VENTURA:
The Rubicon Theatre: A COWBOY LULLABY: Dec. 4 – 22 (launches their 26th season). The Platters Holiday Concert 12/16-12/17. 1006 E Main St.
A Cowboy Lullaby – A Concert of Songs and Poems from the Old West by James O’Neil and Dan Wheetman. Directed by James O’Neil. Musical Direction by Dan Wheetman. From the Drama Desk and Tony Award Nominees who Created Lonesome Traveler and I Dig Rock and Roll. www.rubicontheatre.org.
Dudley House Holiday Boutique: Sat, Dec. 7 & Sun., 8, 14 – 15
30th annual fundraiser for the 1892 historic house museum continues into December on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come celebrate the spirit of holidays past where you’ll find quality crafts, home décor, antiques and collectibles plus a silent auction and bargain “basement”. An outdoor flea market is added on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 197 N. Ashwood in Ventura. (805) 642-3345. Free. https://dudleyhouse.org.
Flamenco 805: Sat., Dec 14 & Fri, Dec. 20. NAMBA Performing Arts Space, 47 S Oak St.
Close out the year with a fiery Flamenco music and dance event. Wendy Castellanos, local dance artist and founder of Flamenco 805 creates Ventura’s first traditional Flamenco Tablao. (A Tablao is an intimate venue where Flamenco musicians and dancers improvise a live show).
This is the 8th edition of the Flamenco 805 student recital! The show will open with the dance students of Wendy Castellanos and feature over 30 dancers from all over the 805. The student recital will be followed by an all-star cast of professional musicians & dancers from LA and abroad for a Flamenco Tablao show. Visit Eventbrite for tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/flamenco-tickets-1009562116467?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Gold Coast Gem Show – New Dates (due to Fairgrounds being used by Firefighters and Rescue personnel for Mountain Fire): December 7, 10 am – 5 pm & 8, 10 am – 5 pm. Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Explore over 30 vendors showcasing unique gems, minerals, beads, jewelry, and lapidary supplies. Plus, enjoy live demonstrations and activities for the whole family hosted by local Gem and Mineral Societies. FREE Admission (Fairground parking is additional). goldcoastgemshow.com.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane! Wed, Dec 4 at 7:30 pm. VC Performing Arts Center, Helen Yunker Auditorium, 4700 Loma Vista Rd.
Despite the elemental forces working against them, our dedicated students, faculty, and staff refused to be deterred and have come together to bring you a miraculous evening of theatre you do not want to miss! Tickets available on a pay-what-you-can basis. Visit Ventura College performing arts.
40th Annual Memorial Program Light Up a Life: See time, dates, locations below.
Livingston’s Light Up a Life events are just around the corner. For forty years these programs have offered comfort and solace to those who have experienced loss, providing a meaningful opportunity to honor the memories of loved ones. Whether they were lost recently or long ago, near or far, “Light Up a Life” serves as a heartfelt tribute that brings joy and reflection during this holiday season.
Light Up a Life is for everyone. The events feature touching readings, acts of remembrance, and a beautifully illuminated Tree of Life. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome to take part in this year’s Light Up campaign. By making a tax-deductible donation of $25 or more, you can have a star bearing your loved one’s name displayed throughout the holiday season in our online memory listing and in our touching video tribute at the events. Your contribution plays a vital role in sustaining our hospice and bereavement programs across Ventura County. Reserve your star today at www.lmvna.org/LightUpALife.
- Heritage Square, 715 South A Street, Oxnard. Friday, Dec 6 – 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
- Constitution Park, 1287 Paseo Camarillo, Camarillo, Sat, Dec 7 – 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura, Wed, Dec 11 – 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
PAWS for Reading – 20th Anniversary Celebration: Sat, Dec 7, 11am. EP Foster Library, 651 East Main St.
A beloved program that has fostered a love of reading and community for two decades. Since its inception, Paws for Reading has brought children and therapy dogs together, helping young readers build confidence and a joy for books in a warm, supportive environment. EP Foster Library as we celebrate this special occasion! Families are invited to attend the festivities, including photo area, crafts, and special doggie treats to take home to furry friends and the opportunity to celebrate current and past therapy dogs and handlers. We are excited to celebrate this anniversary with the community and honor the remarkable dogs and volunteers who make it all possible. Let’s celebrate two decades of reading, friendship, and wagging tails! We hope to see you there! This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, please contact. (805) 648 2716 or
The King’s Singers “Christmas Time is Here”: Sat, Dec14. Concert at 4:00 pm (Doors 3 pm). Ventura Center for Spiritual Living, 101 South Laurel St.
