Ventura
NAMBA Performing Arts Space: Events throughout August.
NAMBA provides an intimate theatre for residents and visitors in the Ventura area to experience a variety of performing arts and education programming. In addition to being a venue for touring acts, we host showcases, community and cultural events, workshops, and educational programs related to performing arts. Our calling is nurturing new projects, fostering collaboration and enriching the cultural landscape of our community and beyond. www.nambaarts.com
The Throw Down Cornhole Festival: Fri, Aug 23 – Sun, Aug 25, Ventura County Fairgrounds
Spencer Makenzie’s invites all players of all skill levels to enter the World’s Largest Cornhole Tournament “The Throw Down”. This cornhole tournament is the largest in the world. Come enjoy the tournament as a cornhole player or spectator there is plenty of food, drinks, cold beer, live music, truck show and vendors. All players who play will be competing for over $300,000 in guaranteed payouts. Plus, all teams with Ventura County residency will be competing for a additional payouts. 1088 teams will be playing. www.thethrowdowncornholetournament.com.
Fractured Actors Theater Company: August 16-31, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.* Sundays at 5:00 p.m. Extra matinee performance on August 24th at 2:00 p.m. and Thursday August 29th at 8:00 p.m. Theater @ Liminal Ventura, 1956 Palma Drive, Suite J.
Actors Theater Company presents The Speakeasy PROM: Never Say Goodbye, their 5th annual festival of new plays and live music. This year’s edition features five world premiere one-acts by local playwrights and live music from Class Action. The Speakeasy PROM is an immersive theater and musical experience. It is all accompanied by modern and classic rock from Class Action, your new favorite band composed of Ventura County’s finest musicians. Speakeasy PROM: Never Say Goodbye is hosted at Sweet Jay’s, our charming and spacious black box theater that will be transformed into a colorful and celebratory high school dance. Purchase tickets at fracturedactors.com. *Prom attire is encouraged.
Ventura Harbor Village Movie Night (The Endless Summer 60th Anniversary): August 17, 6pm. Movie starts at 7:30pm. Sat, Sept 21, Hook.
With their surfboards as luggage, wave riders Robert August and Mike Hynson travel from one coastline to the next, trying the waves in Hawaii, Africa, Australia, Tahiti and a number of other places where most folks had never even seen a surfboard before. Rated PG. Kettle Corn, Volkswagens and Woodys on display, live music, local surf groups and giveaways, venturaharborvillage.com/events.
Watch/Clock Collectors Meet Up: Sun, Aug 18, Ventura College, Campus Student Center from 11am – 2pm
Anyone interested in timepieces, both antique and modern, can attend the Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors meeting for a watch/clock marketplace, lunch, and a presentation on a horological topic. Bring a watch or clock for a free evaluation. nawcc-ch190.com.
Ventura Land Trust Wild Scenic Film Festival: Sat., Aug 24, 5-10pm, Ventura County Credit Union Headquarters, Ventura.
Ventura Land Trust’s annual flagship event, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival is entering its 15th year and will be held on the lawn of the Ventura County Credit Union headquarters. In addition to nearly two hours of inspiring environmental and activism-focused films, festival-goers can expect incredible music, food, and a selection of beer and wine from Ventura County locals. The evening’s festivities will feature the live music of local legends Spencer the Gardener, an onsite raffle, and an online silent auction. Beverages from Topa Topa, Castoro Cellars, Balcom Cider, Ventura Spirits, and food from a variety of local food trucks will be available for purchase.
General admission tickets are $40, with children’s tickets available for $5 and teen tickets (ages 13-17) at $10. For those seeking an elevated experience, VIP tickets are available for $125 and offer exclusive early access to the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, providing additional free beverage and food options. Tickets and vendor details can be found at www.venturalandtrust.org/wsff2024.
C Street Classic Surf Contest: Sat, August 31 – Sun, September 1, C Street.
