Summer is officially here and the weather is warming up in Ventura County. Most of the kids are out of school and the 4th of July is coming up this weekend. While most people probably already have plans for the big day, there are quite a few activities happening around the county this weekend that you and the family may want to spend some time at before heading to the beach or a family member’s house. Also, there are a couple of cool events happening towards the middle of the month, especially the 3rd annual Tacos & Tequila Musical Festival.
Channel Islands Harbor 50th Anniversary
Channel Islands Harbor will be holding special events to commemorate 50 years since it opened in 1965. Below is a list of the planned activities that will be happening over 4th of July weekend. The location of the events will be on the West side of the Harbor around Harborview Park near Cabezone Circle and Harbor Blvd.
Friday, July 3rd
– 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Activities including arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, and children’s activities.
– 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Live music by Sgt. Pepper
Saturday, July 4th
– 7:00 AM. Annual 4th of July Channel Islands Harbor 10K Race & 5K Fun Run/Walk
– 10:30 AM. Annual Channel Islands Harbor 4th of July Children’s Parade
– 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Activities including arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, and children’s activities.
– 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Live music by Big Adventure
– 9:00 PM. Extended fireworks display
Sunday, July 5th
– 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Live music by The UnUsual Suspects
– 2:00 PM. Fairy Tales in the Park
– 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Expanded Farmers’ Market
Ventura’s 4th of July Street Fair
Ventura’s 4th of July Street Fair will be held on July 4th from 10 am to 5 pm in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District. The theme of this year’s street fair will be “Celebrating 40 Years.” There will be a showcase of arts and crafts by over 300 artists as well as food booths from local sponsors and several stages of live entertainment. The street fair will also have a kid’s zone with an inflatable jump zone and a “pushem-pullem” parade for both adults and children. Admission to the street fair will be completely free.
25 BEACH COLLECTIONS
The Channel Islands Maritime Museum will be opening a new exhibit called 25 Beach Collections. The exhibit will open July 4th and will feature a collection of items that Ventura County residents have either found or made at the beach. The opening reception will be on July 23rd from 4 – 6 PM and the exhibit will run through September 30. The Channel Islands Maritime Museum is located at 3900 S Harbor Blvd in Oxnard. Their normal operating hours are daily from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for children, or free with a membership.
FAIRY TALES IN THE PARK
Every May through September, Gypsies in a Trunk performs free fairy tales at various locations throughout Ventura County. Their goal is to bring free entertainment to children and their families and hopefully to help grow love and appreciation for live theater. Performances are always held outdoors and there may not always be shade available, so attendees are encouraged to plan accordingly. Shows run approximately 45 minutes longs and pets are requested to be left at home. This weekend will feature the group performing “Cinderella” at the following locations:
Simi Valley: Rancho Simi Community Park Amphitheatre at 4:00 PM on July 4th
Westlake Village: Foxfield Park at 11:30 AM on July 4th
Channel Islands Harbor: Harbor View Park at 2:00 pm on July 5th
Camarillo: Valle Lindo Park at 11:30 AM on July 11th
Ventura: Barranca Vista Park at 11:30 AM on July 11th
Music Under the Stars
July marks the start of Ventura’s Music Under the Stars at Olivas Adobe. Every Saturday night from July 11 – September 5 will feature great party bands, a dance floor, gourmet food trucks and full beverage service. With limited seating, tickets can sell out early, so make sure to make reservations and buy your tickets as soon as possible. The concerts run from approximately 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Below are a list of performers for the month of July.
July 11: Britain’s Finest
July 18: Porterhouse Bob
July 25: The Kings of 88
Obon Festival
The Oxnard Buddhist Temple will be holding their Obon Festival on Saturday, July 11th from 1:00 – 9:00 PM. Obon is an annual event for Buddhists that celebrates remembrance of one’s ancestors. Buddhists believe that the spirits of their ancestors return during Obon to visit their relatives. The Obon Festival will feature food, demonstrations, and exhibits. Admission to the event is free, so make sure to bring the family to check out this unique event.
Artwalk Ventura
The Artwalk is coming to Ventura on July 18th and 19th. For the 22nd year, Ventura County residents can take a self-guided tour of the many galleries, studios, and pop-up venues in and around downtown Ventura. The Artwalk is run by an all-volunteer group and is expected to draw thousands of people this year. A list of the participating venues can be found here.
Tacos and Tequila
The 3rd annual Tacos and Tequila Music Festival will take place at The Collection at Riverpark on July 18th and 19th. July 18th is the Tequila day and will feature tequila and mezcal samples, along with margaritas, craft beer, and gourmet street tacos. Sunday is margarita day and will feature all of the activities from Saturday EXCEPT that there will be no tequila sampling. Both days will run from 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM and will feature live music including Foreverland, the 14-piece Michael Jackson tribute band. Click here to find out more about the various ticket packages for the event.