47th Annual Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off, Car Show and Craft Brew Festival on Sunday, May 5, 2024

Mark your calendars for the 47th Annual Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off, Car Show & Craft Brew Festival on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Held from noon – 5pm (11:00 am entry for VIP tickets), this family friendly extravaganza will take place at Conejo Creek Park North at Janss Rd & Hwy 23 in Thousand Oaks.

There will be over 40 chili tasting booths – and included with your general admission is free unlimited chili tasting. Returning again is the popular Craft Brew Festival – an event within an event – with a multitude of participating breweries! There will also be a Classic & Custom Car Show in several style and vintage categories and live music on two stages. Also on hand will be over a dozen food trucks and beverage booths and a free kids’ fun zone.

The Chili Cook-Off is proudly presented by the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks, with 100% of the net proceeds going to local charities.  Day of event general admission is $25, VIP for $40, with kids 10 & under getting in for free; $75 gets you all the fun of the Cook-Off plus exclusive admission to the Craft Brew Festival, and the top ticket package for VIP/Chili/Craft Brew tickets goes for $100. Tickets will be available in advance, along with more information at www.chili-cook-off.com  

ArtsFest at Rancho Tapo Community Park in Simi Valley on Saturday, May 18, 2024

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District presents ArtsFest at Rancho Tapo Community Park on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event is free of charge. Fees for some activities. Features artists, vendors, face painting, activities, demonstrations and more. rsrpd.org/recreation/events/spring_(march_-_may)/artzfest.php

36th Annual Ojai Wine Festival at Lake Casitas on Saturday, June 15, 2024

The 36th Annual Ojai Wine Festival is the longest running wine festival in Ventura County. Overlooking scenic Lake Casitas in the Ojai Valley, The Ojai Wine Festival is an idyllic venue to taste award winning wines, amazing craft beers, fine spirits, ciders, kombucha and spiked seltzers. A bountiful selection of wineries and craft breweries will be represented along with a tempting selection of gourmet food trucks selling delicious culinary cuisine. Patrons can shop to their heart’s delight among the arts and crafts booths. Bid on the Silent Wine Auction featuring fine wines, private tasting parties, VIP tours of wineries, artisan crafts and much more.

Admission includes unlimited tastes of wine, beer and spirits, a keepsake crystal wine glass, live band/lakeside dance floor, shop at the fine artisan vendors & gourmet food trucks & bid on the silent auction. Limited to 2500 people.

Non-drink admission tickets are $25 available only on event day.

Children 12 years and under gain free admission with a paying adult. Children must be always monitored.

About Ojai Wine Festival

The Ojai Wine Festival is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Ojai-West Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose charitable projects focus on improving education, aiding low-income families, and supporting activities that enrich the lives of area youth. Fitting examples of important projects include our science based Rotary Floating Classroom, Third Grade Dictionary Project, Nordhoff High School’s “Service Above Self” scholarships for graduating seniors, and free Ojai Community Summer Band Concerts. International projects are fostered by the Rotary Foundation through donations from Rotary Club of Ojai West. The Rotary Foundation’s goals are to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

Visit www.ojaiwinefestival.com to purchase tickets.

2024 Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival on Saturday, October 19th

When it comes to fresh seafood, you can’t get it any fresher than right off the boat. On October 19, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival lures seafood lovers of all ages to Santa Barbara’s thriving harbor for one of the community’s most beloved and flavorful events. 

This signature event coincides with lobster season and features local commercial fishermen offering the Santa Barbara Channel’s freshest seafood. Fishermen and seafood vendors will provide thousands of festival-goers with an abundance of live lobster, crab, prawns, BBQ albacore, clam chowder, fish tacos, seafood gumbo and other prepared dishes. Arts and crafts vendors will offer jewelry, clothing, art, photography and other hand-crafted items.

Admission is FREE. Since 2002, the annual Harbor and Seafood Festival has become Santa Barbara’s signature autumn event. It brings people together for a day full of fun and good memories.

For more information, visit harborfestival.org. Location: Harbor Way.

50th Anniversary Scandinavian Festival at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks on May 18-19, 2024

Quite possibly one of my top 5 favorite desserts on earth, Aebleskiver.

The largest Nordic festival in Southern California will return to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks plans to be back May 18-19, 2024.

The 50th Anniversary of the Scandinavian Festival will celebrate the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Sami people from the Arctic regions of Scandinavia. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday with music, dancing, food, crafts, demonstrations (food and Nordic crafts), vendors and activities for people of all ages in Kingsmen Park.

