June 4, 2026

Julian Town Square Music Festival coming June 6 to Washington Street

June 3, 2026 (Julian) — Roots rock and Americana tunes are coming to fill the mountains of East and North County with original music this weekend during the Fifth Annual Julian Town Square Music Festival.

The free community celebration will run from noon until 6 p.m., Saturday, June 6 at 2712 Washington St. in Julian.

Organized by the nonprofit Julian Community Heritage Foundation, with more support from the Julian Chamber of Commerce, the festival is the main fundraiser for the support of the continued development of the Julian Town Square — a historic corner lot becoming a permanent outdoor park and performance space.

The emerging Julian Town Square represents a 10-year, grassroots preservation effort to safeguard the town’s mountain heritage. The site dates back to 1912 when it housed the Silvers Supply Store, before eventually operating as a Chevron gas station in the 1970s.

In 2017, a small group of local neighbors formed the JCHF to buy the abandoned corner lot and revitalize it. The foundation has been molding the plot into a permanent cultural epicenter for theater, art and community gatherings.

While admission to the festival is free — with parking available for $10 at Frank Lane Park, 2645 Farmer Road in Julian — organizers are looking to the community to help fund the next phases of development. Attendees making on-site or online donations of $300 or more will have their names permanently etched onto the Town Square’s upcoming donor wall.

Local artisans, handmade goods, and backcountry vendors will line the venue, alongside food from QUECHO Elevated Mexican Eatery and craft beverages provided by The Toasty Tap.

Original music, local artists

This year’s festival is anchored by a heavyweight lineup of roots music icons, led by former San Diego Padres fan favorite-turned-Americana-troubadour Tim Flannery and his band, the Lunatic Fringe.

For local audiences, Flannery represents a unique intersection of San Diego sports history and grit.

Long before he was touring the country with his blend of blue-eyed Irish soul and California country, Flannery (photo, right) spent over three decades in Major League Baseball. He played 11 seasons as a versatile infielder for the Padres (1979-89). He later transitioned to coaching, serving as the third-base coach for the San Francisco Giants during three World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Beyond his athletic feats, Flannery’s presence on stage carries a deeper emotional weight for fans following his severe medical crisis. In late 2020, Flannery was hospitalized in San Diego, fighting a life-threatening staph infection that required seven major surgeries and an extensive recovery period.

After publicly sharing his battle — during which he credited music and his guitar as vital pieces of his healing process — Flannery’s return to the stage with the Lunatic Fringe marks a triumphant milestone in resilience.

Sharing the marquee is Sara Petite, (photo below, left) an award-winning singer-songwriter who has become a fixture of the Southern California Americana scene. Originally from Sumner, Wash., Petite is widely recognized for her raw, roadhouse-rock style of outlaw country.

A five-time finalist in the International Songwriting Competition and a frequent winner at the San Diego Music Awards, Petite brings an authentic twang heavily influenced by Loretta Lynn and Lucinda Williams.

The afternoon’s diverse musical program will also feature performances by Elizabeth Bowersox, whose album California Queen just won Best Country or Americana Album at this year’s San Diego Music Awards; Salinas Road, Rootful and Donn Bree and friends.

For more information on the organization and on the event, visit juliantownsquare.org.

For more information on Julian, visit https://visitjulian.com.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Ilan-Lael Foundation offers June tours of historic Hubbbell house in Santa Ysabel

By East County News Service • June 1, 2026

East County News Service May 31, 2026 (San Diego) – You’re invited to see James and Anne Hubbell’s acclaimed home and art studios near Julian, California. Docent-led tours are offered each Thursday through Saturday in June, starting at 10 a.m.An immersive art and nature experience, each 90-minute tour covers the art and architecture of famed architect and artist James Hubbell amid the surrounding unspoiled natural beauty of the Santa Ysabel landscape. Admission fees go entirely to support Ilan-Lael Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit dedicated to preserving the Hubbell property and its legacy of bringing art and nature to the community. Reservations are required. For tickets ($45) and details, visit https://ilanlaelfoundation.org/ .

Charles Robert Starrett – The Durango Kid of Borrego Springs

By Jake Hinton • May 28, 2026

Charles Robert Starrett was an American actor and singer, best known for his role as “The Durango Kid” in over 100 Western films. Born on March 28th, 1903 in Athol, Massachusetts, Starrett began his acting career in the silent era before transitioning to sound films. He passed away on March 22nd, 1986, in Borrego Springs, California.

Martha Deichler Highlighted for Community Leadership in Borrego Springs

By Andrea McKenna • May 27, 2026

SDVoyager feature recognizes the leadership behind the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center Martha Deichler, executive director of the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center (CRC), was recently featured by SDVoyager for her years of service helping families, seniors, workers, and individuals throughout the community. In the feature, Deichler shared how the CRC grew from a small food bank effort during the COVID-19 pandemic into a major hub for community support services. As unemployment and hardship spread through the area during the pandemic, local residents began turning to the food bank not only for groceries, but also for help navigating unemployment applications, vaccine appointments, Medi-Cal, transportation needs, and other essential services. What started as emergency food assistance eventually evolved into the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center, which today offers a wide range of programs including food distribution, English and Spanish classes, citizenship classes, grief counseling, transportation assistance, computer literacy support, AA meetings, and caregiver training programs. Deichler described herself in the article as a “connector,” someone who helps match people with resources, services, and support systems. Her background working in the school district and her ability to speak Spanish have helped her build trusted relationships with families throughout the community. One program highlighted in the story addresses the growing need for caregivers for older adults who wish to remain in the area as they age. Through the CRC’s caregiver initiative, local residents can receive training and assistance connecting with In-Home Support Services (IHSS) opportunities, helping seniors remain independent while creating employment opportunities locally. The article also emphasized the generosity of the community and the support that has allowed the CRC to continue expanding services over the past several years. At 77 years old, Deichler shared that she has no plans to slow down, continuing her work to respond to the changing needs of the community and strengthen programs that help residents access food, healthcare, transportation, education, and support services. The full SDVoyager feature can be viewed here: Read the SDVoyager feature on Martha Deichler