Summer Camps and Programs In and Around Ventura County

SummerCamps.jpg

Looking for a summer camp within range of Ventura County? Here's a list of summer day camps and residential camps and programs in the area.

We've categorized the camps into three main groups; Traditional/Learning, Sports and Music/Arts, though many camps cover numerous fun activities all in one.

Know of more? Submit them here!

No doubt there will be some typos/errors on this list, so let us know if you find one.

Traditional Day Camps, Overnight Camps and Other Camps

Sports Camps

Music/Arts/Science Camps

Craft Breweries with Onsite Tasting Rooms In and Around Ventura County and Adjacent Areas

According to the Brewers Association, there were 9,761 craft breweries operating at the end of 2023 in the U.S., which is over five times the total in 2010. As of December 2023, there were 2,092 microbreweries, 3,511 brewpubs, 3,771 taprooms, and 261 regional craft breweries in the U.S.

A craft brewer is defined as being small (annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less), independent and traditional (flavors derived mostly from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients).

We've seen and experienced this growth in and around Ventura County, so how about if we summarize them right here! This list includes local craft breweries with onsite tasting rooms ranging from the Conejo Valley out just past Ventura County into Carpinteria.

Conejo Valley (Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills)

14 Cannons Brewery and Showroom opened at 31125 Via Colinas, Suite 907 in Westlake Village in September 2017, featuring a handful of freshly brewed craft beers as well as an actual brewery showroom. www.14cannons.com 818.652.6971

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company opened its Westlake Village taproom at The Shoppes at Westlake, 30770 Russell Ranch Road, in December 2015. Offers craft beers brewed onsite as well as at other locations in Santa Barbara. Also a full-service restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating. Open daily. www.figmtnbrew.com 818.874.1305

Tarantula Hill Brewing Company opened in July 2019 at 244 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. They offer numerous brews on tap, along with several ciders and wine. Fantastic outdoor patio, wood-fired, organic pizzas, sandwiches, salads, tacos, appetizers, fresh ice cream and more. tarantulahillbrewingco.com 805.538.1191

Pedals & Pints Brewing Company is located in The Oaks mall east parking lot, between Olive Garden and Bank of America. Along with fresh brewed beer, Pedals & Pints offers artisan pizzas, delicious crispy baked tater tots loaded with flavor, wings and other small plates. www.pedalsandpintsbrewing.com

Naughty Pine Brewing Co. opened its doors on September 25, 2021 at 767 Lakefield Road, Unit A in Westlake Village. This 2,200 sq ft microbrewery and tasting room offers classic and contemporary beers. They also offer live entertainment and trivia nights. www.naughtypinebrewingco.com

Malibu Brewing Company is slated to open its second location at the former Tavern Tomoko & Ladyface Brewing at at 29281 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills in the spring of 2026. Stay tuned for updates at www.brewmalibu.com.

Naughty pine brewing co. on lakeview drive, just east of hampshire road in westlake village

Ventura

Topa Topa Brewing Company is a microbrewery with taprooms at its headquarters location at 4880 Colt Street in Ventura (805.535.4366) (also a nice outdoor beer garden area with tables, cornhole and food trucks) and at 104 E. Thompson Boulevard in Ventura. www.topatopa.beer 805.628.9255

Poseidon Brewing Company opened its tasting room on August 11, 2014 at 5777 Olivas Park Drive, Unit Q, Ventura and is open Tuesday through Sunday.www.poseidonbrewingco.com 805.477.0239 Also a dog-friendly tasting room.

MadeWest Brewing Company opened in January 2016 and is located at 1744 Donlon Street, Ventura, offering a variety of craft beers, plenty of indoor/outdoor seating, food trucks and more. www.madewest.com 805.947.5002 MadeWest also operates a taproom on the Ventura Pier.