The C Street Classic is dedicated to celebrating the spirit of surfing at the iconic C Street in Ventura, California. Open to short and longboard surfers of all ages and genders, our contest fosters an inclusive community that emphasizes fun, camaraderie, and sportsmanship. We strive to create an unforgettable experience that honors the rich tradition of surfing, inspires personal excellence, and builds lasting friendships among surfers. Join us in riding the waves with joy and respect for the ocean and each other. www.cstreetclassic.com
Aloha Beach Festival: Sat, Aug 31- Sun, Sept 1, Surfer’s Point/Promenade Park
ALOHA BEACH FESTIVAL brings Hawaiian culture to Ventura with unity, respect, mind & spirit! West of Ventura Pier @ Surfers Point. www.alohabeachfestival.us
Olivas Adobe House Tours: Every Sunday in August
The Olivas Adobe historic site features the original two-story adobe home of Don Raymundo Olivas built in 1847. Celebrating Ventura’s Rancho and Latino heritage. Located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. House tours are $5 for Adults and $3 for children and Seniors. More Information is available at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/648/Olivas-Adobe-Historical-Park.
The Assisted Home Health & Hospice Foundation Fundraiser: Thurs, Sept 5, 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm, Golf N’ Stuff, Ventura
Engage in the spirit of friendly competition and help support access to in-home healthcare for the underserved. The foundation provides assistance to individuals and families across Ventura County that range from short-term caregiving, hospital beds, refrigerators, pet care, etc. The money raised at the event stays in Ventura County to ensure that assistance is provided to families in need. Asssitedcares.com/foundation.
National Heirloom Expo: Tues, Sept 10-12. Ventura County Fairgrounds
The National Heirloom Expo is America’s largest celebration of pure food and heirloom gardening. The Expo offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from some of the best minds working in gardening, health, non-GMO activism, heirloom seed protection and preservation, permaculture, and regenerative soil practices. This year’s speakers include gardening expert John Kohler and long-time medical doctor Dr. Jeff Pierce; anti-GMO activist Rachel Parent; permaculture expert Nikky Schauder; renowned herbalists Susan Belsinger and Tina Marie Wilcox; and author and seed saver Bevin Cohen. A larger, second speaker hall has been added for 2024 and will feature talks by local experts, roundtable discussions, and workshops. Produce is the real star of the show at the expo, and a trip around the fairgrounds is like an international adventure in heirloom seeds and vegetables. The Expo Hall features hundreds of heirloom vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers, plus exhibits, fruit carvers, and more!
A one-day pass is $15. Three-day passes are available for $30. All profits benefit school garden and food programs. School groups are admitted free, and assistance is available to defray transportation costs for school groups. For more information, visit theheirloomexpo.com or www.rareseeds.com/national-heirloom-expo.
Taste of History Dinner: Thurs, Sep 12, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Museum of Ventura County
Journey back in time for a classic evening of refined taste and unexpected histories. This open-air dinner will transport diners to an elegant mid-century supper club with a three-course meal and wine pairing. The decadent evening will begin with a cocktail hour and red carpet followed by dinner, an artful auction, and entertainment including a live jazz quartet, cooking demonstration, historic artifact gallery, and an oral history reading. www.venturamuseum.org.
Ventura’s ArtWalk: Sat, Sept. 21, 12 – 5pm and Sunday, Sept. 22, 11am – 4 pm. Downtown.
The family-friendly event will feature hundreds of artists in local galleries, businesses, restaurants and on the grounds of Mission Park and the Albinger Museum. Artist booths, popular local bands, aerialists, poetry, dance, a film festival, street painting, puppetry and a children’s area will all be a part of this event run by an enthusiastic all-volunteer team. Live painting and pottery demonstrations will also be featured. This huge, free event unites Ventura’s west side neighborhoods, businesses and arts community in a two-day celebration of the creative spirit. Transit to ArtWalk Ventura and along the route will again be at no cost through the generosity of Gold Coast Transit. Register to participate at www.artwalkventura.org.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Community Walk: Sat, Sept. 21, Promenade Park near the Ventura Pier
Join the walk to promote the importance of suicide prevention. In 2021, over 420 Out of the Darkness Walks took place in communities and on campuses across the United States, attended by over 80,000 dedicated people who shared their passion for a growing movement. The goal is to spread awareness of what is currently a leading cause of death in the U.S., and let others know they are not alone. Help ensure that mental health is looked upon with equal importance to physical health and continue to bring hope to those affected by suicide. Register: afsp.org/vc.
