2025 Oxnard Insect Festival at Plaza Park on Saturday, June 7th

The City of Oxnard Recreation and Community Services Division hosts its 5th Annual Oxnard Insect Festival at Plaza Park, 500 S. C Street on Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Experience the world of insects through educational exhibits and enriching experiences. There will also be insects to touch, insects to taste, photo opps, bounce houses, live music and more. Free admission.

More information at www.oxnardrecevents.com/insect-festival.html

2025 Ojai Valley Century Bike Ride on Saturday, May 31st

The 2025 Ojai Valley Century bike ride is planned for Saturday, May 31st. The ride has five scenic routes: metric century (63 miles), full century (101 miles), double metric century (134 miles), hammerhead century (102 miles) and half metric century (31 miles).

All routes include tours out of Ojai, past Casitas Lake and up over the double Casitas Pass, a fast ride down the other side into Carpinteria and back down the coast to Ventura. Post race BBQ included! More information at www.ojaivalleycentury.org.

37th Annual Ojai Wine Festival at Lake Casitas on Saturday, June 21, 2025

The 37th 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.

Hours are noon to 4pm.

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.

7th Annual Cancer Support Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara Hope Walk in Thousand Oaks on June 7, 2025

Cancer Support Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara’s 7th Annual Hope Walk

When: Sat, June 7, 8:00 AM check-in

Where: Cal Lutheran William Rolland Stadium, 60 W Olsen Rd, Thousand Oaks

This event is held in combination with National Cancer Survivors Day. Activities include a 5k walk (shorter route available), survivors’ lap, music, booths, food, kids’ activities, etc.

Since 1991, CSCVVSB has worked to fulfill its mission ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. We offer professionally led support groups, individual counseling, networking groups, educational workshops, and healthy lifestyle classes. These programs are at no cost to participants.

Learn more and register at https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/walk4csc.

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 Scandinavian Festival at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks on April 5-6

NO EVENT IN 2026. WILL RETURN IN 2027.

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 April 5-6, 2025

This 51st iteration 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 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm 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. There will also be performances at the Children’s Stage and the Main Stage most of the day, featuring fantastic performers and musicians.

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.

Tickets are $20 at the gate. Early bird tickets available for $15 through February 28 at scandinavianfest.org. Kids 12 and under are free of charge, accompanied by adult.

The campus is located at 60 W. Olsen Road.

2nd Annual Spring Arts, Crafts & Antiques Festival at the Stagecoach Inn Newbury Park on April 5, 2025

2nd Annual Spring Arts, Crafts & Antiques Festival, April 5th 10AM - 4PM

Join us for the 2nd ANNUAL SPRING ARTS, CRAFTS & ANTIQUES FESTIVAL. Entrance is free for this one-day event, which includes an open house at the Stagecoach Inn Museum Complex (there will be a $5 charge to tour the Inn, free to tour out buildings). Enjoy music while shopping at the booths of local artisans in a beautiful setting.

If you would like to participate as a vendor or exhibitor, you may check the website or call the museum for the application. Applications are due prior to March 15, or a late fee will be charged.

The festival takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., April 5th at the Stagecoach Inn Museum at 51 S. Ventu Park Rd. in Newbury Park. This event is sponsored by the Conejo Valley Historical Society. www.stagecoachinnmuseum.com

Spring "Conejo" Hunt at the Stagecoach Inn Museum Newbury Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025

Spring “Conejo & Easter” Hunt & Festival on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 1-4PM.

Hop on over to the Stagecoach Inn Museum and bring the kids and grandchildren to hunt for “conejos,” while the whole family enjoys exploring historic structures and interacting with costumed docents. A map is included with admission for marking bunny sightings to be turned in for a prize in this frolicking outdoor hunt around the beautiful museum grounds.

Our Conejo Hunt this year will send “kids” of all ages hunting for several numbered metal art “Conejos” made by blacksmith Bobby Mensinger and there will be new baby animals to look for this Spring to add to the fun... ducklings, chicks, and of course, baby bunnies.

Have your picture taken with our resident Easter Bunny and we’ll have crafts and “bunny” sack races and frolicking about to the sweet sounds of a local live band.

Regular admission is $10 per person; children 5 to 12 are $5 Children under 5 and Conejo Valley Historical Society Members are free. Annual CVHS Family Memberships can be purchased online or at the door for as little as $50. stagecoachinnmuseum.com

2025 Conejo Valley Parade Planned for Sunday, May 18, 2025

The 2025 Conejo Valley Parade is planned for Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 9am on Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. The parade will include floats, vintage cars, horses, and other participants. The parade is organized by the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise and Fargo’s Angels.

The parade will start at the corner of Duesenberg Drive and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, heading west and ending Conejo School Road. The route is approximately one mile long.

For more detailed information, volunteering, sponsorships and participating in the parade, visit www.conejovalleyparade.org.

2025 Westlake Village Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk/Run 10K/5K on Saturday, May 24th

The Westlake Village Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk/Run 10k/5k will take place on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at Westlake Village City Hall. Opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m., 5k/10k start at 8:45 a.m. and kids’ fun run starts at 10:30 a.m.

Family-friendly community expo with food and drinks, live music, and kids corner.

Register at hope.lustgarten.org/event/westlakevillage

The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research--100% of proceeds go directly to research.