Santa Claus's Party at Simi Valley Town Center on Saturday, December 15, 2018

53rd Annual Holiday Parade of Lights at Channel Islands Harbor on December 8, 2018

Channel Islands Harbor kicks off the holidays with its 53rd Annual holiday Parade of Lights with day-long activities beginning at 10am and culminating with the parade at 7 p.m. This year’s parade theme is “Heroes on Holiday.” Everyone is invited to enjoy a full day of holiday activities and watch festively decorated boats in the parade while listening to carolers sing holiday songs.

Beginning at 10 a.m., families can play in 36 tons of snow falling at the north end of Harbor View Park, off Harbor Blvd. near Marine Emporium Landing, 3600 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard. Santa will also be there to take pictures with families free of charge. There will also be holiday arts and crafts vendors starting at 10 a.m.

At 6 p.m., join Santa Claus and holiday carolers at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, 3900 Bluefin Cir, Oxnard, and witness the first-ever “Lighting the Mast at the Maritime Museum.”

The parade starts at 7 p.m. in front of Peninsula Park and heads to the Main Channel, turns at Hobie Beach, loops in front of the launch ramp then heads back to Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club and repeats the route for a second run. The parade can be viewed from parks and walkways that line the route as well as from most Harbor restaurants. Boat charters are available for those who want to watch the parade from the water.

For more information on the Parade of Lights visit www.channelislandsharbor.org.

8th Annual OakHeart Country Music Festival in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, June 1, 2019

The Rotary Club of Westlake Village hosts the 8th Annual OakHeart Country Music Festival at Conejo Creek Park South, Thousand Oaks on Saturday, June 1. 2019 from 1PM to 10PM. Tickets available as of 12/5/18.

Artist lineup TBA.

Two stages, 11 artists, full bar area, two beer gardens, food trucks, vendors, kids' area, game/activities and line dancing all day. Buy tickets and learn more at www.OakHeartCMF.com. Kids 12 and under free.

Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area Programs in Ventura County

Free events and programs at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area locations in Ventura County and adjacent areas are highlighted below! (updated periodically to remove past activities). For additional details and other event locations, visit samofund.org/calendar.

Most activities subject to cancellation if there's significant rain.

Sat 12/8 5-9pm - Everyday Spacer Star Party at Rancho Sierra Vista - Weather permitting. See planets and other objects in the night sky. Dress in layers.

Sun 12/16 8am to 11:30am - San Fernando Valley Audubon Bird Walk at Malibu Creek State Park - Considered the recreational crown jewel of the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu Creek State Park has over 8,000 acres of rolling tall grass plains, oak savannahs and dramatic peaks. It’s no wonder many call it “The Yosemite of Southern California.” Seasoned birders and beginners alike will enjoy good bird watching and a beautiful, easy hike. Meet at the second (lower) day-use parking lot. Entrance to the park is on the west side of Las Virgenes Rd., just south of Mulholland Hwy. Entrance fee is $12 per car.

Sun 12/16 10am to noon - History Hike at Rancho Sierra Vista - Explore and learn! Join us for a short 1-mile guided hike at Rancho Sierra Vista, led by a Park Ranger who will speak on the ranching history of this site! This hike will feature occasional stops along the trail where we will learn about the different periods and people who helped shape Rancho Sierra Vista.

It is estimated that this hike should be approximately 1 hour in length to cover both the hike and the talk with plenty of time afterwards for any questions! We will be meeting and ending at the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center. Rain cancels.

Sun 12/30 10-11am - Set to Screen Walk at Paramount Ranch - Learn the secrets that turn a dusty set into a realistic town. Join us on this easy-paced walk behind the scenes to discover the illusions and history of this Ranch. Rain or predicted rain cancels.

Wed 1/9/19 8-10am - Beginner’s Birdwalk with Conejo Valley Audubon at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa - Conejo Valley Audubon invites birders of all experience levels to attend our monthly Beginner Bird Walks at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa. These walks will be held on the second Wednesday of each month. We will meet at 8:00am at the main parking lot, which is accessible off Lynn Rd at Via Goleta in Newbury Park.

Rancho Sierra Vista is an excellent place to see many of the oak woodlands birds that are common in the Conejo Valley. We will take time to introduce beginning birders to these species and the best techniques for locating and identifying them.

If you have binoculars, please bring them. A few pairs of loaner binoculars will be available. Wear comfortable walking shoes. No sign-up is needed; just show up. Heavy rain will cancel the walk. The leader will be Richard Armerding and he can be reached at 310-701-3878

Tue 2/5/19 8:30am to 1pm - Hike to China Flat at Palo Comado Canyon (Sunnycrest Drive Trailhead) - Moderately paced 6 mile, appx. 1000 ft gain hike in scenic Simi Hills, through chaparral, grasslands and oaks, with great views, to the vernal pool at China Flat. Meet 8:30 AM at Sunnycrest trailhead. From 101 Fwy take Kanan Rd exit and go north 2.2 miles to Sunnycrest Dr. and turn right. Continue 0.8 miles to the “Public Recreation Trail” sign on right and park along curb. Bring water, snack, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels.

