Free Crafts at Lakeshore Learning in Ventura on Saturdays

Free crafts for kids ages 3 and up at Lakeshore Learning in Ventura on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm (updated 5/15/13):

5/18: Critter Creations

5/25: Dazzling Memorial Day Centerpiece

6/1: High Flying Skydiver

6/8: Under the Sea Porthole

6/15: Father's Day Tie

6/22: Welcome, Summer! Door Hanger

6/29: 4th of July Noisemaker

The Ventura store is located at 4705 Telephone Road.  Phone 805.289.1550 or visit www.lakeshorelearning.com.

Artwalk Ventura Planned for July 20-21

Artwalk Ventura is a free, self-guided tour of dozens of galleries, studios and pop-up venues in Ventura's Westside Cultural District and Downtown. A signature event for Ventura for many years which brought in cultural tourists from all over, it is now being run by an all-volunteer group which has added new life to the event.

The event features established galleries and art spaces west of Seaward Avenue, as well as new spaces created entirely for the event, highlighting a wide range of talented professionals from all over the region. Each venue will provide a unique experience for art lovers. A map will guide visitors.

Visit www.westsideartwalk.org for more information.

Tales at the Ranch Education Sessions at Camarillo Ranch in May through August

www.camarilloranch.org

7th Annual Camarillo Ranch Car Show & Brew Fest on Saturday, June 22nd

The Camarillo Ranch Foundation will host its 7th Annual Classic Car Show & Brew Fest on Saturday, June 22, from 11 am to 4 pm.  The show, one of several fundraising efforts to support ranch preservation and its educational programs, will feature 1979 and older classic cars, trucks, and hot rods. There will also be a selection of classic 1932 to 1953 early Ford V-8’s displayed in the Red Barn.

In addition to the car show, attendees can also sample beers from a host of local breweries. We recommend that you come hungry because a variety of food trucks will be serving up delicious grub. Live music will be “on tap,” and we will also be offering “BINGO” in the East Garden for those who wish to test their luck.

General Admission is $10 per person. Beer tasting, which includes a souvenir tasting mug, is an additional $15 per person. Show car registration is priced at $25 per car in advance (by June 15) and $30 on the day of the event. We hope to see you there! www.camarilloranch.org/2013/05/car-show-brew-fest

2013 Conejo Recreation & Park District Summer Concerts in the Park

The Conejo Recreation & Park District presents its 2013 Summer Concerts in the Park series at Conejo Community Park, 1175 Hendrix Avenue, Thousand Oaks. Concerts are FREE! Bring your blankets and picnic baskets. All concerts begin at 5 p.m. Call 805.381.1247 for more information or visit www.crpd.org.

This is one our favorite local events of the year! Beautiful park setting and great music. The park is large and has a great play area nearby. Refreshments such as hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones, etc. are available for purchase.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th: The Long Run - Eagles Tribute

Consisting of LA-based professional musicians, The Long Run’s concerts feature a long list of The Eagles’ chart-topping hits, including “Hotel California,” “Take It Easy,” “Take It to the Limit,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” and more.  The group has blended the classic Eagles sound with their own live performance style, delighting audiences young and old with faithful recreations of some of the most well known music ever written.  The Long Run is recognized by The Eagles management and authorized to perform its tribute show for audiences worldwide.

Independence Day, Thursday, July 4th: Conejo Pops Orchestra; Elmer Ramsey, Conductor

Sunday, July 21st: Motown Soul Revue, featuring the Durell Coleman 11-piece Show Band

Sunday, August 11th: Rock 'n' Roll with Captain Cardiac & the Coronaries!

Labor Day, Monday, September 2nd: Journey Revisited: Reliving the glory days of Journey

Friends and families are invited to bring picnics and blankets or folding chairs for seating.  Jackets or sweaters are recommended as the weather often cools during the latter part of the event.  For those wishing to purchase food, the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis will be preparing their tasty tri-tip sandwiches and other snacks; Conejo Center staff will have their famous $1 hot dogs & snow cones available as well.  The Memorial Day Concert in the Park is well attended; early arrival for prime lawn seating is encouraged.  Event parking is off-site only; on-site parking is reserved for cars displaying handicap placards.  Concertgoers are asked to leave pets at home.

Free Family Movies at Malibu Bluffs Park, Saturday Nights, June-August

CINEMALIBU - Community Movies In The Park

Family movies under the stars!