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 Tuesdays each month: 11:30am – 1:30pm – 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 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday – 12:30pm.
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 Monday’s each month – 7:30pm.
Church of the Foothills, Ventura. For more information, visit https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.
Beach Cleanup: First Saturday of every month – 8:30 -10:30am.
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.
Ojai:
10th Annual Mountain Film On-Tour: Saturday, September 21, Ojai Valley School (Lower Campus Sports Field). Gates open at 5 pm – Films start at 7:15 pm
OVLC celebrates 25 years of work at the Ojai Meadows Preserve! Bring your blankets and low-back chairs and join the festivities on the field at Ojai Valley School’s Lower Campus Sports Field for another fantastic year of films and fun! Experience the beauty of nature, the thrill of wild adventures, and the power of environmental storytelling through a carefully curated selection of films from the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride. ovlc.org/mountainfilm.
Make it a weekend – Friday, September 20, at Under the Open Sky—a locally sourced farm-to-table dinner by Seasons Catering with live music, a photo booth, beer, wine, a virtual auction, and a paddle raise at our historic Ventura River Steelhead Preserve. When the sun sets, we will enjoy a collection of films selected for this special event that will not be shown on Saturday night. https://ovlc.org/events
Ojai Storytelling Festival – tickets ON SALE NOW! Thurs, October 24 – Sun, 27. Libbey Bowl. Early bird pricing ends September 15th
Join us for an exciting weekend of stories, music, and art, October 24th-27th! Group ticket packages and specialized bundles available. www.ojaistoryfest.org.
Story Slam 2024: Thurs, October 24th, 6-9pm. Libbey Bowl
Everyone has a story to tell. Does yours have what it takes to win our second annual Story Slam? Enter your story for consideration by 11:59 pm August 30th. Tickets are only $10 in support of our efforts to sell out The Bowl! #SellOutTheBowl. Applications are in the form of a recorded 2-minute excerpt of your story on the dedicated Story Slam phone line- (805) 669-6842. Include your name and email address in your message! Six finalists will be selected to tell at the Ojai Storytelling Festival on Thursday, October 24th. PRIZES; First place: $200, Second place: $100, Third place: $50. All finalists will receive a weekend ticket to the Festival.
Camarillo:
43rd Annual Wings Over Camarillo Air Show! Sat, Aug 17 – Sun, Aug 18. Gates open 9:00 am and close at 5:00 pm.
This fun-filled, high-octane event is fit for all ages, with 2024’s show promising to have more G’s than ever before. See performers soar through Camarillo’s bluebird skies, view hundreds of aircraft, chat with real pilots, and join us for some hands-on learning at the mesmerizing STEM Pavilion. The Opening Ceremony begins at approximately 12 PM, with the aerobatic portion of the airshow following the ceremony. The classic car and motorcycle parade is scheduled to begin at approximately 1:30 PM on both days. Enjoy this year’s SPECIAL FLIGHTLINE PREVIEW (9:00am – 11:00am). You will be able to see the performing aircraft up close before the start of the aerial part of the show. Pilots, crew and docents will be on hand to answer questions. You will also be able to take photos of each aircraft up close. visitcamarillo.com/wings-over-camarillo-air-show.
Free Genealogy Workshop: Wed, Sept 4, 10:30 – 11:30am. Doors open at 10:00 am. Camarillo Public Library, 4101 Las Posas Road.
Help offered with family history and genealogy questions. No registration needed. Free and open to the public. Suitable for all levels, including beginners. Get help or offer help to others. General questions and topics for discussion are always welcome. For more information about the society visit www.venturacogensoc.org. VCGS is an all-volunteer, public benefit non-profit corporation [501(c)(3)]. Donations are appreciated.
Santa Barbara
Play It Forward: Legends of Broadway: Sat, Aug10th, 7pm. Ensemble Theatre.
A celebratory benefit concert for ETC education and outreach featuring Broadway Veterans Teri Bibb, David Burnham, Anthony Fedorov, Jennifer Paz, Kate Reinders, Andrew Samonsky, and more! with a special performance from State Street Ballet. Concert Tickets $30 / $50. Premium Seating $250 includes a post-show VIP Reception with the Artists at Scarlett Begonia. https://etcsb.org, (805) 965-5400.