Wed 2/13/19 8-10am - Beginner’s Birdwalk with Conejo Valley Audubon at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa - Conejo Valley Audubon invites birders of all experience levels to attend our monthly Beginner Bird Walks at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa. These walks will be held on the second Wednesday of each month. We will meet at 8:00am at the main parking lot, which is accessible off Lynn Rd at Via Goleta in Newbury Park.

Rancho Sierra Vista is an excellent place to see many of the oak woodlands birds that are common in the Conejo Valley. We will take time to introduce beginning birders to these species and the best techniques for locating and identifying them.

If you have binoculars, please bring them. A few pairs of loaner binoculars will be available. Wear comfortable walking shoes. No sign-up is needed; just show up. Heavy rain will cancel the walk. The leader will be Richard Armerding and he can be reached at 310-701-3878

Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center in Calabasas

King Gillette Ranch - View from near Inspiration Point

Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center in Newbury Park

Directions to various locations

Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons: Ventura Fwy (101) to Chesebro Rd exit. Turn north on Palo Comado Canyon Rd then right on Chesebro Rd. Go north 1 mile to park entrance. Turn right and follow road to parking lot.

Circle X Ranch: Pacific Coast Hwy to Yerba Buena Rd. Turn inland; go 5.4 miles to Circle X Ranch contact station.

Sandstone Peak Trailhead: 1 mile north of Circle X Ranch contact station on Yerba Buena Rd. Parking lot is on left.

Mishe Mokwa Trailhead: 1.75 miles north of the Circle X contact station along Yerba Buena Road. Parking lot is on right.

King Gillette Ranch: Ventura Fwy (101) Exit Las Virgenes Rd. Go 3 miles south on Las Virgenes Rd to Mulholland Hwy intersection (traffic light). Turn left on Mulholland Hwy. Park entrance is 0.1 mile on right.

Malibu Creek State Park: Ventura Fwy (101) Exit Las Virgenes Rd. Go 3 miles south on Las Virgenes Rd to Mulholland Hwy intersection (traffic light). Park entrance is 0.25 mile south of the intersection on Las Virgenes Rd. From Pacific Coast Hwy: north on Malibu Canyon Rd to park entrance on left.

Paramount Ranch: Ventura Fwy (101) to Kanan Rd exit. South on Kanan 0.5 mile. Left on Cornell Way and veer to right. South 2.5 miles, entrance is on right side of the road.

Peter Strauss Ranch is located at 30000 Mulholland Highway, Agoura Hills.

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa: Ventura Fwy (101) to Lynn Rd exit. South on Lynn Rd 5.25 miles to Via Goleta. Park entrance is on the left at Via Goleta. Continue all the way to a parking lot where the road ends. To get to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center, walk 0.3 mile up gravel road from the parking area to brown wooden building. 

Wendy Trailhead: Ventura Fwy (101) to Wendy Dr. exit. South on Wendy Dr to dirt pullout at intersection with Potrero Rd.

Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch: From Ventura Fwy (101): Exit Las Virgenes Rd. Go 3 miles south on Las Virgenes Rd to Mulholland Hwy intersection (traffic light). Turn left on Mulholland Hwy. Go 0.1 mile and turn right into entrance of King Gillette Ranch. The visitor center is the first building on your right. 26867 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas.

Upcoming Events and Free Programs at the Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park Branch Libraries

Thousand Oaks (Grant R. Brimhall) Library.

There are two great Thousand Oaks libraries; the Grant R. Brimhall (GRB) Library at 1401 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks (805.449.2660) and the local Newbury Park Branch (NPB) is at 2331 Borchard Road (805.498.2139).  These libraries provide year-round free events, activities and programs for all ages. Selected events from time to time will be covered here.

Visit the library website at www.toaks.org/library to learn more. 

(The programs below are updated periodically to remove past events)

Programs and Special Events

Free Tuesday Night Movie Screenings at NP Library (6:30pm):

• 12/4 - Elf

• 12/11 - Krampus

• 12/18 - A Christmas Story

Monday Movie Matinees at T.O. Library at 1pm:

• 12/3 The Rider (2018 R, 104 min)

• 12/17: Four Christmases (2008 PG-13, 88 min)

Adult Programs

Wed 12/12 6-8PM: Open Mic Poetry Night at T.O. Library - Join a diverse local poetry community to read, listen, encourage, and inspire. In partnership with Phil Taggart, Ventura County Poet Laureate, and host Ken Jones.

Crafternoon Special Holiday Date: “Gift Bows” — Learn how to make your own gift bows from recycled magazine pages. This fun and easy craft will help you get ready for the holidays, or for any occasion, which will be held in the Grant R. Brimhall Technology Training Room on November 30, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sun 12/2 2-3:30PM at T.O. Library - Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: The Digital Concert Network

The Digital Concert Network is an exclusive network designed to provide free digital content of the world renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. As an affiliate, the Thousand Oaks Library can present this screening. Peter Gordon, Director of New Initiatives – Music Industry, of CLU will present a short pre-concert talk engaging about the instrumentation, the music and the composer. 

