Kids Fun Zone and Outdoor Play Area at Janss Marketplace

Janss Marketplace announces the themes for the 2024 FREE Kids Fun Zone, held from 12 – 2 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month from April through October. Each month children, ages 12 and younger, who are accompanied by an adult, are invited to enjoy free shows, crafts, music and dance at the Kids Fun Zone at Janss Marketplace, located at 275 North Moorpark Road East in Thousand Oaks, just off the 101 Freeway at Moorpark Road and Hillcrest Drive. Register NOW for one, or all Kids Fun Zone events at eventbrite.com.  

Kids Fun Zone upcoming dates and themes:

• April 27th: Bunnies in Spring

• May 25th: Totally Turtles & Tortoises

• June 29th: Musical Puppet Show & Balloons

• July 27th: Bubbles, Puppets & Balloons

• August 31st: Summer Music Jam

• September 28th: Friendly Frogs & Cheerful Bugs

• October 26th: Character Dress-up Fun

Visit janssmarketplace.com for more information about the monthly Kids Fun Zone and other free community events.

The playground area at Janss Marketplace.

Kids Club at The Collection at RiverPark on Designated Wednesdays in the Summer

The Collection at Riverpark is offering free, family-friendly fun at Kids Club, sponsored by Sunny Smiles Dentistry for Children and Young Adults. Kids Club events are open to all children and families. Don’t give the little ones a chance to say they’re bored this summer!
 
Kids Club will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the grass at Collection Park and take place on the following Wednesdays: July 12, July 19, July 26, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9.
 
Bring the kids and a picnic blanket to the grass at Collection Park for a fun-filled morning of entertainment, crafts and fun surprises. Each Kids Club program is unique, so families should return throughout the summer to get the most out of each experience.
 
With options like the giant indoor interactive play center Jump ‘n Jammin and the pottery painting studio Color Me Mine, in addition to the lanes at Bowlero and the latest movies at Century RiverPark 16 & XD, it’s easy to plan a full day of activities for the kids.
 
“In-person interaction is more important than ever, and we are proud to offer families opportunities for fun, face-to-face interactions with a personal touch,” said The Collection’s Marketing and Business Development Manager, Juliana Finberg. “At The Collection, we’re spending summer the way it’s supposed to be spent, with kids and families living in the moment, making memories and enjoying each other’s company.”
 
The Collection isn’t just for the kids this summer. The center also offers entertainment like the Mighty Axe, Red Door Escape Room and The Painted Cabernet, in addition to restaurants and shopping.
 
For more information about how to get the most out of The Collection this summer, visit thecollectionrp.com.

About The Collection
The Collection at RiverPark is a 650,000-square-foot, open-air, specialty retail center and entertainment destination located in the heart of West Ventura County, owned in partnership by CenterCal Properties and Shea Properties. Inspired by the beauty of the California coast, The Collection reflects the unique atmosphere of the surrounding seaside communities and features a carefully crafted assortment of signature entertainment venues, established and contemporary designer shops, and distinctive dining. Anchors include Bowlero, Century RiverPark 16 & XD, Levity Live Comedy Club, 24-Hour Fitness SuperSport, REI, Whole Foods Market, H&M, Ulta and The Container Store. Restaurants include Yard House, Larsen’s Grill, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, The Cheesecake Factory, Texas de Brazil and more. The Collection is also home to The Annex Food Hall, a 16,000-square-foot, beautifully designed, artistic, inviting food hall that celebrates the spirit of small business and local operators. For more information, visit http://www.thecollectionrp.com and follow @TheCollectionRP and @AnnexFoodHall on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Kids' Adventure Garden in Thousand Oaks

The Kids' Adventure Garden (KAG) at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is open every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The KAG is a fun place for children to learn about nature and gardening.  The garden features a tree house, pirate's cave, zoo garden, hydroponic pod and much more. Free admission (though donations are welcome). Enter at W. Gainsborough Road at Jeaunine Drive. between Lynn Road and Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks.

Kids love running around the KAG and exploring the nearby trails and stream.  Additionally, Conejo Community Park is next to the garden, with a nice playground area, expansive grass and picnic areas.

Visit www.conejovalleybotanicgarden.com/collections for more information and pictures. Additionally, a Native Plant Nursery is open at this location on Sundays.

Links to Hundreds of Parks In and Around Ventura County

Click the image for a list of links to parks throughout Ventura County.

Alameda Park in Santa Barbara

Ranking high up on the list of parks with cool play areas around town is Alameda Park, located at the corner of Garden Street and E. Micheltorena Street in Santa Barbara. Alameda Park has an 8,000 sq ft mostly wooden play structure that was built by local residents.