The festival will offer a games area for competitive activities, including Viking chess, a strategy game from the Middle Ages. People also can play Dala horse croquet and the ancient Viking game of kubb. Children and adults can also paint a wooden Viking ship, decorate head wreaths with flowers and ribbon and dance around the maypole.

Children’s Stage performances include acclaimed storyteller Robert Seutter (aka True Thomas), the musician and entertainer Ross Sutter and audience-participation productions of “Three Billy Goats Gruff.” The popular ABBAFab tribute band will headline the Main Stage each day. Other Main Stage performers include singer-songwriters Ann-Marita Garsed, Grim Bernhoft, the Swedish Folk Dance Club of Los Angeles, North Star Nordic Dancers and more.

In the Nordic Country Crafts Tent, children can make free craft souvenirs representing each Scandinavian nation and earn a reward for collecting passport stickers from each activity.

Festivalgoers can wander through an authentic Scandinavian encampment and a Sami siidastallan, or community gathering. They can ask a rune reader for advice, trace their family trees with the help of genealogy experts and buy Scandinavian handicrafts. Aebleskivers, Viking dogs, Swedish meatballs and other favorites will be available in the food court.

Admission is free for kids 12 and younger. Tickets start at $15 and are on sale now via Eventbrite. Parking is free. For more information, visit scandinavianfest.org or the festival’s Facebook page, or email mdeterra@callutheran.edu.

The campus is located at 60 W. Olsen Road.

Celebration of the Whales Festival at Channel Islands Harbor on Sunday, April 7, 2024

The 25th Annual Celebration of the Whales Festival is planned for Sunday, April 7, 2024 from 10am to 3pm at the Channel Islands Harbor, 3350 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard.

The event will feature family fun, chalk art, shopping, kids’ fun zone and more.

Activities will be held at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, the Channel Islands Harbor Farmers Market and a “Gray Whale Migration Trail” that runs through Harbor View Park that connects the two activity centers.

Learn more at www.channelislandsharbor.org/event/2024-celebration-of-the-whales-festival

38th Annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival at Santa Barbara Mission May 25-27, 2024

Madonnari, or street painters, transform the Santa Barbara Mission plaza each year over Memorial Day weekend using pastels on pavement to create 130 vibrant and colorful, large scale images. The event is produced by the Children’s Creative Project.

The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival will be back over Memorial Day Weekend 2024, May 25-27. at the Old Mission Santa Barbara, 2100 Laguna Street. Festival hours are 10am to 6pm.

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.

Steampunk at Strathearn Festival in Simi Valley on Saturday, June 22, 2024

Steampunk at Strathearn is a whimsical festival event that will celebrate Victorian-era industrialism on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at Strathearn Historical Park, 137 Strathearn Place in Simi Valley. Hours are 10am to 6pm. Adults $20. Kids 8-12 $8. Ages 7 and under free.

Event to feature vendors, entertainment, steampunk-themed activities, costumes, inventions, food and more. Learn more at rsrpd.org/recreation/the_great_outdoors.php

38th Annual California Strawberry Festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 18-19, 2024

The 38th Annual California Strawberry Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, 2024 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura). Festivalgoers can indulge in strawberry treats from over 50 food and beverage booths. The festival features artists and crafters, a Ninja Nation obstacle course, live entertainment on two stages, "build-your-own" strawberry shortcake and more.

Since its inception, the nonprofit California Strawberry Festival has donated over $5 million to Southern California charitable organizations. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $15, active military with ID and family and seniors 62 and over, $10, youth ages 5 to 12, $8, children 4 and under, free. Limited parking onsite is $20 per vehicle. Visitors are encouraged to use the free shuttle service at the 6 locations nearby. Amtrak station across the street. For more information, go to www.CAStrawberryFestival.org.

Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Cast Reunion & Festival in Simi Valley on March 22, 23 & 24, 2024

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce presents the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Cast Reunion and Festival on March 22, 23 and 24, 2024 at Rancho Santa Susana Park, 5005 E. Los Angeles Avenue.

The event will celebrate the TV series with recreated set facades, virtual reality experiences, live music and entertainment, cast reunion panels, presentations, exhibitions, interactive workshops and much more. Gates will open at 10 a.m. each day.

General admission $45 per day for adults and $15 for ages 5 to 12. Or buy a 3 day pass or VIP pass. Learn more at littlehousefestival.com. Tickets at www.tixr.com/groups/littlehousefestival/events/little-house-on-the-prairie-50th-cast-reunion-and-festival-81663.