Ventura Coast Brewing Co. is at 76 S. Oak Street in Downtown Ventura. Offers indoor/outdoor patio seating, flights, 4 and 16 ounce pours of its creations. Open 7 days a week. www.vcbc.beer

Ventura Coast Brewing1.jpg

Leashless Brewing opened in July 2017 at 585 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura, offering organic, Belgian style ales. Over 10 beers on tap. www.leashlessbrewing.com. Open Mon-Thu 4-10pm, Fri 3-11pm, Sat noon to 11pm and Sun noon to 9pm. 805.628.9474

Transmission Brewery and Tasting Room opened in January 2020 at 1098 East Front Street, Ventura, offering 15 different beers on tap. transmissionbrewing.com

Seaward Brewing is open at 1920 Goodyear Ave., Suite D, Ventura. Seaward is a microbrewery offering craft beer brewed onsite with 10 rotating taps. Food trucks available on weekends. Food can be brought in. Family and pet friendly! Hours are Tue-Thu 3-9pm, Fri 3-10pm, Sat Noon-10pm and Sun noon-7pm. www.seawardbrewing.com

Rincon Brewery is located at 4100 Telegraph Road, Ventura. rinconbrewery.com. 805.676.0020

Bellringer Brewing Co. premiered on February 18, 2023 at 472 E. Main Street, Ventura (formerly Anacapa Brewing Co.), offering its own selection of brews and guest beers from other local breweries. They also offer a menu that includes burgers, tacos, hot dogs, salads and more. Open M/W/Th noon to 8pm, Fri noon to 10pm, Sat 11am to 10pm and Sun 11am to 8pm. 805-643-2337 bellringerbrewco.com

Bright Spark Brewing opened in November 2022 and is located at 4561 Market Street, Ventura in the space previously occupied by Concrete Brewing and Surf Brewing. Offers a selection of 10 of its own brews plus some guest taps. Their menu includes salads, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches and more. 805-322-8884 www.brightsparkbrewing.com

Camarillo, Oxnard

Institution Ale Company is a microbrewery and tasting room at 3841 Mission Oaks Boulevard in Camarillo. Food offered includes artisan flatbread pizzas and soft baked pretzels. Indoor seating with 7 TVs, game room and outdoor patio area with fire pit. institutionales.com 805.482.3777

instit ale co.JPG

Red Tandem Brewery is a nanobrewery featuring 7 high quality ales brewed onsite to customers at its tasting room at 109 Harbor Boulevard, Oxnard Shores at Channel Islands Harbor. Founded in September 2014 and opened in May 2016. Open Wednesday through Sunday. www.redtandembrewery.com 805.236.2105

Twisted Oak Tavern opened at 2433 Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo in the historic J.F. Lewis & Sons - 1916” building) on Monday, June 15, 2020. www.twistedoaktavern.pub

Flat Fish Brewing is a brewery co-owned and located with Cantara Cellars at 126 N. Wood Road, #104 in Camarillo. Taproom offers both beers (9 of them at last count) and wines. Currently open Wednesday through Sunday. flatfishbrewing.com 805.484.9600

Topa Topa Brewing Company also has a tasting room in Old Town Camarillo at 2024 Ventura Blvd, just east of Cedar. www.topatopa.beer 805.702.4091 Open daily.

Wagon Wheel Brewing Company opened May 4, 2023 at 2601 Wagon Wheel Road, Suite 15 in Oxnard. Wagon Wheel offers nine exclusive brews and another 11 collaborative and guest beers from other local breweries. They have a full menu, including burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. www.wagonwheelbrewingcompany.com 805.351.0449

Moorpark, Simi Valley

Enegren Brewing Company opened in July 2011 in Moorpark and is now located at 444 Zachary Street, #120 at The Alley where they operate up to a dozen taps.  www.enegrenbrewing.com 805.552.0602

Other Local Cities

The Ojai Valley Brewery and Tap Room is located at 307 Bryant Street in Ojai. The taproom is open daily. ojaivalleybrewery.com 805.798.9282

Rincon Brewery at 5065 Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria is a craft brewery and restaurant open 7 days a week. rinconbrewery.com 805.684.6044

Institution Ale Company in Camarillo brewery/taproom has a 2nd taproom at 516 State Street, Santa Barbara. Open 7 days a week. Food offered includes artisan flatbread pizzas and soft baked pretzels. Indoor seating with 10 TVs, outdoor patio area and extended back room area. institutionales.com 805.482.3777

Island Brewing Company has been brewing in Carpinteria since July 2001 at 5049 Sixth Street (Linden at the railroad tracks). Its open redwood beam tasting room was originally built as a packing house for lemons and citrus. Open 7 days a week. www.islandbrewingcompany.com 805.745.8272

BrewLAB is an artisanal nano-brewery located at 4191-8 Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria. Tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday. www.brewlabcraft.com 949.922.9152

Topa Topa Brewing Company in Ventura also has a tasting room in Ojai at 345 E. Ojai Ave. www.topatopa.beer 805.798.9079 Open daily.

