NEWS
CONTACT: Michael Navarre
michael.navarre@gcccd.edu
April 23, 2026
Cuyamaca College to host Open House on Saturday, May 2, alongside Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival
El Cajon, CA —On Saturday, May 2, 2026, Cuyamaca College will open its campus to the community for a full day of exploration, connection, and celebration, featuring two annual events: the Cuyamaca College Open House and the Spring Garden & Butterfly Festival. Both events are free and open to the public.
Running concurrently, these events offer something for everyone, from prospective students and families to garden enthusiasts and community members, highlighting the college’s programs, partnerships, and welcoming campus environment.
The Cuyamaca College Open House provides an opportunity for prospective and current students to explore academic programs and student support services while receiving hands-on assistance with enrollment. Attendees can connect with faculty, employees, and counselors; learn about the career pathways offered; and receive guidance on applying, financial aid, and available campus resources.
The Welcome Center will be open, and a broad range of programs and services will be represented, including:
· Library
· Veterans Center
· Career Services
· Academic Pathways
· Cuyamaca Cares
· English as a Second Language (ESL)
· CALWORKS program
· And more!
Hosted by Cuyamaca College for nearly 30 years, the Spring Garden & Butterfly Festival is a beloved community tradition celebrating sustainability, gardening, and outdoor learning. The festival features plants propagated and sold by the Cuyamaca Ornamental Horticulture Department, local vendors, food trucks, local bands from the Cuyamaca Performing Arts Department’s Coyote Music Festival, family-friendly activities, and a live butterfly releases. The event highlights the college’s strong connection to environmental stewardship and hands-on education.
Participating sponsors include the Water Conservation Garden, Heritage of the Americas Museum, Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture, The Cuyamaca Performing Arts Department’s-Coyote Music Festival, and Cuyamaca College Outreach. For full event details, visit www.thegarden.org.
Both events are free and open to the public, with free parking available, and located on campus at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in El Cajon, CA.
About Cuyamaca College
Cuyamaca College has been proudly serving the diverse community of East County since its opening in 1978. As a comprehensive educational institution, Cuyamaca College offers a wide range of opportunities for students through both transfer programs and career and technical education pathways. The college is deeply committed to social justice, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to high-quality education and the resources they need to succeed. Offering 197 degrees and certificates, the college serves over 13,000 students annually, providing a student-centered approach to learning. Cuyamaca College delivers exceptional support services and is dedicated to ensuring students’ future success and long-term economic mobility through high transfer rates to universities and preparation for careers in their chosen fields.
About the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD)
The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD) includes Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, which offer hundreds of degree and certificate programs, including Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Advanced/Basic Certificates. GCCCD is the largest provider of higher education and job training in East County and is a top transfer pathway to San Diego State University. The colleges lead the way in developing educational programs, classes, and services that meet the needs of the community of learners and prepare students to meet changing community and workforce needs while advancing social justice and economic mobility. Learn more and enroll at www.gcccd.edu/enroll.
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