An Event with 'Heart': Popular Cultural Celebration Returns to Mt. Helix

The , one of East County's most well-known landmarks, will once again serve as the backdrop to a fantastic evening of live music, great food, and community fellowship, as the always-popular event returns, on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012.

The event, now in its fifth year, is a celebration of the arts and culture, and features wine and beer tastings, samples from some of East County's most popular restaurants, live music from accomplished musicians throughout the eventing, live art demonstrations, and raffle and prize giveaways.

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As main fundraising event for the , the popular annual heART of Mount Helix event takes months of planning and preparation. All funds raised from the event are used to preserve, miantain and enhance the park for future generations to enjoy.

Those plans will soon come to fruition, as the event is scheduled to run from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Sept. 15.

"To the outside, people see East County as a cultural void, and that's not the case," said Tracey Stotz, executive director of the park foundation. "We know there is a rich tradition of culture and the arts here, and they they are alive and well."

Similar to previous years, water color artist and Mt. Helix resident Chuck McPherson will be doing a live painting throughout the evening, which will be auctioned off at the end of the event. In previous years, McPherson's pieces have fetched anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000, which he graciously donates to the foundation.

Additionally, brutalist artist Frank Cota will be welding a piece of art live, and wood turner Sally Ault will produce a beautiful handcrafted piece for auction.

For those drawn to the event by the menagerie of wonderful culinary offerings, there are already several local restaurants confirmed for the event, including:

Alchemy

Apothic Catering

Ballast Point Brewing Company

Hacienda Casa Blanca

Grove Pastry Shop

Terra American Bistro

Beer and wine samples will be provided by Ballast Point and Provincial Winery, respectively. And the mixologists at Alchemy have once again created a signature cocktail for the evening called the "Old Grove Melonade," which features Ballast Point Gin, Cantaline Melon, raw sugar and lemon.

More than 100 amazing prizes will be auctioned off as well at the event, including vacations to Park City, Utah and a 10-day Holland America Cruise, San Diego helicopter tours, airline tickets from Southwest, and a staycation at a vacation house in the Coronado Cays.

The auction will also feature various kinds of art, Padres and SDSU football tickets, executive chef's dinner for 10 from The Steakhouse at Azul La Jolla, jewelry gift certificates, passes to the San Diego Zoo and Legoland, and much more. For a full list of auction items visit the Mt. Helix Park website.

And of course, the night would not be complete without a variety of live music to delight the attendees. The headlining act is Gary Seiler and the Coast Riders.  Seiler, band leader, lead vocalist and lead guitarist, has opened for Jimmy Buffet, Willie Nelson, and Jan and Dean and has performed at Super Bowl XXXII as well as a multitude of shows in southern California, Arizona, Las Vegas, Tahiti and Europe. His band features musicians with dozens of years of experience, who have played with acts like the Byrds and the Beach Boys.

Other bands and musical acts scheduled to perform include:

Jazz saxophonist Roc P, The Benedetti Trio, acoustic group Ophelia Vibe, Patsy Cline tribute singer Robin Young, 75th Comeback Elvis - Elvis Presley tribute artist Robert Myers, singer/songwriter Austin Ross, and music/dance duo ChaDea.

Full descriptions of the musical artists can be found in the attached document.

Reserved table seating  is sold out for the event, but around 340 general admission tickets are still available for $60 each.

Click here to purchase your tickets or go to the Park website, mthelixpark.org, for more information. 

(If you already have purchased tickets they will be sent to you next week as will any raffle tickets you purchased.)