Red Engine Brewing Company is now open at 803 Ventura Street (Hwy 126) in Fillmore. This is a firefighter-owned, family operated brewery that will offer handcrafted beer, artisan pizzas and (soon) charcuterie boards. redenginebrewing.com 805.823.5479

Malibu Brewing Company Taproom & Eatery is located at Trancas Country Market, 30745 E. Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. They offer 22 taps, with a selection of lagers and ales, food, wine, and more. Open daily at 11 a.m. www.brewmalibu.com 310.684.2408

Other Options on Tap

(Some additional craft beer tasting options in the area are highlighted below. These establishments serve local craft beers on tap from other breweries and/or produce the beer elsewhere. We have included on this list bars/taverns serving at least a dozen craft beers on tap.)

Conejo Valley

Bottle & Pint is a specialty craft beer store and taproom at 1714 Newbury Road, Suite G, Newbury Park. Open seven days a week, they have a revolving list with 20 beers on tap. Bring your own food or have it delivered. 805.480.9500 www.instagram.com/bottleandpint

The Crown and Anchor at 2891 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks has 17 draft beers and ciders on tap, serves food, lots of TVs and periodic live entertainment. www.crownnanchor.com 805.497.0070

Boney Mountain Pizza Co., located at 722 N. Wendy Drive, Newbury Park, has 25 beers on tap, including a variety of craft beers. www.facebook.com/BoneyMountainPizzaCo 805.498.6511

Finney's Crafthouse & Kitchen is located at the Westlake Plaza, 982 S. Westlake Boulevard, Westlake Village. They serve 30 craft beers on tap. www.finneyscrafthouse.com 805.230-9950

Wades Wines at 30961 Agoura Road, Suite 321, Westlake Village offers over 50 beers on tap, wine tasting and thousands of other spirits for sale and tasting. Retail store is open daily. Tasting is open Thursday through Sunday. www.wadeswines.com 818.597.9463

Other Local Cities

Bottle & Pint has a 2nd location at The Annex, a cool food "court" area within The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard.

Barrelhouse 101 at 545 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura has an insane number of craft and micro beers on tap...over 100. Open daily with full menu. www.barrelhouse101.com 805.643.0906

Finney's Crafthouse is also located at 494 E. Main Street in Ventura, They serve 30 local craft beers on tap. www.finneyscrafthouse.com 805.628.3312 Their newest location at The Promenade section of the Camarillo Premium Outlets opened in January 2023. 805.702.0010

The Golden Nugget Pub at 4435 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, offers 30 beers on tap at this dive bar established in 1964. www.goldennuggetpub.com (805) 583-9715

The Local Beer & Wine Bar is located at 795 Camarillo Springs Road in Camarillo, Suite E. It is open daily at noon (11am on Sundays). 16 rotating taps are offered. thelocalcamarillo.com

The Dugout Sports Grill serves about 22 taps of beer along with cocktails, food and 32 TVs at 109 W. Cochran Street, Simi Valleywww.thedugoutsimi.com 805.955.9200

Winchesters Grill & Saloon at 632 East Main Street in Ventura has over 30 beers on tap, mostly craft types. They also have a full menu and full bar. www.winchestersgrill.com 805.653.7446

Yard House at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard has well over 100 beers on tap of all varieties.  www.yardhouse.com/locations/ca/oxnard/oxnard-the-collection-at-riverpark/8349 805.981.8707

Two Trees Restaurant and Taps is located at 7822 Telegraph Road in Ventura, serving up 28 beers on tap along with full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. www.twotreesrestaurantandtaps.com 805.659.3365

Fluid State Beer Garden, located at 692 E. Main Street, Ventura, offers craft beers, sourdough pizzas and more. www.fluidstatebeer.com 805.628.3107

LOOKING FOR WINE? CLICK HERE FOR LOCAL WINE TASTING OPTIONS

NIGHTLIFE OPTIONS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Beer No More

Darryl's Couch was a craft beer bar located at 795 Camarillo Springs Road in Camarillo.  www.darrylscouch.com They closed on Sunday, March 11, 2018, after operating for 5 1/2 years. Now located there is The Local Beer & Wine Bar.

