Free and Nearly Free Movies All Summer Long Around Ventura County 2026

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Stay cool this summer of 2026 with several hundred free and nearly free ($1 to $6) movies in and around Ventura County and surrounding areas!

Rancho Simi Rec & Park District Movies in the Park at Rancho Madera Community Park, 556 Lake Park Drive. Pre-movie activities start at 6:30 p.m.

  • June 12: A Minecraft Movie

  • August 7: The LEGO Batman Movie

Also, Dive-In Movie “Rango” at the Rancho Pool at 1765 Royal Ave, Simi Valley, on Sat, July 11th. $7 admission.

Oak Park Movie at Oak Canyon Community Park on Friday, June 19th featuring The Greatest Showman.

City of Moorpark Movies in the Park on Saturday nights at Arroyo Vista Community Park.

  • June 13: The Goonies

  • July 11: Cars

  • August 8: The Princess and the Frog

  • September 12: Super 8

  • October 10: ParaNorman

City of Agoura Hills Summer Movies in the Park on Saturday nights at Reyes Adobe Park.

  • June 20: Surf’s Up

    July 11: Guardians of the Galaxy

    August 15: How to Train Your Dragon

Studio Movie Grill at the Simi Valley Town Center is offering $6 Children's Summer Movies (includes small popcorn and small drink) Mondays through Thursdays from June 23 to August 7.

  • June 8-11: The Wild Robot (PG)

  • June 15-18: The Secret Life of Pets (PG)

  • June 22-25: The Land Before Time (G)

  • June 29 - July 2: How to Train Your Dragon (PG)

  • July 6-9: The Bad Guys 2 (PG)

  • July 13-16: Shrek 2 (PG)

  • July 20-23: Kung Fun Panda (PG)

  • July 27-30: Dog Man (PG)

  • August 3-6: Trolls (PG)

CineMalibu Summer Movies at Malibu Bluffs Park on Saturday evenings:

  • Sat, July 11: Kicking & Screaming

    Sat, Aug 22: The Sandlot

AMC Dine-In Thousand Oaks 14 hosts Summer Movie Camp - $3 family movies for 8 weeks - Mondays and Wednesdays at 11am and 2pm, from June 23 to August 13.

  • June 22 and 24: Paddington in Peru

  • June 29 and July 1: David

  • July 6 and 8: How to Train Your Dragon

  • July 13 and 15: The LEGO Movie

  • July 20 and 22: Sonic the Hedgehog 3

  • July 27 and 29: The Bad Guys 2

  • August 3 and 5: The Spongebob Movie: Search for Squarepants

  • August 10 and 12: Muppet Treasure Island

Regal Theaters in Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, and Simi Valley present the Regal Summer Movie Express - $1 family movies Mondays through Thursdays from June 1 to August 13. Times vary by theater. www.regmovies.com/promotions/summer-movie-express

  • June 1-4: Sing and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

  • June 8-11: David and Kung Fu Panda 4

  • June 15-18: KPop Demon Hunters and The Wild Robot

  • June 22-25: The Bad Guys 2 and The Garfield Movie

  • June 29-July 2: A Minecraft Movie and Sonic the Hedgehog 2

  • July 6-9: How to Train Your Dragon and Sonic the Hedgehog 3

  • July 13-16: Scoob!

  • July 20-23: Animal Farm and The Spongebob Movie: Search for Squarepants

  • July 27-30: Dog Man and Paddington in Peru

  • August 3-6: Charlie the Wonderdog and Despicable Me 4

  • August 10-13: The Sandlot and Muppets: Treasure Island

The Ojai Film Society presents a series of free summer films at Libbey Bowl on designated nights in July and the 2nd half of August.

  • Thu, July 2: Hunt for the Wilderpeople

  • Fri, July 10: Selena Y Los Dinos

  • Fri, July 17: Cookie Queens

  • Fri, July 24: Best in Show

  • Thu, August 20: Arrival

  • Thu, August 27: Jurassic Park

Movies/dates subject to change. Contact organizers to confirm.

AND HOW ABOUT FREE CONCERTS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Upcoming 5K, 10K and Other Ventura County Area Running and Fitness Events

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Start training for upcoming 5K, 10K, half marathon and other Ventura County running and fitness events! We've made it easy for you to find a local race by tracking local events right here. So go on, get moving, lace up those shoes and start training!

Training for a marathon? Check out 26.2 Training Tips for Your First Marathon!

Running Clubs in the Local Area

Ventura Running Club www.venturarunningclub.com Sunday beach runs at the Ventura Pier, Wednesday track workouts and social event.

