to be if you’ve got the need for speed and Point Loma is hosting the San Diego County Beer Fair, so ale aficionados take note.

Click the links for more details.

BEST BETS CLOSE TO HOME

• When/where: East (550 Park Center Dr.), intersection of Riverwalk Drive and Cuyamaca Street, Santee, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: Enjoy life’s simple pleasures at this Wine and Bluegrass Festival. Sip on fine wine, micro-brewed beer, taste Santee's best area restaurants, and tap your foot to some twang. A silent auction will also be held.
• Price: $35.

• When/where: Santee Trolley Square, 9884 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• Why go: Climb aboard the trolley at Grantville and head toward the Santee Trolley Square. At five stops along the way you’ll see performance by the San Diego Dance Theater, including instructors, students and choreographers.
• Price: $10-$30.

• When/where: , 9310 Fanita Pky., Santee, 8 a.m. Saturday.
• Why go: Help raise money for lake improvements while you run, jog or walk a 5k at Lap the Lakes. Bring your strollers and take the kids. There’s a Jr. Fun Run that will only be a half-mile long.
• Price: $12-$27.

• When/where: , 10946 Woodside Ave., Santee, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: Get into the Creation and Earth History Museum for free and explore the world of dinosaurs and reptiles. There will be balloon-making, face-painting, raffles, snacks and more.
• Price: Free.

• When/where: Town Center Community Park West, 9409 Cuyamaca St., Santee, 9 a.m. Saturday.
• Why go: Help remove non-native and invasive tamarisk trees from the park with other volunteers.
• Price: Free.

• When/where: , 9225 Carlton Hills Blvd. Ste. 28, Santee, 2-4 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: Expressions Dance and Movement Center is looking for 50 dancers to participate in one of the biggest Halloween parties downtown—Monster Bash!
• Price: Free.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

• When/where: , 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove, 5-10 p.m. Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday; 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
• Why go: Visit this three-day festival for rides, games, beer gardens, white elephant and silent auctions and more. Vendors will be selling food and crafts and proceeds will benefit church's charities and the all-denomination Teen Youth Center building fun.
• Price: Free.

• When/where: , 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: The Grossmont Healthcare District and the City of La Mesa are putting on a health festival geared toward kids’ health. Visit this festival for free health screenings and information, arts and crafts and bungee jumps. There are plenty of informative activities and a free lunch will be served to the children.
• Price: Free.

• When/where: , North Island Naval Complex, Coronado, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• Why go: See cars race and wind their way around the naval base at this Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival.
• Price: $25-$150.

• When/where: 2750 Womble Rd., San Diego, noon-4 p.m. Saturday.
• Why go: It’s the San Diego County Beer Fair, where you can sample 12 beers, taste samples of food, meet brewers and more.
• Price: $35-$50.