Surf Brewery was the first packaging craft brewery in Ventura County when it opened in June 2011. It closed in early 2018. Now operating at this location is Concrete Jungle Brewing.

Westlake Brewing Company opened its small volume brewery in early 2016 at 31111 Via Colinas #200, Westlake Village. The taproom closed its doors in June 2019.

The Dudes' Brewing Company Tasting Room opened at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks on July 15, 2016 and closed March 1, 2020 to refocus efforts on other locations.

Tap’d Ventura operated at 546 E. Main St, serving 43 taps of craft beer. Closed in the Fall of 2019.

Concrete Jungle Brewing was located at 4561 Market Street in Ventura in the former Surf Brewing location. Closed in mid-2020.

Cask Alehouse was located at 5952 Telegraph Road in Ventura (at Victoria), and offered a rotating selection of 32 beers on draft. Established in December 2016. Closed in 2020.

McGregor's Craft Beer and Wine was a tasting room/bottle shop at 144 W. Los Angeles Avenue #105 in Moorpark, with 16 rotating taps. Established in 2016. Closed in September 2020.

Draughts Restaurant & Bar at 398 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks closed in mid-August 2021.

Twisted Oak Tavern opened in 2015 at 30105 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, offering a full gastropub experience with a full lunch/dinner menu and over 30 craft beers on tap made onsite. It closed on January 16, 2022 but its newer Camarillo location remains open.

Five Threads Brewing Company at 31133 Via Colinas, Suite 109, Westlake Village opened in October 2015. Offers fresh brewed craft beers in its tasting room seven days a week. www.fivethreadsbrewing.com 805.457.5990 FIVE THREADS’ LAST DAY OPEN WAS 1/30/22.

Anacapa Brewing Company opened its doors in 2000 with a seasonal rotation of over 25 beers in this full service restaurant/brewery in the heart of Downtown Ventura. Their last day open was Sunday, October 30, 2022 after 20 years in business.

Tavern Tomoko and Ladyface Brewery (formerly Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie), the Conejo Valley's first microbrewery and brewpub, opened in November 2009 at 29281 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills. Sadly, they closed their doors on 12/22/24.

Eureka Brewing Company tasting room at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks closed its doors in January 2025.

Angry Ferret Brewing opened in mid-2021 at 11990 Hertz Street in Moorpark, specializing in English, Irish, Scottish beers. It closed in the summer of 2024. www.angryferretbrewing.com

Casa Agria Specialty Ales is a small brewery located at 701 N. Del Norte Boulevard, Suite 310 in Oxnard, brewing up a handful of specialty beers since February 2015. Its final day of service is February 14, 2026.

Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream, Gelato and Other Frozen Treats Around Ventura County

FroYoPic.jpg

Here's a handy list of frozen yogurt, ice cream and gelato places in and around Ventura County for your dining pleasure. There are over 80 such establishments in Ventura County and surrounding areas.

(Current as of 1/24/26. Let us know of any changes.)

Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Oak Park

Agoura/Calabasas/Malibu

Oxnard/Port Hueneme

Ventura/Ojai/Santa Paula/Fillmore

FROZEN YOGURT AND ICE CREAM PLACES THAT HAVE CLOSED SINCE 2009

Easter Egg Hunts and Other Fun Easter Activities Around Ventura County

Here at Conejo Valley Guide we have a special place in our heart for Easter fun! The bunnies of the Conejo Valley and surrounding Ventura County areas are planning ahead to make this Easter memorable.