The King’s Singers have set the gold standard in a cappella singing on the world’s greatest stages for over fifty years. Their unrivaled technique, musicianship, and versatility has led to numerous accolades, including two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a place in Gramophone magazine’s Hall of Fame. www.venturamusicfestival.org/events/kingssingers2024.
Epilepsy Awareness Tri-County 1st Annual 1K/5K Run, Roll & Stroll. Sat, Dec. 14. 8:30 – Promenade Park, Figueroa St. (Across from the Fairgrounds parking lot).
1st Annual Epilepsy Awareness Tri-County Run, Roll & Stroll, to raise funds and awareness for epilepsy! Bring your family and friends for a fantastic day with fun activities, delicious food, and a wonderful community spirit. This event is designed for everyone to enjoy while learning about available resources. Whether you’re a runner, a walker, accompanied by a service dog, or using a wheelchair, all are welcome! Enjoy informative booths, therapy animals, lively vendors, great music, tasty food trucks, and the stunning beauty of Ventura’s beachside. www.epilepsyawarenesstricounty.org/events
Ventura Music Festival/NAMBA Collaboration: Sun, Dec 15th. 7 pm. 47 S Oak St.
Ensemble Sangineto is an eclectic band which blends skillfully ancient harmonies and sonorities with modern rhythms. The wide-ranging musical experiences of the individual members converge to create fresh arrangements of traditional Irish, Scottish, Breton & Italian tunes and original compositions that display influences from many varied musical genres ranging from classical to folk, from Gregorian chant to musical, from pop to Celtic music. In December, make it a musical weekend with another wonderful community collaboration with NAMBA Performing Arts. nambaarts.com.
Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG): Sat, Dec 21, 9 am. 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117.
Online and Live at our temporary location Ventura County Computers. Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, AI, and social media brokers such as X, Facebook, and Google. Due to limited space live attendance is reserved for members. Details for connecting to online events are emailed prior to the event. To receive connection
instructions, please sign up on our website at www.cipcug.org. (805) 289-3960.
Ongoing:
Social Golf Club
Actively recruiting new members Men’s golf club. Set Tee times a year in advance for every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 different courses in Ventura County. https://challengersgolfclub.com
Ventura Senior Men’s Group: First and Third Tues each month: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm at Poinsettia Pavilion.
Any man who considers himself in the “senior” category (and many who don’t) might benefit from a visit to the Ventura Senior Men’s Group. Buffet luncheon with interesting speakers and good friends. Your first lunch is free. We talk about everything except religion and politics. Eligible to all men 50 plus. Call Tom at 805-657-1071 for more information or visit VSMG.net to find out who our speakers will be.
Play Bridge: Every Tues, Wed and Thurs at 12:30 pm.
ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Tuesday, Wed and Thursday games are held at Temple Beth Torah, Foothill & Kimball Rd, Ventura. Every Saturday at the Ventura Townhouse. For additional info visit our website at www.vcbridge.org. Contact Rose at [email protected].
Ventura County Philatelic Society: First and third Mon each month – 7:30 pm.
Church of the Foothills, Ventura. For more information, visit https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.
Beach Cleanup: First Sat of every month – 8:30 -10:30 am.
Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St). Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided – BYO water.
Camarillo:
New West Symphony, Los Robles Children’s Choir and vocal soloists: Sun, Dec 8, Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center.
Join the New West Symphony, Los Robles Children’s Choir and vocal soloists in a winter-inspired concert filled with musical light! Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Short Film, The Snowman, based on Raymond Briggs’ picture book with music by Howard Blake, is presented with the orchestra, alongside symphonic masterworks and your favorite holiday songs and carols. newwestsymphony.org/2024-masterpiece-series/winter-spectacular.
Ojai:
It’s A Wonderful Life: Fri, Dec 6 – Dec 22. Evening shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Ojai Art Center Theater, 113 S Montgomery St.
Directed by Gai Laing Jones, this timeless story unfolds as a 1946 live radio play, adapted by Joe Landry. Radio shows used to be immensely popular, with the “Golden Age” of radio lasting from approximately the mid 1920’s to the late 1960’s.
Tickets are on sale now. Reserve ahead of time to get preferred seats for the show of your choice. They can be purchased online, at the door, over the phone at 805-640-8797, or email [email protected] to make reservations. www.ojaiartcenter.org.
Santa Barbara:
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET: Throughout Dec., Ensemble Theatre Company, 33 W Victoria St.
The Tony® Award-nominated musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is set on December 4, 1956, when an extraordinary twist of fate brought Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary December night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations that is both poignant and funny. Relive the era with the smash-hit sensation featuring an incredible score of rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, R&B and country hits, performed live onstage by world-class actor/musicians. Showcased hit songs include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Walk the Line,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog,” and more. https://etcsb.org.