Inside Track Running Club has been training in Ventura since 1976. Saturday long runs, Tuesday intervals, Thursday hills and Sunday easy runs. runsignup.com/Club/CA/Ventura/InsideTrackRunningClub

Thousand Oaks Pacers www.runpacers.org/thousandoaks/about Running club founded in 2014.

Future Track Running Pack futuretrackrunningpack.org Founded in 1988 in Agoura Hills. Tuesday night track workouts at Oak Park High School and more.

The Pacific Coast Track Club hosts training sessions on Sunday mornings at the Camarillo High School track and Ojai community track. Individual training sessions also available. Email mgenebyme@gmail.com for more information or visit www.facebook.com/genebyrne101.

Conejo Valley Run Club was established in 2024 for all levels of runners, meeting for local are runs every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. www.strava.com/clubs/cvrunclub

Newbury Park Elite Endurance offers personalized coaching an training plans. Visit www.newburyparkendurance.com to learn more.

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For great running shoes from local businesses that know a lot about them, try the following:

Stay Cool in the Pool! Community Swimming Throughout Ventura County

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Stay cool this summer and year-round at some of these community swimming pools, water parks and splash pads in Ventura County and surrounding areas. For updates and additions, contact us!

Conejo Valley (Conejo Recreation & Park District)

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Community Pool at Cal Lutheran University Samuelson Aquatics Center is a year-round facility, offering recreational and lap swimming 7 days a week during the summer months. Call 805.241.0894 or visit www.crpd.org. General admission is $4 ($3 for 62+ with ID). Water is heated 80 to 84 degrees year round.  www.crpd.org/aquatics.

Newbury Park High School Community Swimming Pool is at 456 Reino Road. Open during the summer only. Entry fee $4 per person. Call 805.750.7296 or visit www.crpd.org/recreational-swim for more information. Summer hours 6/15-8/14 (Saturdays end 8/1) are noon-3pm M-Sat and also 6-8pm on Wed. Closed on Sundays.

Thousand Oaks High School Community Swimming Pool is at 2323 N. Moorpark Road is open during the summer only. Call 805.496.8564 or visit www.crpd.org/recreational-swim for more information. Summer hours 6/15-8/13 Mon—Thurs noon to 3pm. (Closed Fri-Sun.)

Conejo Valley/Agoura - Other

Children’s Splash Pad/Water Area at Oak Canyon Community Park, 5600 Hollytree Drive, Oak Park. Hours of operation are 10am to 7pm. Splash Pad season is Memorial Day to Labor Day. Free of charge. 818.865.9304

Kids love the Interactive Fountain at Janss Marketplace.

Moorpark/Simi Valley

Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District offers a large community swimming pool at Rancho Simi Community Park, 1765 Royal Avenue. Pool hours at www.rsrpd.org/recreation/aquatics.php. 2026 open recreation hours are 1-3pm M-F 6/19 to 8/13 and 1-4pm Sat/Sun 6/6 to 9/13. Admission $5 for ages 3 to 49 and $3 ages 50+.

Rancho Tapo Splash Pad

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Childrens' Splash Pad Area at Rancho Tapo Community Park, 3700 Avenida Simi. Free. Opens Saturday, May 23, 2026 and runs through Labor Day, September 7, 2026. Hours are 11am to 2pm and 3-7pm daily (closed for maintenance 2-3pm). www.rsrpd.org/business_detail_T9_R45.php

Simi Valley Aquatics is available for swim lessons and birthday parties only.

Simi Valley Family YMCA heated indoor swimming pool open 7 days/week.

Camarillo/Oxnard

Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center offers an indoor swimming pool with eight swimming lanes, a one meter diving board, 65 foot spiral water slide and more. Pool heated between 81 and 83 degrees. Open Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat for recreational swim from 1:30-4pm 6/15/26 to 8/22/26. $4 for ages 4+, free to ages 3 and under and $3 ages 60+. Visit www.pvrpd.org/aquatic-center or call 805.987.8198. 

Camarillo Family YMCA swimming pool open Mon-Sat. Call 805.484.0423 or visit www.ciymca.org/locations/camarillo-family-ymca

There's a "Pop Jet Fountain" at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard, on Town Center Drive in front of the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar and adjacent to Larsen's Grill.

Ventura and Up the Coast

Ventura Aquatic Center has a 25 meter recreational pool, 50 meter competition pool, playground pool, two slides, and more! Open swim free for ages 2 and under, $11 for ages 3 and up. Visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/612/Aquatics or call 805.654.7511 for details. BEST TO RESERVE A SPOT IN ADVANCE AS CAPACITY IS LIMITED.

