In the summer of 1967, nearly 100,000 people including artists, activists, writers and musicians from across the country, converged on San Francisco, igniting a cultural revolution; the season became known as the Summer of Love. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this historical movement, the Museum of Ventura County is presenting a summer series of events featuring notable speakers, movies, concerts, lectures and documentaries significant to the time.
July 8: Summer of Love tent-pole event features two tribute bands, a Volkswagen car show, button-making, food and a cash bar. Admission is $10/members, $15/non-members.
July 8 through Aug. 27: A community-based pop-up exhibit, curated to showcase the Ventura County community’s connection to and reality of the Summer of Love, titled Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out:
July 22: Screening of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, which took place two years after the Summer of Love, and on the country’s opposite coast. The showing starts at 5 p.m., with doors opening at 4 p.m. Admission is $10/members, $15/non-members. No-host bar available.
July 28: Presentation of the 1967 Best Picture, In the Heat of the Night, starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. Screening at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission is $5/members, $10/non-members. No-host bar available.
Aug. 10: Drummer Fito de la Parra talks about his life in rock ‘n roll, from his start as a house drummer at the Tom Cat Club in Torrance to joining the up-and-coming blues band Canned Heat. The lecture, “Bringing the Heat,” will run from 7-9 p.m. Admission is FREE/members, $5/non-members.
Aug. 17: Ventura County Poet Laureate, Phil Taggert, will perform readings from the works of writer Charles Bukowski. The event is from 6:30-9 p.m. Admission is $10/members, $15/non-members. No-host bar available.
Aug. 26: Grateful Dead Tribute Band Cubensis will pay tribute to the era’s significance as an epoch in the evolution of popular music. 5-8 p.m doors open at 4 p.m. Admission is $15/members, $20/non-members. No-host bar available.
Museum of Ventura County, 100 E Main St. Visit venturamuseum.org for a full schedule of events and exhibits. 653.0323 for more information. Open Tuesday – Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