We have the Germans to thank for the Easter Bunny concept, which came about in the 1500s. Hares and bunnies are signs of fertility and eggs signify rebirth. The Germans brought Easter traditions to America and it wasn't until after the Civil War that Easter became widely celebrated.

Easter Sunday 2026 is April 5th! Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox. As a result, Easter Sunday ranges from March 22nd to April 25th

Upcoming Easter season events and activities in and around Ventura County (list will be updated regularly; dates/time subject to change, so check with event organizers to be sure):

March 21-22, 28-29 Spring Spectacular at America's Teaching Zoo in Moorpark

Fri, March 27: Flashlight Egg Hunt at 5 Locations in Thousand Oaks (6-9pm)

Sat, March 28: Springtime at the Adobe at Leonis Adobe Calabasas (1-4pm)

Sat, March 28: The Hunt Holiday Egg Hunt in Ventura (10am-3pm: RSVP required)

Sat, March 28: The Bunny Trail Junior Egg Hunt in Calabasas (9am-noon - Adv tickets reqd)

Sat, March 28: Breakfast with the Bunny at Reyes Adobe Park in Agoura (10am-noon; RSVP)

Sun, March 29: Selfies with the Bunny at The Collection at Riverpark (Noon-3pm)

Thu, April 2: Easter Egg Hunt in Thousand Oaks (hosted by Century Academy and Shine Homeschool).

Sat, April 4: Egg Scramble Event at Rancho Santa Susana Park in Simi Valley (9am start)

Sat, April 4: Easter Eggstravaganza Event in Camarillo (10am-1pm)

Sat, April 4: City of Moorpark Easter Egg Hunt (10am-1pm; Purchase wristbands in advance beginning March 2nd)

Sat, April 4: Egg Scramble Event Mae Boyar Park in Oak Park (9:15-11am)

Sat, April 4: Bunnies & Baskets at the Stagecoach Inn Museum (1-4pm)

Sun, April 4: Meet & Greet with the Seaside Bunny at Ventura Harbor Village (12-3pm)

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Mar 21 to Apr 12; Springtime Easter Festival at Underwood Family Farms

Mar 13 to Apr 4: Photos with the Bunny at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura

Mar 20 to Apr 30: Spring Scavenger Hunt at The Collection at Riverpark

Mar 21 to Apr 4: Bunny Photos at the Simi Valley Town Center

Upcoming 5K, 10K and Other Ventura County Area Running and Fitness Events

runners.JPG

Start training for upcoming 5K, 10K, half marathon and other Ventura County running and fitness events! We've made it easy for you to find a local race by tracking local events right here. So go on, get moving, lace up those shoes and start training!

Training for a marathon? Check out 26.2 Training Tips for Your First Marathon!

Running Clubs in the Local Area

Ventura Running Club www.venturarunningclub.com Sunday beach runs at the Ventura Pier, Wednesday track workouts and social event.

Inside Track Running Club has been training in Ventura since 1976. Saturday long runs, Tuesday intervals, Thursday hills and Sunday easy runs. runsignup.com/Club/CA/Ventura/InsideTrackRunningClub

Thousand Oaks Pacers www.runpacers.org/thousandoaks/about Running club founded in 2014.

Future Track Running Pack futuretrackrunningpack.org Founded in 1988 in Agoura Hills. Tuesday night track workouts at Oak Park High School and more.

The Pacific Coast Track Club hosts training sessions on Sunday mornings at the Camarillo High School track and Ojai community track. Individual training sessions also available. Email mgenebyme@gmail.com for more information or visit www.facebook.com/genebyrne101.

Conejo Valley Run Club was established in 2024 for all levels of runners, meeting for local are runs every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. www.strava.com/clubs/cvrunclub

Newbury Park Elite Endurance offers personalized coaching an training plans. Visit www.newburyparkendurance.com to learn more.

RunningShoeRack.jpg

For great running shoes from local businesses that know a lot about them, try the following:

Live Music and Other Nightlife Options In and Around Ventura County

Guitar Player

Are you a night owl looking for something to do around town? Here's a list of places in and around Ventura County that have things to do during nighttime hours, including live music, concerts, dancing, darts, comedy, trivia and other activities scheduled on a regular basis.

