Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Planned for April 25-26, 2026

The 2026 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is set to return to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 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.

The 2026 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.

Easter Eggstravaganza Event in Camarillo on Saturday, April 4, 2026

Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District presents its Easter Eggstravaganza event on Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 10am to 1pm at Community Center Park, 1605 E. Burnley Street, Camarillo.

Free event is open to the public, featuring crafts, Easter bunny visits, food trucks, live music, craft vendors and more.

www.pvrpd.org/2026-04-04-easter-eggstravaganza

IHOP National Pancake Day on Tuesday, March 3, 2026

On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, IHOP restaurants nationwide will celebrate National Pancake Day from 7 am to 8 pm and will offer each guest a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. In return, IHOP will ask guests to consider donating what they would have paid for the pancakes or more to Feeding America. IHOP has raised nearly $30 million for charity through this event since 2006!

The free pancakes are limited to one free short stack per guest. Dine in only. Tax and gratuity excluded. More information at www.ihoppancakeday.com.

Local area IHOP locations in Agoura Hills, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Fillmore and Ventura.

Ventura Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 18, 2026

The Earth Day Festival will return to downtown Ventura on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm at Plaza Park on East Thompson Blvd. Some event highlights include opening remarks and Chumash blessing, live performances, and more.

Event will also feature environmental booths and sustainable goods, local food vendors, EV showcase, and more.

More information at www.meritofoundation.org.

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.

39th Annual Spring Art & Crafts Festival in Newbury Park on March 7, 2026

The Conejo Recreation & Park District hosts its 39th Annual Art & Crafts Festival on March 7, 2026 at the Borchard Community Center, 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park. The free event runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm and will take place rain or shine.

More than 100 artisans and craft persons present their unique artistry at the event. 

For more information, visit www.crpd.org/SACF.

2026 Arbor/Earth Day Celebration at the Thousand Oaks Community Center on Saturday, April 18th

The City of Thousand Oaks’ annual Arbor Earth Day Celebration returns to Thousand Oaks Community Center Park to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day in one combined event on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10am to 2pm. This year’s event will include an electric vehicle display area where the public can see and ask questions about various EV models, educational workshops on drip irrigation installation, caring for landscaping in drought, water-wise ground covers, as well as a bicycle safety course & helmet giveaway, bicycle donation/collection, kids activities & bounce house, compost and plant giveaways, raffles, live music, and more.

The festivities begin at 10:00 am in the park area and parking lot of the Thousand Oaks Community Center at 2525 N. Moorpark Road. For more information about this event, visit toaks.gov/earthday.

Ladyface Mountain Film Festival in Westlake Village February 26 to March 1, 2026

The 2nd Annual Ladyface Mountain Film Festival is planned for Thursday, February 26th through Sunday, March 1st, 2026 at Cinepolis Westlake Village.

The agenda for this year’s event is as follows:

Thursday 2/26

• 6:30PM: “Whistle” at Cinepolis

• 8:30PM: Open Reception at Red O

Friday 2/27

• 11AM: “Coroner to the Stars” at Cinepolis

• 1:30PM: Short Documentary Block 1 w/Q&As at Cinepolis

• 4PM: Short Documentary Block 2 w/Q&As at Cinepolis

• 6:30PM: “The Big Cheese” w/Q&As at Cinepolis

• 8:30PM: Filmmaker Networking Party at Hyatt Westlake

Saturday 2/28

• 11AM: Short Documentary Block 3 w/Q&As at Cinepolis

• 1:30PM: “The Last Dive” w/Q&As at Cinepolis

• 4PM: Short Documentary Block 4 w/Q&As at Cinepolis

• 6:30PM: “Speak” w/Q&As at Cinepolis

• 8PM: Closing Night Reception at Crawford’s Social

Sunday 3/1

• 10:30AM-12:30PM: VIP Brunch and Awards Ceremony at the Agoura Rec Center

Learn more and buy tickets at ladyfacefilmfestival.com.

49th Conejo Gem & Mineral Club "Pageant of a Thousand Gems" on April 18-19, 2026

The Conejo Gem & Mineral Club presents its 49th Annual Pageant of a Thousand Gems on Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, 2026 from 10am to 5pm (Sat) and 10am to 4pm (Sun) at the Borchard Community Center, 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park. Admission and parking are free.

Fun for all ages with exhibits and sales of gems, jewelry, rocks, minerals and fossils. Special youth activities. Lapidary and jewelry making demonstrations. Silent auction, door prizes, and plant sale.

Vendors will be selling jewelry, minerals, gems and fossils with worldwide specimens and unique one-of-a-kind pieces.

CGMC is a non-profit educational organization encouraging interests in rocks, minerals, fossils, field trips, earth science education and the lapidary arts.

More information at www.cgamc.org.

Camarillo Old Town Friday Night Car Cruise - 4th Fridays March through October 2026

The Camarillo Old Town Friday Night Cruise is back for 2026 on the 4th Friday of the month from March through October from 4-7 p.m.

2026 dates: March 27, April 24, May 22, June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25 and October 23

Drive down Ventura Boulevard with your classic car to the Studio Channel Islands Art Center at 2222 Ventura Boulevard. There will also be vendors, face painting and music in addition to the 200+ anticipated classic cars to see. Try some local takeout by supporting the Camarillo Old Town eateries with their pre-order and/or take-out options.

www.camarillomerchant.org/camarillo-old-town-car-cruises