Pack up your families, blankets and beach chairs and head over to Bluffs Park for this exciting, FREE summer family activity. Picnics are welcome and don't forget a jacket in case the summer breezes pick up. Sorry, no barbeques, alcohol or smoking are allowed at the park. Food vendors, games, activities will be on hand.

Seating and preshow begin at 7:30 pm with the movies beginning at dusk. More info at www.ci.malibu.ca.us or call 310.317.1364.

Seating and preshow begin at 7:30 pm with the movies beginning at dusk.

Schedule for Summer 2013

• Saturday, June 1 - Here Comes the Boom (Malibu Little League Closing Day)
• Saturday, July 27 - Madagascar 3(co-sponsored by the Malibu Public Library)
• Saturday, August 24 - Back to the Future (Malipalooza)

Star Parties Hosted by Oak Canyon Astronomy Group in Oak Park

Oak Canyon Astronomy Group Star Parties at Oak Canyon Park, 5600 Hollytree Drive, Oak Park. Free to  the public! Mission of the group is to bring an awareness of amateur astronomy to the community by showing what they can actually see in the night sky. Upcoming dates June 1, July 13, Aug 10, Sept 28, Oct 26, Nov 9 and Dec 7. Starts at dusk. More information at oakcanyonastro.com.

No Equipment or Experience Needed......See some things you never thought you could see..... GALAXIES - NEBULAS - GLOBULAR CLUSTERS. Wear warm clothes and be prepared to be amazed.

The park lights will be turned off to give maximum night vision for viewing. If you have telescope equipment, you will be able to park in the upper parking lot. All others, please park in the lower lot near the restrooms. Red flashlight only please, and parking lights only for upper parking lot. Those with equipment, please try and arrive 30 min. before sunset to setup.

Knights of Columbus Chili Cook-Off & Car Show in Simi Valley on Sunday, June 9th

The Knights of Columbus Council 5803 26th Annual Chili Cook-Off & Car Show takes place on Sunday, June 9th from 10AM to 5PM on the St Rose of Lima church grounds at 1305 Royal Ave, Simi Valley. Open to the public!!

Last year thousands of people anxious to sample chili, explore the cars and enjoy the day with their family and friends attended. Live bands and entertainment, large kids area, chili tasting galore, over 120 cars will be on display and over 80 awesome vendor booths.

Some of California's finest arts & crafts vendors will be on hand for you to take home something unique and special from the day. There will be ample quantities of chili, hot dogs, hamburgers, polish sausage, cotton candy, soft ice cream, beer and soda.

Admission is $6.00 for adults (seniors $5) and $3.00 for children (6-12). Active military free with ID. Chili tickets are 50 cents each. Overflow parking is across the street at Royal High School.

The Car Show will feature 12 categories for Classic, Custom, Street Rods, Muscle, Sport, Trucks, and Special Interest vehicles. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to all category winners, including Best of Show.

Family fun this year will feature a number of rides and entertainment featuring a rock climbing wall, moon bounce, game booths, plus a number of exciting surprises for the whole family. In addition, there will be non-stop family entertainment featuring live bands, special live remotes from local radio & TV, “The Royal High School Cheerleaders”, LAPD West Valley Volunteer Equestrian Unit and various other entertainers. Also, over 80 of California’s finest arts & crafts vendors will be on hand for you to take home something unique and special from the day. Arts & Crafts vendors will delight in the high traffic booth areas that are available to showcase their products to thousands of potential buyers. Of course, there will be hot dogs, hamburgers, funnel cake, kettle corn, cotton candy, sno cones, ice cream and ice cold beer margaritas & soft drinks. This affordable family event has something for everyone to enjoy!

More information at www.chilikc.com or call 805.208.8970.

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks 23rd Annual Memorial Day Service on May 27th

23^rd Annual Memorial Day Event Scheduled for May 27^th at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park

 Scouts to honor more than 1,400 veterans by placing American flags on graves throughout the memorial park Saturday, May 25^th

Since 1990, hundreds of patriotic community members have paused on Memorial Day and joined their neighbors at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, a local Dignity Memorial^® provider, to honor American heroes who died in the service of their country.  This year’s complimentary event, which is expected to draw more than 3,000 visitors, will be held May 27^th and begin with a stirring musical prelude performed by the renowned Air National Guard Band of the Southwest at 10:30 a.m.  Jointly hosted by Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin and the cities of Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks, the event will be held at 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, in Westlake Village, in the Garden of Valor.

