39th Annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival at Santa Barbara Mission May 24-26, 2025

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The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival will be back over Memorial Day Weekend 2025, May 24-26. at the Old Mission Santa Barbara, 2100 Laguna Street. Festival hours are 10am to 6pm.

Madonnari, or street painters, transform the Santa Barbara Mission plaza each year over Memorial Day weekend using pastels on pavement to create over 100 vibrant and colorful, large scale images. The event is produced by the Children’s Creative Project.

There will also be live music and food available for purchase.

Pets are not allowed (other than service animals).

Learn more at www.imadonnarifestival.com.

3rd Annual Pollinator Palooza at Barranca Vista Park in Ventura on Saturday, May 17, 2025

The City of Ventura presents the 3rd Annual Pollinator Palooza family event at Barranca Vista Park, 7050 Ralston Street on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 10am to 2pm. Event is free of charge.

Enjoy arts & crafts activities, learn about native plants & pollinators, explore educational booths, and more.

www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1723/Events

2025 Gold Coast Gem Show at Ventura County Fairgrounds on May 24-25

The Gold Coast Gem Show is planned for Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25, 2025 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Boulevard, Ventura. Free admission. Hours 10am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday.

Event to feature gems, minerals, fossils, rocks, jewelry, beads, lapidary supplies, demonstrations, kids’ activities, silent auctions and gold panning. More information at goldcoastgemshow.com.

ArtsFest at Rancho Tapo Community Park in Simi Valley on Saturday, May 17, 2025

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District presents ArtsFest at Rancho Tapo Community Park on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event is free of charge. Fees for some activities. Features artists, vendors, face painting, activities, demonstrations, dance performances, chalk art festival, theater and storytelling, food vendors, workshop/craft area, and more. rsrpd.org/recreation/events/spring_(march_-_may)/artzfest.php

Spring Spectacular at America's Teaching Zoo in Moorpark March 22-23, 29-30, 2025

Spring Spectacular is the The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College’s largest fundraising event of the year, with entertaining animal meet and greets all day.

Spring Spectacular 2025 will take place the weekends of March 22-23 and 29-30 from 10 am to 5 pm. Event to feature 3 shows, discovery stations and Ira’s Kingdom! Stay all day and enjoy the fun! Food truck will be on site, or bring your lunch to picnic in the sun!

Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for kids and seniors. Ages 2 and under free of charge.

For directions and questions, visit zoo.moorparkcollege.edu/spring-spectacular. The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College is located at 7075 Campus Road in Moorpark.

Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Planned for April 26-27, 2025

The 2025 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is set to return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Now in its 55th year, the community-organized festival is one of the longest-running Earth Day celebrations in the country and is one of the largest Earth Day festivals on the West Coast. Presented by the Community Environmental Council (CEC) and co-produced with longtime festival partner, CarpEvents, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival continues to serve as a beacon for environmental advocacy and education.

This year, the festival is aligning with the Earth Day Network’s theme Our Power, Our Planet, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy. Their Earth Day Action Day encourages all to take action to educate, activate and mobilize.

The 2025 festival — which is free to attend — anticipates all of the fun of past years. Highlights of this year’s event include a plant-forward Food Court, a Green Car show featuring free “Ride & Drive'' experiences, over 200 eco-friendly exhibitors, Beer & Wine Garden, Kids Zone filled with activities, two full days of live music, and so much more.

Learn more at www.SBEarthDay.org.

Moorpark Apricot Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2025

The 2nd Annual Moorpark Apricot Festival and Art Fair takes place on Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 11am to 5pm at Arroyo Vista Community Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road.

This street fair will feature art and craft vendors, food trucks, apricot offerings, live music, dance performances, family-friendly activities, animals shows, and more. Visit www.moorparkapricotfestival.com for more information.

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ventura on Saturday, March 15, 2025

Downtown Ventura presents the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 10 am on Main Street, Downtown Ventura. The parade route starts at Lincoln Drive and goes west on Main Street to Fir Street. The 2025 parade them is “Show-Me You’re Irish.” Visit www.venturastpatricksdayparade.com for more information.

Bark in the Park at Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, March 15, 2025

Bark in the Park is planned for Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 9am to noon at Conejo Creek Park North, 1379 E. Janss Road (behind the Thousand Oaks Library).

Special activities include a dog costume contest, big and littlest dog contests, small dog races, dog entertainers, dog agility course, vendors and more. Dogs available for adoption will also be on hand.

Event free of charge and activities are free to participate in. Food available for purchase.

For more details, visit www.crpd.org/events/bark-in-the-park.

39th Annual California Strawberry Festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 17-18, 2025

The 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, 2025 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura). Festivalgoers can indulge in strawberry treats from over 50 food and beverage booths. Strawberry-themed nachos, chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry kabobs, popcorn, and margaritas are just a few of the choices. The festival also features 150 artists and crafters, a Strawberryland for kids, live entertainment on three stages, carnival rides, and a "build-your-own" strawberry shortcake experience.

Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days. General admission is $15, active military with ID and family and seniors 62 and over, $10, youth ages 5 to 12, $8 and children 4 and under are free. Limited parking onsite. Visitors are encouraged to use the free shuttle service nearby or take advantage of the Ventura Amtrak Station across the street. For more information, go to www.CAStrawberryFestival.org.