Big Band Holidays Sunday

Every December, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis brings this Grammy Award–nominated holiday extravaganza to Rose Theater for a series of sold-out shows. With soulful big band arrangements of songs both sacred and secular, Big Band Holidays is an uplifting tradition. In addition to some swinging JLCO instrumentals, special guest vocalists join the band each season for imaginative new versions of classics like “White Christmas” and “Merry Christmas, Baby.” Join us on December 2nd for a free screening in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room from 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Teen Programs

Homemade Cards and Gifts by Teens — Teens grades 6-12 can make homemade cards and gifts to give away for the holidays. Decorate and give away a tote bag. Create various crafts using duct tape, discarded books and other materials. Program will take place on Tuesday, November 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room, Wednesday, November 28, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Newbury Park Library Meeting Room, and Tuesday, December 4, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room.

Teen Book Discussion — A friendly book discussion will be held on Tuesday, December 18, at the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room. Teens can come discuss their favorite fantasy books and learn about other books they may be interested in. Grades 6-8 from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and Grades 9-12 from 7 to 7:45 p.m.

Virtual Reality Oculus Rift — Sign up for a 10-minute session to try out the Virtual Reality Oculus Rift system’s various programs. Ages 13 and older only. Held in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Tech Training Room on Friday, November 16, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Kids' Programs

Literary Potatoes — Celebrate Picture Book Month by decorating a potato as your favorite book character! Recommended for school age. This program will take place on Wednesday, November 7, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Newbury Park Library Meeting Room and Monday, November 26, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Grant R. Brimhall Library Community Room.

Mon 12/3 5:30-6:30PM at NP Library - Hour of Code for older elementary school students. Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code" to show children that they can learn the basics of coding. Bring your kids to learn during one of the Library's Hour of Code sessions where they will receive assistance from library staff.

The rescheduled Party Puppet Show will be on Saturday, December 8th. Same day performances at the Grant R. Brimhall Library @ 11:00 a.m. & Newbury Park Library @ 2:00 p.m. Join us for this fun, 45-minute puppet show!

Wed 12/12 6-7PM at NP Library - Make & Take: Gingerbread House - Create a "Gingerbread" House using graham crackers and icing and embellish your house with decorative candy. Space is limited. Registration Required. Register at the Reference Desk or call (805) 449-2660 option 7. Participants’ spots will be given away if they are more than 10 minutes late. For school age kids.

Upcoming Free Events and Programs at the E.P. Foster Library in Ventura

Here is a compilation of selected upcoming planned events at the E.P. Foster Library. All events are free and open to the public. The Library is located in Historic Downtown Ventura, 651 East Main Street, Ventura. (805) 648-2716 www.vencolibrary.org/locations/ep-foster-library.

Adult Events

Poetry Open Mic Night

1/3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 Thursdays @ 7:30-9pm in the Topping Room

On these Thursday nights, come join this group of  writers as they meet in the Topping Room to share their work.

Twisted Stitchers Fiber Arts Club

1/3 & 17  Thursday @ 11am

Get together with makers from all across the fiber-arts world. Meet, teach, connect, share.

Ukulele Jam Session

1/7 Mondays @ 7-10pm in the Topping Room

Locals gather to play the ukulele on the first and third Monday of the month.

Adult STEAM Workshop 

11/17 Saturday @2-3pm 

3rd Saturday of the month. Each month a different themed program will be presented.  See you in the Makerspace!  

Porfirio Gutiérrez Zapotec Artisan

Saturday, January 5, 2019 -6:00pm to 8:00pm

Join us for an immersive evening at E.P. Foster Library with master dyer and textile artist, Porfirio Gutiérrez. Come learn about the rich history of the craft in its cultural context. Gutiérrez is committed to keeping his family’s traditional Zapotec practices and knowledge alive.

Gutiérrez and his family are masters of Zapotec weaving and come from a long line of weavers from Teotitlán del Valle in Oaxaca, Mexico. They are among a small group of textile artisans working to preserve the use of plant and insect dyes—techniques that stretch back more than 2,000 years in the indigenous Zapotec tradition.

Opera Santa Barbara Free Noontime Concert

1/18 Friday @12-1pm

Spend Your Lunch Hour listening to members of the Mosher Studio Artist Program, who will perform a selection of popular opera arias and duets as well as some musical theatre pieces.

Children’s Events

Lego play

1/8, 15, 22, & 29 Tuesdays @ 3-5pm

1/5, 12, 19, & 26 Saturdays @ 10:30am-4pm

Build, Learn, and Play! Bring your imagination and experiment with creative designs. Children of all ages welcome!

Monday Craft Madness

1/7, 14, 28 Mondays @ 10am-6pm

Drop-in craft table!

Chanukah Celebration at The Shoppes at Westlake Village on Monday, December 3rd

Join the Chabad of Conejo at The Shoppes on Monday, December 3rd for their annual Chanukah Festival from 5:30-7:00pm. Enjoy special performances, singing, latkes, jelly donuts, crafts, and more. Free and open to the community! shoppesatwestlakevillage.com/events