“‘True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.’  These words by Arthur Ashe truly capture the spirit of our Memorial Day ceremony this year,” said Tamara Eacker, general manager of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park.  “We are honored that so many of our community members joi

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Tour of Rancho de las Flores Gardens and Lunch in Somis on Saturday, June 8th

JUNE 8TH TOUR OF RANCHO DE LAS FLORES, GREENWOOD DAYLILY GARDENS, GARDEN TALK & CATERED LUNCH WILL BENEFIT AGRICULTURE MUSEUM

"Rancho de las Flores garden view" photograph taken by John Schoustra, owner.The private gardens of Rancho de las Flores in Somis will be open for a special event to benefit the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum, on Saturday, June 8, 2013. The general public and Museum members are invited, and are asked to make prepaid reservations by May 30^th, by calling the Agriculture Museum at (805) 525-3100.

The event begins at 11:00 a.m. in Somis with tours of the gardens of Rancho de las Flores. Roses, fruit trees and California native plants frame views of Las Posas Valley and Conejo Valley. At 12:00 p.m., a buffet lunch catered by Command Performance will be served on a shaded hilltop patio. During dessert, John Schoustra, landscape architect and owner of the Rancho, will talk about varieties of daylilies, irises and pelargoniums he has developed for local gardens.  Schoustra was formerly chief horticulturist at Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Site and Gardens in Long Beach and currently owns Greenwood Daylily Gardens, a commercial nursery. From 1:00 to 2:00, those in attendance can shop at Greenwood Daylily Gardens, adjacent to the Rancho. Twenty percent of plant sale proceeds will be donated to the Agriculture Museum.

Admission to all the day’s activities is $35 for Museum members and $40 for the general public. The activities commence in Somis; directions to the site will be given upon reservation. Ample parking will be available.  

The Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum is located in historic downtown Santa Paula at 926 Railroad Avenue. Hours are 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. General admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children ages 6-17. Free for Museum of Ventura County members and children ages 5 and younger. Paid events include free admission to the galleries, the first Sunday of every month is free general admission to the public, and the Second Thursday Gallery Talks are followed by an additional gallery talk at the Santa Paula Art Museum. For more information, go to www.venturamuseum.org or call (805) 525-3100.

City of Agoura Hills 2013 Summer Concerts in the Park - June to August

The City of Agoura Hills Department of Community Services is proud to announce the lineup for the 2013 Summer Concerts in the Park series.

The lineup for this year’s concert series is as follows:

• Sunday, June 16th Surfin Safari
• Sunday, July 7^th  “Knight Fever” with a fireworks show following the concert at about 9:00 p.m.
• Sunday, July 21st “Face to Face: A Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John”
• Sunday, August 4^th  “Rumours: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac.”

Each concert will feature the new and improved “Kidszone.”  All concerts will begin at 6:00 p.m. and are held at Chumash Park, located at 5550 Medea Valley Dr. in Agoura Hills.  Concerts are free to the public. The Acorn is the Platinum Sponsor for this series.

For more information or park directions, please call the Agoura Hills Recreation Center at (818) 597-7361. You can also visit the Recreation Center online at www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us, at www.facebook.com/agourahillsrec or on twitter.com/cityagourahills.

As you can tell, these City of Agoura Hills Summer Concerts in the Park are quite popular!

Physically Challenged & Special Needs "Day at the Park" at Oxnard Beach Park May-Oct

City of Oxnard “Physically Challenged and Special Needs” Day at the Park at Oxnard Beach Park, 1601 Harbor Blvd. from 11am to 2pm on May 11, June 1, June 15, July 14, July 27, August 10, August 24, September 14 and October 19.

Join us for an afternoon of group & individual activities, arts & crafts and board games. Our jolly jump and City Corps Train are also present at our events. For more information, call (805) 385-8019. Event is free, however, participants must pay for parking. www.oxnardrec.org/17/1/1027.

Fairy Tales in the Park Free Outdoor Shows in Ventura County, May to September

Fairy Tales in the Park is a series of free, live theatrical performances geared towards children ages 3 to 10. John and Roxanne Diesel co-founded Gypsies in a Trunk, an all-volunteer troupe of actors performing free fairy tales for the young and young at heart. The troupe’s love of children’s theatre has led them to perform every May through September since 1995 throughout Ventura County.

