Good morning, Escondido.

The Escondido High School Agriculture Department will host its 18th annual Pumpkinfest on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Escondido High behind the baseball field, offering pumpkins grown by students with tractor rides, carnival games, a petting zoo, face painting, crafts, food, plants, live music, and a classic car show — proceeds will benefit the agriculture program.

More than a week from today, the Grand Avenue Festival will combine with the Green Expo downtown—merging two events into one community celebration that began in 1988 to mark the city’s incorporation and will celebrate its 38th year.

This move creates a unique local event planned to bring neighbors together in a single festive day.

The Children’s Museum of Discovery will host its 9th annual Space Night on November 8 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm offering families hands-on STREAM activities — Esco Alley Art is calling for local artists to submit mural designs for Neighborhood Healthcare’s building as part of the Escondido Creek corridor revitalization. Craft and Taco Lounge in downtown Escondido has been named one of Yelp’s Top 100 Taco Spots in the U.S. for its Escondido Coco Loco taco.

The U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit in September accusing Escondido business Alta Drywall of underpaying nearly 600 workers over three years and requiring an $800,000 settlement—Alta Drywall denies the allegations while many workers remain employed.

On Saturday, September 27, the California Center for the Arts in Escondido hosted the XICANA!

Block Party to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with live music, food, a lowrider car show presented by Lady Lowrider Car Club and Calindo’s Bike and Parts, and hands-on cultural workshops for kids—linking the event to the ongoing XICANA! art exhibition open until November 2 supported by City Heights Community Development Corp and ESMOA. The celebration brought together families and over 100 all-female artists to honor Chicana art and identity.

Escondido author Chloe Kerns Edge is featured in the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild's 13th anthology Good Luck With That, which was released on October 1—she contributed along with 28 other members to a collection of 36 stories on the theme Good Luck or Is It.

Edge holds a degree in Lit/Writing from UCSD and teaches creative writing locally while working on a memoir and linked-story collection.

The Escondido Creek Conservancy will host its 2nd Annual Outdoor Education Elevated Fundraiser on October 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.—the event seeks to raise at least $50,000 to unlock a matching gift that will support outdoor education programs for schools and families along the Escondido Creek watershed. The fundraiser will feature a guest speaker, photography lessons, outdoor yoga, guided hikes, and other family-friendly activities, with tickets at $20 for adults and $15 for children under 12.

A year after leaving Palomar Health because of a cyber-attack, Graybill Medical Group has made changes to help patients get care faster—upgrading phone systems and adding online scheduling.

Dr. Peters said the group still works with Palomar for hospital care and now welcomes new patients while boosting security.

A recent online survey of Palomar Medical Center’s ER in Escondido shows 71.7% of feedback was negative while nearly half of the positive responses came from undisclosed InnoVision employees—this raises concerns about the survey's accuracy as the hospital board has not commented.

The survey, taken from patient and employee experiences over the past three years, continues to highlight issues with customer satisfaction.

At the Palomar League opener on Friday night, Valley Center Jaguars beat the Escondido Cougars 28-6 at Jaguar Stadium.

Senior quarterback Braylon Mitchell threw for 162 yards and wide receiver Gauge Wright made key plays—linebacker Cooper Chaney picked off two passes to help secure the win.

Native American Heritage Festival

10 AM - 5 PM — Grape Day Park — Free entry — Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with music, dance, and local crafts at this vibrant festival.

Paint & Sip: Fall Vibes

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — Kettle On Grand — Ticket includes a drink and all materials — Unleash your inner artist while enjoying a relaxing atmosphere with drinks and friends.

Intimate Classics: 284 Strings

3:00 – 4:30 PM — California Center for the Arts, Escondido — Ticket prices vary — Experience the enchanting blend of cello, piano, and harp in a captivating classical music performance.

A Step Beyond - El Alebrije

7-8:30 p.m. — California Center for the Arts, Escondido — Check site for ticket prices — Experience a vibrant live performance at the esteemed concert hall.