Casitas Water Adventure features a Lazy River, Mega Play Unit Structure with 2 water buckets and 5 slides (2 for children; 3 for teens/adults), Splash Pad and Lagoon. The 2026 season runs from May 23 to August 7 (weekdays); Labor Day (for weekends). Weekend morning sessions 10:30 am to 2 pm and afternoon sessions 3 to 6:30 pm. Weekday hours are 11am to 6pm.

Call 805.649.2233 or visit www.casitaswater.org/casitas-water-adventure to learn more and reservations.casitaswater.org/passes to reserve a spot. Cost is $20 per person on weekdays and $28 for weekends. Free entry for under two years of age.

Ventura Family YMCA has 2 indoor heated swimming pools and is open 7 days/week. www.ciymca.org/swim

Carpinteria Community Pool is located at 5305 Carpinteria Avenue. Day passes are $5 for 12 and under, $7.00 for ages 13-64, $5 for seniors 65+. Recreational swimming on weekdays varies; Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Visit carpinteriaca.gov/parks-and-recreation/carpinteria-community-pool for more information.

The Leo Robbins Community Sailing Center at Marina Park in Ventura is a U.S. Sailing Association certified facility for lessons in sailing, kayaking and navigation for all ages.

Other Places Around Town

The Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center located at 23400 Park Sorrento is open 7 days/week. Pool hours vary. Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/community-services-parks-recreation/tennis-swim-center or call 818.222.2782. Pools heated to 82 degrees year-round.

Malibu Community Pool at Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive. Outdoor pool heated to 82 degrees. $3 per person. Visit www.malibucity.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Malibu-Community-Pool-7 or call 310.589.1933 for details.

The Fillmore Aquatics Center at 575 1st Street opens Memorial Day through Labor Day each year for recreational swimming Monday through Saturday. Recreational swim $3. More information and time frames at www.fillmoreca.com/176/Parks-Recreation or 805.524.4902. 

And let's not forget the incredible BEACHES close by! CLICK HERE for links to over 40 public beaches throughout Ventura County, stretching north to Carpinteria and south to Malibu.

Water Parks Outside of Ventura County

Knott's Soak City in Buena Park (about 70 miles from Thousand Oaks)

Legoland California Water Park in Carlsbad (135 miles from Thousand Oaks)

Raging Waters Water Park in San Dimas (75 miles from Thousand Oaks)

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Valencia (50 miles from Thousand Oaks)

Hansen Dam Aquatic Center in Lakeview Terrace with a large pool, cabanas and two water slides. 

Memorial Day Weekend Events and Activities Around Ventura County

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Memorial Day is a holiday to remember those who died while serving in the armed forces. Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1971, but its beginnings go back to after the Civil War in 1868.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, cities in the North and South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. But in 1966, Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y. as the birthplace of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day.

Traditionally, Memorial Day was May 30th each year. That was changed to the last Monday in May when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was signed into law in June 1968 and put into effect in 1971.

In 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance Act was enacted by Congress to ask Americans to pause in an act of national unity at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

Here is a compilation of activities and events this 2026 Memorial Day weekend around Ventura County and adjacent areas.

Chinese Eateries in the Conejo Valley

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According to a Pew Research Center study published in May 2023, some 12% of all restaurants in the United States serve Asian food, and 39% of those Asian restaurants serve Chinese food. Effectively, this means that 4.7% of all restaurants in the country serve Chinese food. Put another way, nearly 1 out of every 20 restaurants in the United States serve Chinese food, based on this study.

So let’s take a look at the Chinese restaurants serving us here in the Conejo Valley cities and communities of Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, and portions of Calabasas.

Dong Ting Spring, which opened at the Thousand Oaks Marketplace at 520 N. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park, in early 2017, serves authentic Hunan style and Szechuan style Chinese food. This might be the most authentic Chinese food in town. www.39miles.com/p/04902787 805-262-0888

eLoong Dumplings opened in the North Ranch Gateway Center at 30843 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Westlake Village in November 2017. The owner is from the Sichuan province of China, which is known for steamed, savory noodles and dumplings. Indoor seating available. www.eloongdumplingswv.com 818-532-7668

Golden Dragon Chinese Cuisine opened at 2416 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks in 2013, serving Szechuan and Mandarin cuisine. Limited seating available. www.goldendragonthousandoaks.com 805-379-8858

Green Onion Chinese Cuisine is located at 30651 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Suite F in Agoura Hills (cross street Lake Lindero). Traditional Mandarin and Szechwan cuisine. www.facebook.com/greenonionchinesecuisine 818-707-6789

Hunan Yuan Chinese Restaurant has served Newbury Park since 1988 at 2160 Newbury Road, Suite E. They offer traditional Chinese specialties and have plenty of indoor seating. www.hunanyuan.com 805-499-9588