This compilation includes restaurants as well as some bars. TVs are great, but don't count as "something to do" for the purposes of this compilation.

Are we missing something? Let us know!

For other nighttime fun, check out these compilations of Ventura County area movie theaters, comedy shows and entertainment venues. Or bowling. Perhaps wine tasting.

Local area craft breweries with taprooms!

(Information is subject to change, so contact the business to confirm.)

Conejo Valley (Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village)

Azar's Sports Bar at 2215 Michael Drive, Newbury Park has Tuesday and Friday night karaoke and live music on Saturday nights. 805.498.2365 azarsportsbar.com

Breakers Sports Bar & Grill in the Best Buy Plaza at 398 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks hosts comedy night on Thursdays (8-9:30pm), live music on Fridays (9pm-close) and live band/karaoke on Saturdays (8:30-11:30pm). www.instagram.com/breakerssportsbarandgrill (805) 494-8454

Crown and Anchor at 2891 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks is a British restaurant and pub, offering authentic British dishes along with American fare. Live music on the patio Fri/Sat nights and Sun afternoons. 805.497.0070 crownnanchor.com

14 Cannons Brewery at 31125 Via Colinas, Suite 907 in Westlake Village offers trivia nights, open mic nights and comedy nights 818.652.6971 www.14cannons.com

Mikey’s Restaurant at 579 N. Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park offers karaoke, live music and comedy on select nights. Contact them for more information. mikeysrestaurants.com

Naughty Pine Brewing Co. at 766 Lakefield Dr., Ste A in Westake Villlage offers live music and trivia nights most nights as well as food trucks. 808.269.7975 www.naughtypinebrewingco.com

Pedals & Pints Brewing Company is located at The Oaks mall east parking lot, offering freshly brewed beer, artisan pizzas, baked tater tots, wings and other small plates…and live music every Saturday night, trivia nights at 7pm on Wednesday nights, and periodic special events on Friday nights. 805-551-0547 www.pedalsandpintsbrewing.com

PJ’s Sports Pub at 417 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks offers pool tables, darts, karaoke nights and live music. 805-590-6210 pjs-sports-pub.res-menu.com

Sunland Vintage Winery Tasting Room at 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard #108 hosts live music on Thursday and Friday nights as well as other events. 805-379-2250 www.sunlandvintagewinery.com/events

Sunset Terrace Restaurant and Lounge at Janss Marketplace has live music, dancing, three pool tables, shuffleboard, four lanes of bowling and more. 805.497.4847 www.sunsetterracerestaurant.com

Tarantula Hill Brewing Company at 244 Thousand Oaks Boulevard offers live music and other events - check their events calendar at www.tarantulahillbrewingco.com for details.

The Mighty Axe at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks offers the ultimate in nighttime excitement…axe throwing and beer! And you can order food from eateries at Janss. themightyaxe.com

The Original Pizza Cookery at 75 West Thousand Oaks Blvd offers live music most Friday/Saturday nights. See www.pizzacookery.com/entertainment for details.

The Tipsy Goat at 159 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks has karaoke, pool tables, a dartboard, ping pong, shuffleboard, video games, trivia and more. tipsygoat.com 805-494-9996

Louie’s (formerly Bogies) at the Westlake Village Inn at 32001 Agoura Road, Westlake Village is a bar/nightclub open Wednesday through Saturday nights. 818.889.2394 www.clublouies.com/calendar

Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu

The Canyon club at Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills is a hot spot for live music of all types, from original rock bands to cover bands, tribute bands, comedy and more. 888.645.5006 wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com

Sagebrush Cantina at 23527 Calabasas Road hosts karaoke on Thursday nights, live music and dancing on Fri/Sat nights and music on Sun afternoons. 818.222.6062 sagebrushcantina.com

Ventura

Bombay Bar & Grill, located at 143 S. California Street in Ventura has a DJ and dancing on weekends. 805.643.4404 bombayventura.com

Margarita Villa Mexican Restaurant at Ventura Harbor Village, 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura hosts live music Friday through Sunday - check for times and schedule at margaritavillaventura.com/music.html 805-654-7906

