Ojai Playhouse

The Ojai Playhouse is located in the heart of Ojai at 145 East Ojai Avenue (at the Signal Street intersection). This landmark originated as a single screen theater called The Isis in 1914 and has changed hands numerous times since then. The theater has also changed names over the years but is now called the Ojai Playhouse. It has been restored to its original deco-style look inside and upgraded and now shows first run movies and other films in a theater that seats over 200 people.

Visit www.ojaiplayhouse.com for more information.

Ojai Playhouse in early 2025, after renovations were completed in 2024.

Color Café Pottery Painting Studio in Simi Valley

Color Café Pottery Painting Studio (previously As You Wish) is located at the Simi Valley Town Center. This is a large, nicely appointed ceramics/painting studio where you select a piece of pottery off the shelves, paint it and a few days later pick up your beautiful, glazed work of art.

Great place for birthday parties, team building, family nights, fundraising and more.

Visit color.cafe or call 805.520.9500 for more information. Open seven days a week.

Murals of Santa Paula

The Murals of Santa Paula is a non-profit organization that has brought 9 murals depicting scenes from the city's history within a few mile radius. The murals are as follows:

1. Trains, Planes & Automobiles (1890s-1940s): 815 Santa Barbara Street

2. Our First Inhabitants: The Chumash Indians: 119 North 8th Street

3. Santa Paula Family Farms (1880s-1930s): 715 East Main Street

4. Santa Paula Citrus Capital of the World: Corner of Main and Davis Streets

5. Main Street Santa Paula (1910): Corner of Main and Mill Streets

6. Celebrating Santa Paula's Latino Culture: Corner of Main and 10th Streets

7. Discovering Black Gold in Santa Paula (1860s-1950s): 123 N. 10th Street

8. Santa Paula Artists and Architects: 136 North 10th Street

9. Honoring Founders and Pilots of Santa Paula Airport (1890s-1940s): 560 E. Main Street

10. Harding Park Mural (Baseball pastime): 1330 East Harvard Blvd.

11. De Colores of the Community (Celebration of life at the Santa Paula Community Center): 530 W. Main Street

Visit spcity.org/743/Murals for more information.

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University in Malibu

Located on Pepperdine's main campus at 24255 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art is a small art museum with rotating exhibits year-round, as well as "meet the artist" events, family art events and more.

The museum, which opened in 1992, is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on major holidays. There is no admission charge.

For more information, call (310) 506-4851, or visit arts.pepperdine.edu/museum.

Movie Theaters In and Around Ventura County

Here's a handy list of movie theaters with over 120 (originally it was over 150, but there’s been some closures over the years) screens throughout Ventura County and adjacent areas. Click the links for theater websites and/or showtimes.

Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills

Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas at the Promenade at Westlake, 100 Promenade Way, Westlake Village  (8 screens). Order food and drink from your seat and enjoy. cinepolisusa.com/locations/cinepolis-luxury-cinemas-westlake-village (805) 413-8838

AMC Dine-In Thousand Oaks 14, 166 West Hillcrest Drive at The Oaks Mall. Tickets at www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/los-angeles/amc-dine-in-thousand-oaks-14. $5 Tuesdays all day for AMC Stubs members.

Regal Janss Marketplace 9 is located at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks, 255 North Moorpark Road. www.regmovies.com/theatres/regal-janss-marketplace-1418

Former Muvico (now AMC Dine-In) Thousand Oaks.

Camarillo/Oxnard/Ventura

Cinemark Century Downtown 10, 555 East Main Street, Ventura (800.326.3264) www.cinemark.com/southern-california/century-10-downtown

Cinemark Century Riverpark 16 at 2766 Seaglass Way, Oxnard (800.326.3264). www.cinemark.com/theatres/ca-oxnard/cinemark-century-riverpark-and-xd

Cinemark Century Riverpark 16 at The Collection at Riverpark

Regal Edwards Camarillo Palace 12 and IMAX, 680 Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo (805.383.8879) (Located adjacent to The Promenade section of Camarillo Premium Outlets. www.regmovies.com/theatres/regal-edwards-camarillo-palace-1009

Plaza Stadium Cinemas 14, 255 West Fifth Street, Oxnard (805.487.8380). santarosacinemas.com

Roxy Stadium 11, 5001 Verdugo Way, Camarillo (805.388.0532). santarosacinemas.com

Simi Valley

Regal Civic Center Plaza 16 & IMAX, 2751 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley (805.526.0232). www.regmovies.com/theaters/regal-simi-valley-civic-center-stadium-16-imax/C00745385306

Studio Movie Grill at the Simi Valley Town Center opened on October 22, 2015, with 9 screens and over 950 seats. www.studiomoviegrill.com/locations/california/simi-valley/2022/1/14

Regal Civic Center Plaza, Tapo Canyon Road, just north of the 118.

Other Local Theaters

Regency Santa Paula 7, 550 West Main Street, Santa Paula (805.933.6707). www.regencymovies.com/locations/santa-paula-7 Seats just $7 on Sundays!

The Ojai Playhouse at 145 East Ojai Avenue (805.646.1011) (1 screen) - reopened in late 2024 after it was closed for repairs due to a water main break in January 2018. The theater originated in 1914.

CLOSED

Regal Malibu Twin at 3822 Cross Creek Road, Malibu (310.456.6990) (closed in September 2017)

Simi Valley 10 Tristone Cinemas, 1457 E. Los Angeles Avenue (805.526.4329) simivalley.tristonecinemas.com (Closed 12/5/19 “due to leasing disagreements”)

Regency Paseo Camarillo Cinemas (3 theaters), 390 North Lantana Street, Camarillo (805.383.2267). regencymovies.com/main.php?theaterId=3 (“TEMPORARILY CLOSED” SINCE AUGUST 2021.)