The troupe's goal is to create an environment where families can introduce live theatre to their children in a casual setting at the right price – free! All Fairy Tales in the Park performances are held outdoors in a variety of venues and is always free of charge, though the players pass the hat to help cover costuming and travel costs, donations are always voluntary.

Most venues do not have shade, so sunscreen and hats are appropriate. Bring water, juice, snacks, picnics. Blankets and low-slung chairs are recommended. Please leave doggies at home (not that they don't love them). The shows are designed to run approximately 45 minutes, which coincides with the attention span of the target age group, 3-10 year olds.

THE 2013 LINEUP

• The Little Mermaid (done)
• Hansel and Gretel
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• The Wizard of Oz
• The BRAVE Princess: Merida's Adventures

LOCATIONS

Simi Valley (Shows at 4pm): Rancho Simi Bicentennial Amphitheatre (Erringer & Royal)

• May 4th: The Little Mermaid
• June 1st: Hansel and Gretel

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3rd Annual Independence Day 5K/10K at Miller Family YMCA in Newbury Park

The Miller Family YMCA in Newbury Park is hosting its 3rd Annual Independence Day 5K, Classic Car Show and Community Parade on July 4th! This is a family friendly event with a course that rolls through the beautiful community of Dos Vientos Ranch. 5K/10K starts at 7:30am and pancakes start cooking at 7am. Live music, patriotic parade, classic car show and free kids fun zone also in store!

Click HERE to register at Active.com.

Visit www.sevymca.org/newburypark/html/events.html for more information or call (805) 480-0309 to obtain an entry form into the car show.

12th Annual Margarita Mixoff in Thousand Oaks on Thursday, May 23rd

Come vote for the 2013 "Best Margarita in the West" at the 12th Annual Margarita Mixoff in Thousand Oaks on Thursday, May 23rd.  Admission includes margarita tasting and appetizers (beer, wine, and soda are complimentary).  $35 in advance, $40 at the event. Must be 21 years old to be admitted. Visit the Soroptimist of the Conejo Facebook page for more information.

Thursday Night Laughs Live Comedy at Muvico Theater in Thousand Oaks

Thursday Night Laughs is a monthly comedy show hosted by comedian Jason Love at Muvico Theater in Thousand Oaks. The show takes place in one of the premier theaters. Tickets include free popcor, and there is no drink minimum. Shows start at 8pm.

Upcoming shows are as follows:

May 30: Dana Eagle, J. Chris Newberg and Lucas Dick (yes, Andy Dick's son!)

Learn more and buy tickets at www.muvico.com/laughs.aspx

Cheese & Beer Book Signing and Cheese Tasting Event in Thousand Oaks on May 31

2013 Marinafest at Channel Islands Marina the Weekend of June 15-16

The 2013 Marinafest the weekend of June 15-16 will be located on the beautiful west side of the Harbor at the Channel Islands Marina, within a minute’s walk of beautiful Hollywood Beach.

Presented by the Vintage Marina Partners, this event has power, sail, and electric boats, kayaks and stand up paddleboards, sailing demos, electronic training, electric boats rides and tours, and savory foods and dessert trucks. Come experience your community and explore the water. Free admission and parking. Open 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. http://ci-boatshow.com.

Rockin' Truck Grub Event at Malibu Bluffs Park on Saturday, July 13th

Rockin Truck Grub is planned for Saturday, July 13, 2013 from 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Malibu Bluffs Park (24250 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu). Gourmet Food Trucks & Live Entertainment. Free admission and parking. Bring your blanket, lounge chair, and appetite! Call 310.317.1364 for more information.

History Days 2013 at Strathearn Park in Simi Valley on Saturday, June 15th

HISTORY DAYS 2013 at Strathearn Park in Simi Valley is planned for Saturday, June 15th from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is $7.00 with children under 5 free. Families $20 maximum admission. All active duty and their families are free. Activities to include:

• Antique cars
• Vintage tractors and vintage farm equipment
• Ham radio demonstrations
• Chumash stories and crafts
• Blacksmith horseshoeing demonstration
• Craft fun for big kids and little kids
• Vintage sewing machines
• Living history
• Painted and carved gourds
• Photo opps
• Self-tours of historic buildings
• Kiwanis chuck wagon available for lunch - or bring your own lunch. Tutu's Shave Ice on hand too!

Location: 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley - From Madera turn West on Strathearn Pl.

Information: 805-526-6453 or www.SimiHistory.com