The Garage is a dive bar located at 1091 Scandia Avenue, Ventura with live music on Fri/Sat nights. 805.814.2234 www.facebook.com/TheGarageBarVTA

Gibson’s Neighborhood Bar (formerly The Twist on Main) at 454 E. Main Street in Ventura offers live music, open mic, karaoke and DJs. 805.641.0053 www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574570391205

The Greek at the Harbor at Ventura Harbor Village offers belly dancing starting at 6:30pm on Fri/Sat nights and 6pm on Sundays. Greek dance shows Fri/Sat at 7pm. 805.650.5350 www.thegreekventura.com

Keynote Lounge at 10245 Telephone Road in Ventura is a bar with live music on Fri/Sat nights. 805.647.9390 www.keynotelounge.com

Leashless Brewing at 585 East Thompson Blvd., Ventura is a tasting room that hosts live music most Thursdays through Sundays. Check their events calendar at www.leashlessbrewing.com/event-calendar. 805.628.9474

O'Leary's Tavern at 6555 Telephone Road, Suite 7 in Ventura has a pool table, shuffleboard, air hockey, dartboard machine, karaoke and live music. 805.644.4619 www.facebook.com/olearysventura

Paddy's Bar & Lounge at 2 W. Main St, Ventura is a LGBT owned/operated nightclub bar offering pool, darts, karaoke on Wed nights and more. 805.652.1071 paddysventura.com

Prime Steakhouse at 2009 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura offers "Frank Sinatra" Tuesdays and other music nights. 805.652.1055 www.primesteakhouseventura.com

The Saloon at 456 E. Main St in Ventura has live music. 805.667.8550 www.thesaloonvta.com

The Grape House of Jazz & Spirits is a winery and jazz club with a full menu at 2351 E. Main Street in Ventura, offering live jazz Tues through Sun nights. Ages 21+ only. 805.643.7300 thegrapeventura.com

Ventura Music Hall is located at 1888 E. Thompson Boulevard in Ventura. Live music from local talent and touring musicians, along with food from local eateries and drinks at several bars throughout the venue. Learn more at www.venturamusichall.com.

Victoria Pub & Grill at 1413 Victoria Avenue, Suite F, Ventura has pool tables and darts. 805.650.0060 www.victoriapubandgrill.com

Winchester’s Grill & Saloon hosts live music Saturdays and Sundays from 2-5pm and other events. www.winchestersgrill.com 805-653-7446

Simi Valley/Moorpark/Heritage Valley (Fillmore, Santa Paula)

Arena Sports Grill at the Grand Vista Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley has live music, dancing, pool tables, dartboards, video games, 20 TVs and more. 805.583.2000 arenasimi.com

Chuy's Mesquite Broiler Simi West at 1397 E. Los Angeles Avenue hosts live music various nights 805.582.4897 chuysbajagrill.com/events

Enzo's Italian Restaurant at the historic Glen Tavern Inn at 134 N. Mill St, Santa Paula offers live entertainment on weekends. 805.933.5550 www.glentavern.com/dining.aspx

The Golden Nugget Pub and Tavern at 4435 Cochran St, Simi Valley is the oldest bar in Simi, established in 1964. Trivia on Monday and Wednesday nights. 805.583.9715 www.goldennuggetpub.com

Lucas Sellers Winery at 330 Zachary Street in Moorpark (at The Alley in Moorpark) hosts live music most Saturday nights from 6-9pm. www.facebook.com/LucasSellersWine

Lucky Fool's Pub at 75 E. High Street in Moorpark offers Sunday night trivia games, a pool table and dart board, not to mention live music several nights a week. 805.532.1500 www.luckyfoolspub.com

Rock & Roll Pizza at Harley’s Valley Bowl, 5255 Cochran Street, Simi Valley, offers live music on Friday/Saturday, Reggae on Sundays, Karaoke Night 9-12 on Tuesdays and Live Comedy on many Wed nights. Details at www.harleysbowl.com/rocknrollpizzabar 805-584-2695

Other West Ventura County (Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ojai)

Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard opened in September 2016, with live music on Saturday nights and more. 805.457.5551 www.copperblueslive.com/oxnard