Regency Westlake Village Twin, 4711 Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village (818.889.8061) regencymovies.com/main.php?theaterId=1 Closed 1/17/22.

Edwards Grand Palace Stadium 6, 4767 Commons Way, Calabasas (818.223.0223). www.regmovies.com/theaters/edwards-calabasas-stadium-6/C00791471576 Closed 9/15/22

Regency Agoura Hills 8, 29045 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills (818.707.9966) www.regencymovies.com/locations/agoura-hill-stadium-8 closed its doors on 2/9/25. It originally opened as the Mann 8 Theatres in August 1990.

Regency Buenaventura 6, 1440 Eastman Avenue, Ventura (805.658.6544). www.regencymovies.com/locations/buena-ventura-6 closed its doors 8/4/25.

Regency Theatres at The Commons at Calabasas closed its doors on 12/28/25 due to the Calabasas Commons redevelopment.

Museum of Ventura County in Downtown Ventura

The Museum of Ventura County is the most comprehensive resource for local history in the county.  There are exhibitions, galleries, and an extensive research library with over 140,000 books, newspaper clippings, photographs, maps and other historical materials.

The museum is open from 11am to 5pm, Thursday through Sunday.  General admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors/students and free for 17 and under. Located at 100 E. Main Street, Ventura.

For more information, visit www.venturamuseum.org or call 805.653.0323.

LEARN ABOUT THE MUSEUM'S AGRICULTURE MUSEUM IN SANTA PAULA

The 3,500 sq ft river-rock walled, state-of-the-art Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Event Pavilion is used for lectures, programs and a variety of Museum events. It can seat 200 for dinner, with the option to tent the front plaza for an additional 140 guests. Could be a great wedding reception venue!!

California Dance Theatre / Pacific Festival Ballet

California Dance Theatre (CDT) was founded in 1985. With five studios spanning over 10,000 square feet, and over 30 teachers on staff, CDT instructs students of all ages and levels — from children to adults, beginners to professionals — in ballet, lyrical, contemporary, modern, tap, musical theatre, jazz, acro and hip-hop. 

CDT's Pacific Festival Ballet is the resident ballet company of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Bank of America Performing Arts Plaza.

California Dance Theater / Pacific Festival Ballet is located at 2282 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village. More information and tickets available at www.californiadancetheatre.com.

Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show

The Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show runs along Cabrillo Boulevard from State Street east about a mile every Sunday as well as Saturdays on major holiday weekends, barring bad weather. Hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. This is truly a unique show in that only local Santa Barbara artists and artisans, around 200 of them, display their original drawings, paintings, sculptures, crafts and photos. This show has operated since 1965 and has been sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department since 1966.

So make a day of it and check out the show and take in some of the other great activities in Santa Barbara while you're at it. And of course buy something to support local artists!

Learn more about the show at sbparksandrec.santabarbaraca.gov/activities/community-events/santa-barbara-arts-crafts-show.

Oxnard Performing Arts Center

The Oxnard Performing Arts Center has over 1,600 seats in a theater that showcases local theater, dance, music and other programs.

Since opening in March 1968, the center has hosted thousands of performances reaching over three million people. Outstanding Broadway musicals, prominent guest speakers and musical acts and plays have all graced the center's stage.

In 1996, the center was completely refurbished after serving its first 28 years as the Oxnard Civic Auditorium.

More information at www.theopac.org.

Santa Barbara Bowl

The Santa Barbara Bowl, located at 1122 N. Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, was originally built in 1936 and today with its capacity of nearly 4,600 people (4,974 for general admission standing) is the largest outdoor amphitheater in Santa Barbara County.

The Bowl is a beautiful outdoor setting with views of the ocean and the city. It offers top notch acts on a year-round basis and has great acoustics!

The parking lot utilized by the Bowl for patrons is located at Santa Barbara High School, less than 200 yards away from the venue. A short climb beside stone masonry walls through a beautiful glen with old oak trees leads to the amphitheater.

For more information and to buy tickets visit www.sbbowl.com or call 805.962.7411.

Nice views from the Santa Barbara Bowl too!

Ventura Improv Company

Ventura Improv Company has brought made up on the spot laughs to Ventura County since 1989. 

In addition to monthly live improv on Friday at NAMBA Arts, VIC offers improv and acting workshops for all ages.

More information at www.venturaimprov.com.

Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University

The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University, located in the heart of the campus at 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, showcases musicians, performers and artists from around the world at its Raitt Recital Hall (fits roughly 100 people), Smothers Theatre (500 attendees), Helen E. Lindhurst Theatre and the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art.

There is a wide range of great acts and artists, covering blues, country, classical, jazz, gospel, soloists, ensembles, acrobats, jugglers, classic rockers, a kids' theater series, art exhibits and numerous student productions.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.arts.pepperdine.edu or call 310.506.4522.

Note: Following a generous estate commitment from Pepperdine University Board member Lisa Smith Wengler, the University dedicated the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts on November 7, 2013.

Moorpark College Art Gallery

The Moorpark College Art Gallery is located in the Moorpark College Administration Building at 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. The gallery is open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm and Friday from 8am to noon.

Get there as follows: Take Collins Drive exit from the 118 north towards Moorpark College. Turn right at Campus Park Drive and park in Lot A. Parking is $2 (pay at machine). The Administration Building is located next to the President's Office.

Learn more about exhibit on display at the gallery at www.moorparkcollege.edu/departments/academic/art-department/art-gallery.