Imperial Garden has operated in Thousand Oaks since 1980 and changed ownership in 2013, located at 355 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Unit C (cross street Moorpark Road). Plenty of seating available. www.imperialgardencalifornia.com 805-871-7116

Lakeview Garden Restaurant has served authentic Chinese food at 4703 Lakeview Canyon Road in Westlake Village for over 2 1/2 decades. www.lvgcr.com 818-991-3850

Mandarin Bistro in Newbury Park is located in the Albertson’s center at 501 S. Reino Road. It originally opened in the former Pick Up Stix on September 19, 2011. www.mandarinbistroto.com 805-375-1668

Mandarin Lotus Fine Chinese Fusion Cuisine opened in 1988 at 5015 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills (Agoura Pointe) offering a wide range of Chinese specialties, including plenty of vegetarian options. mandarinlotusagourahills.com 818-991-9831

Neighborly Curated Food Hall at The Promenade at Westlake opened in late December 2024 offers the Social Monk brand, which includes a number of Chinese dishes. beneighborly.com/menu/261857?type=social_monk

Panda Express locations in the Conejo Valley include the food court on the first floor of The Oaks Mall (805-230-2662), 2690 Teller Road in Newbury Park (this location has a drive-thru) (805-375-2737) and 1744 Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks (at Janss Road) (805-449-1882). www.pandaexpress.com

Pick Up Stix is a Chinese fast-serve eatery located at 2761 Agoura Road in Westlake Village. www.pickupstix.com 818-706-1927

Red Wok is located at 2368 Michael Drive in Newbury Park, adjacent to The Alamo, offering traditional Chinese food for dine-in or take out. redwoknewburypark.com 805-498-1301

Roast & Rice Asian Fusion Cuisine opened in February 2022 at 30990 Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village. They offer Chinese specialties as well as sushi and other Asian options. www.roastandrice.com 818-699-6369

Sesame Inn Chinese Cuisine is located at 3327 Kimber Drive, Suite E, in Newbury Park. It has been there for decades. No website as of Feb 2025. 805-499-2800 (As of May 2026, they have been closed for a while and a sign on the door says “We’re Renovating! We’ll be back soon!”)

Seven Spice Kitchen is located at 2454 W. Hillcrest Drive, #102 in Newbury Park, offering primarily take-out, though there is some limited seating available. www.sevenspicekitchenca.com 805-375-8788

Szechuwan Garden opened at 779 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park in late December 2024. See their menu at www.szechuwangardenfastfood.com. Their menu includes all the standard favorites, plus dim sum. 805-262-2645

Vegan Thyme at 2247 Michael Drive in Newbury Park offers a variety of Chinese and other Asian inspired dishes, making it worthy of making this list. Plenty of indoor seating available. veganthymecafe.com 805-716-3088

Wok House Modern Chinese Kitchen is coming soon to the former Color Oaks Chinese eatery in the North Oaks Center at 1032 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. Updates on Instagram at @wokhaus_chinesekitchen 

Yunnan Restaurant opened in November 2022 at 668 Lindero Canyon Road (at Kanan) in the former home of Zen Garden. Plenty of indoor seating available. www.yunnanrestaurantoakpark.com 818-879-9888

Throwing in the Hot Towel (Chinese eateries that have closed over the years):

Chang 101 at 2024 E. Avenida de los Arboles closed in July 2016 after seven years in business.

Zen Garden at 668 Lindero Canyon closed in September 2022 after nearly 10 years in business. Yunnan Garden opened a couple months later at the spot.

Color Oaks Chinese Food was located in the North Oaks Center at 1032 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. Closed in spring 2026.

Summer Camps and Programs In and Around Ventura County

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Looking for a summer camp within range of Ventura County? Here's a list of summer day camps and residential camps and programs in the area.

We've categorized the camps into three main groups; Traditional/Learning, Sports and Music/Arts, though many camps cover numerous fun activities all in one.

Know of more? Submit them here!

No doubt there will be some typos/errors on this list, so let us know if you find one.

FEATURED CAMP: CTRL ALT IDEA summer STEM camps in Thousand Oaks for ages 8-12 from July 6 to August 14 from 9am to noon. Learn Robotics and 3D Design! www.ctrlaltidea.com/summer-camp

Traditional Day Camps, Overnight Camps and Other Camps

Sports Camps

Music/Arts/Science Camps

Things to Do Around Ventura County When It's Really, Really Hot Outside

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It's sure hot out here! What's there to do around town that will cool me off!? Looking for things to do when its really, really HOT outside!? This list of mostly indoor activities is somewhat random in order so take a close look and you'll find something cool to do in and around Ventura County.

These are just a sampling of the various activities and events in Conejo Valley Guide, so make sure to explore and find something fun to do!