Corner Pocket Billiards on 7th & A Street in Oxnard is a billiards, arcade, lounge, restaurant and sports bar for the whole family. 805.844.7266 www.facebook.com/cornerpocketoxnard

The El Rey Cantina at 2302 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo has occasional live music. 805.484.4433 www.instagram.com/elreycantinacam

Four Brix Winery at 2290 Eastman Ave, Ste 109, Ventura offers live music every Saturday and Sunday from 1-3:30pm. www.fourbrixwine.com

Harley’s Camarillo Bowl offers live music most Saturday nights and select other nights. Check their events calendar at www.harleysbowl.com/camarillo-events 805-482-0747

The Lamplighter is dive bar at 1936 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo that has three pool tables, foosball and darts for your nighttime activities. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064177201671 805-484-2113

The Lookout Bar & Grill at Channel Islands Harbor (2800 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard) offers Tuesday night trivia and live music on designated days. Open mic night on Mon nights. 805.985.9300 www.facebook.com/TheLookoutBar

The Manhattan of Camarillo at 5800 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 140 offers live music and dancing Thursday through Sunday nights. Also Trivia Night on Thursday nights. 805.388.5550 www.themanhattanofcamarillo.com

The Ojai Deer Lodge at 2261 Maricopa Highway showcases live local entertainers up to 5 nights a week. 805.646.4256 deerlodgeojai.com

Q Club Oxnard at 2362 N. Oxnard Blvd is a sports lounge with 25 TVs and 15 pool tables, karaoke, games, DJ and more 805.278.1231 www.facebook.com/qcluboxnard

Onyx Bistro at 2390 Las Posas Road (at Arneill) offers live music from 5;30-8:30pm on Friday/Saturday nights. 805.991.7356 onyxbistrocamarillo.com

Ric's Restaurant at 2500 Las Posas Road, Camarillo offers live music on Sunday afternoons and other time frames. www.ricsrestaurant.com/entertainment 805.389.9919

The Shores Restaurant at 1031 S. Harbor Blvd in Oxnard has karaoke on Thursdays and live music on weekends. 805.984.5533 www.facebook.com/theshoresoxnard

Sam’s Place at 308 E. Ojai Avenue offers live music Wednesday thru Sunday from 8-10 PM www.facebook.com/The-Vine-1471139523136821 805.646.1555

Beerly departed:

Bowling Alleys in Ventura County and Nearby Areas

Archaeologists found ancient bowling balls and bowling pins in an Egyptian gravesite in the 1930s that date back to 3200 B.C., thus making bowling the world's oldest documented sport.  The first indoor bowling alley was Knickerbockers of New York City in 1840.

Bowling’s peak in popularity was in the 1960s, when there were over 12,000 bowling establishments in the United States. In 2024, there were approximately 2,600 bowling alleys in the U.S. But bowling seems to be growing in popularity, with companies like Bowlero expanding the market.

bowlingball_small.jpg

Here’s a compilation of local bowling alleys in Ventura County and adjacent areas.

Bowling in the Conejo Valley!? The four-lane Sunset Lanes opened in mid-January 2024 at the Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Lounge in Thousand Oaks. Prior to this, the last time we had bowling in Thousand Oaks was 1995, when the 40 lane Conejo Village Bowl closed. It was located where Borders was until January 2010 and various county medical services now reside. Conejo Village Bowl opened in July 1960, as did the short-lived Acorn Bowl, which was located at 3089 Ventura Boulevard (subsequently renamed Thousand Oaks Boulevard).

Acorn Bowl Thousand Oaks in the early 1960s (Photo Credit: City of Thousand Oaks Library, Pat Allen Slide Collection - Thousand Oaks Boulevard Survey)

Acorn Bowl Thousand Oaks in the early 1960s (Photo Credit: City of Thousand Oaks Library, Pat Allen Slide Collection - Thousand Oaks Boulevard Survey)

Bowled Over:

Kids Bowl Free at local area bowling alleys

Many years ago existed the Ojai Bowling Lanes at 345 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai. This was a four lane establishment that operated in the 1940s-1950s. The Topa Topa Brewing Co. now operates at that address.