🌱 Patch AM: What’s planned for Escondido’s historic Grape Day Festival this September?

Hey hey Escondido! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What's planned for Escondido's historic Grape Day Festival this September?
• Can you help solve the mysterious death of an Escondido man?
• See how one Escondido home is built to face wildfires head-on

Also on today's calendar: Fun Animal Friday: Dwarf Horse & Mini Goat and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: What is full of holes but still holds water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Friday: Warm with clouds and sun, with a high of 92 and low of 64 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 91, low: 62.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny and warm, with a high of 93 and low of 62 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

1. Grape Day Festival returns to park Sept. 5: get some squishy grapes between your toes! (times-advocate.com) — Escondido's Grape Day Festival returns to Grape Day Park on Saturday, September 5, celebrating the city's agricultural roots with grape stomping, live entertainment, kids' activities, and free grapes while they last. Expect vendors, a wine and beer garden, historic demonstrations, and a strong local presence from groups like the Escondido History Center and Escondido Sunrise Rotary.
   

2. Authorities Seek Information In Death Of Escondido Man (patch.com) — Authorities are asking Escondido residents for help solving the death of 56-year-old local resident Jorge Soares, whose body was found in North County after he went missing in early 2025. Detectives say he lived in Escondido and often traveled to San Bernardino County, and Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for tips that could lead to an arrest.
   

3. California construction company builds fire-resistant homes as San Diego County faces daily wildfires (10news.com) — An Escondido homeowner is nearly finished building a fire-resistant house near Olivenhain Dam, using materials designed to better withstand wildfires. California-based 4C Construction Systems assembled the shell in under a week, aiming to keep costs manageable while giving local residents another option for safer building in high-risk areas.
   

4. Piggly Wiggly on Newport Avenue: The oddly named store that changed how San Diego shopped (timesofsandiego.com) — Escondido once hosted its own Piggly Wiggly, part of a wider San Diego network of early self-service grocery stores that changed how residents shopped. This history piece traces the Ocean Beach location on Newport Avenue, explains how the brand spread regionally, and shows how its innovative self-service model became the norm in markets everywhere.
   

5. County Supervisors Approve Ban On ICE Using County Firearms Facilities (patch.com) — Escondido residents should know the county has voted to bar ICE from using its firearms training facilities, a move Escondido Councilwoman Consuelo Martinez publicly supported as protecting immigrant communities. The decision, narrowly approved by supervisors, has sparked debate between those citing fear and civil liberties concerns and others warning about public safety and border-security impacts.
   

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📸 Around Escondido

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Escondido

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday August 27

• Juniper Back to School Night
  Juniper Elementary Escondido, CA 92025
  5:00 pm

Friday August 28

• Friday Flag Assembly
  North Broadway Elementary Escondido, CA 92026
  8:00 am
• Fun Animal Friday: Dwarf Horse & Mini Goat →
  Children's Museum of Discovery, 320 N Broadway, Escondido
  10:00 am

Saturday September 5

• Grape Day 5K →
  Grape Day Park, 321 N Broadway, Escondido
  8:00 am

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📣 Escondido Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday August 21

• Marine Corps League BBQ
  Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058
  4:00 pm
• JV Football Vs Ramona
  Valley Center High Ramona High School, 1401 Hanson Ln, Ramona, CA 92065, USA
  4:15 pm
• Back to School Night: Seniors 5:30p, Juniors 6:30p
  Grossmont High La Mesa, CA 91944
  5:00 pm
• Varsity Football Vs Bishops
  Valley Center High La Jolla High School, 799 Westbourne St, La Jolla, CA 92037, U
  7:00 pm

Saturday August 22

• Set up for birthday parties
  Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058
  9:00 am
• Buffalo Soldiers
  Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058
  11:00 am

Monday August 24

• First Day of School
  Ramona City Unified Ramona, CA 92065
• Pacific Building Group's Charity Golf Tournament
  San Marcos Chamber of Commerce The Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe 17102 Bing Crosby Blvd San Diego, CA 92127
  8:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Escondido PatchAM possible:

• The Ultrasound Experience — (760) 744-3733
• Heverly & Sons Dumpster Rental — (619) 629-4751

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Shenanigans is Your Rancho Coastal Humane Society Pet This Week —John Van Zante Read on Patch

• The City of San Diego is preparing for El Niño - and we need San Diegans to prepare too.
  Now is the time to make sure your family is ready. Pack an emergency kit, know your evacuation route if you live in an area likely to flood, and sign… (Nextdoor )
• Update: Pet Reunited
  A dog who went missing in Escondido, CA, has been safely reunited with their family after 6 hours, 13 minutes. Message from Finder: "This well… (Nextdoor Avenida Del Diablo)

• Atria Senior Living posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Escondido. Apply here.
• ARCH posted a job opening for Machine Operator in Escondido. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Escondido here.

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Ok Escondido! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A sponge (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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