Your kids will fall in love with the nooks, crannies, steps, bridges and places to hide in this play structure. There are also swings and things to climb on. The park itself is 2 blocks long and one of the oldest parks in Santa Barbara. It is next door to the beautiful Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. Plenty of grass, spectacular, large shade trees and much more make this a perfect picnic lunch stop when you're in town.

More information at www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/parks/features/horticulture/alameda.asp.

Free Airplane Rides for Kids in Camarillo and Santa Paula

Each month, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 723 offers free flights to youth ages 8 through 17, weather permitting.

The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give young people the opportunity to fly in a general aviation airplane. EAA volunteers will explain what you will see and do pre-flight, then take you on a 15 to 20 minute flight. After the flight, your pilot will present you with your own Young Eagles logbook, along with an entry for the flight.

In Camarillo, flights take place from the EAA Hangar Area at 501 Aviation Drive at the Camarillo Airport on the first Saturday of the month. Look for signs; it is next to Commemorative Air Force, CAF Museum, and near the Animal Shelter. Please park on the street, Aviation Way. DO NOT PARK in the CAF Parking Lot.

In Santa Paula, flights are from Santa Paula Airport and take place on the first Sunday of each month. Look for signs.

Visit chapters.eaa.org/eaa723/young-eagles/eagles-flights for more information.

Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara

Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara is a huge park that sandwiches East Cabrillo Boulevard.  On the ocean side of Cabrillo the park consists of a palm-lined, narrow strip of park adjacent to East Beach with an oceanfront bike path and walkway from Stearns Wharf to East Beach.  This side of the park is host to Sunday/holiday arts and crafts shows.  The 14,600 square foot Skater's Point skate park is also located on this side of the park.

Call 805.564.5418 for more information or visit www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/parks/features/playgrounds/chase.asp.

On the other side of Cabrillo is a huge 10 acre parcel that features fountains, creeks, a lagoon, carousel, snack bar and a shipwreck playground modeled after an ocean schooner from the turn of the century.

The park is walking distance to Stearns Wharf, the beach, bike rentals, State Street, etc.

From 1999 to 2017, the park was home to a vintage 1916 40 foot in diamater carousel, The carousel was relocated to Fort Hood, Oregon to a museum.

Marina Park in Ventura

Marina Park is located at 2950 Pierpont Boulevard in Ventura (near the intersection of Pierpont and Coral Street). It is a 15 acre park that has over a third of a mile of oceanfront adjacent to Ventura Harbor, giving it plenty of beachfront, flat sand to play in.

There is also a kids play area (geared toward younger kids), plenty of grass, restrooms and more. There is also a water taxi and a fishing dock. Fun destination park in the Ventura Keys. We never go wrong bringing the kids here. More info at www.cityofventura.net/parks.

The zip line attached to the "San Salvador" ship was taken down in 2016. The city indicates there is a possibility it will be replaced if a safe alternative can be identified.

Newer pirate-themed play area at Marina Park (re-done in 2012).

Nice, protected beachfront area at Marina Park

The popular San Salvador at Marina Park.

This popular zip line was taken down in 2016; the city indicates the possibility of identifying a new, safe zip line possibility but as of September 2019 no specific timing available.

Oxnard Beach Park

The Oxnard Beach Park is located on South Harbor Boulevard, South of Wooley Road and next to the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel and Resort in Oxnard.  The park has an awesome, large pirate-themed play area. There is a larger structure for 5 to 12 year olds and a smaller one for younger kids.

This park is just a short walk to the beach, where you and the kids can spend time digging holes, building sand castles and running from the waves. The park is also in close vicinity to Channel Islands Harbor. 

The park has a large grassy area, restrooms, BBQ grills, bike paths, etc.  There is a parking fee at this park; just $1/hour or $5/day.

For more information, visit visitoxnard.com/directory/oxnard-beach-park.

Children's Storytimes at Local Ventura County Area Barnes & Noble Locations

Barnes & Noble bookstores offer up some great storytimes for kids at designated times. Below is information about local B&N stores in Ventura County and nearby areas.

Children's Storytime in the Childrens' Department of Barnes & Noble at The Promenade at 160 S Westlake Boulevard, Thousand Oaks on Saturday mornings at 11am and certain other days and time frames. For more information and upcoming events, call 805.446.2820 or visit store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2751.

Children's Storytime at The Commons at Calabasas location, 4735 Commons Way, is on certain Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m. and periodically Toddler Storytimes are on Thursday mornings at 10am. For more information and upcoming events, call 818.222.0542 or visit store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2054.

Children's Storytimes at the Ventura Gateway, 4820 Telephone Road, Barnes & Noble location vary from some Friday night storytimes at 7pm (geared towards ages 2 to 8), Saturday morning storytimes at 11am and Tuesday morning Toddler Storytimes at 9:30am, but do check first as dates/times can vary! For more information and upcoming events, call 805.339.0990 or visit store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2054.

For other locations and information, visit www.barnesandnoble.com.