Stunning Orange Sunset the Night of Friday, December 14, 2018 from the Conejo Valley

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‘Twas another beautiful evening in the Conejo Valley tonight, Friday, the 14th of December. Here are some shots of what the orange glowing sunset looked like from the Potrero Ridge Trail in Newbury Park.

Christmas and Other Holiday Season Events Around Ventura County

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Hop onto the holiday bandwagon and check out some of these dozens of events in and around Ventura County, most of which are FREE! Christmas parades, Santa visits, carnivals, train rides, holiday runs, holiday home tours, boutiques, nativity displays and lots of holiday music and entertainment!

This list will be updated regularly as we move our way through the Thankgiving and Christmas holiday season! Submit additions here.

Do contact event coordinators as things sometimes change! Also, some events require RSVP.

ONGOING HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES:

Residential and Other Light Displays:

Keep in mind that residential displays usually don’t have set hours and are often impacted by the elements (e.g. rain and wind).

Past Events

Sat 11/17: Annual Tree Lighting and Santa's Arrival at Simi Valley Town Center

Sat 11/17: Tree Lighting at The Collection at RiverPark

Sat 11/18: Santa Paws Event at Humane Society in Ojai

Thu 11/22: Thanksgiving Day Pumpkin Smash at Santa Barbara Zoo

Thu 11/22: 14th Annual Turkey Day Dash in Thousand Oaks

Thu 11/22: 5th Annual Thanksgiving Day 5K in Simi Valley

Thu 11/22: 11th Annual Ventura Turkey Trot 5K and Kids' 1K

Sat 11/23: Jingle Bell Jump - Santa Parachutes Into Janss Marketplace

11/23-11/25: Dudley House Victorian Holiday Boutique in Ventura

Sat 11/24: 69th Annual Santa Paula Christmas Parade

Sun 11/25: Light the Night Event at Westfield Topanga in Woodland Hills (6-8PM)

11/28-12/1: Simi Valley Festival of Trees

Fri 11/30: Holiday Tree Lighting at The Promenade at Westlake (rescheduled from 11/16 in consideration of Borderline and wildfire tragedies)

Fri 11/30: Tree Lighting Event at Camarillo Premium Outlets (The Promenade) (6-8PM)

Fri 11/30: 68th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Oxnard

Fri 11/30: Christmas Festival Concert “Star of Wonder” at Cal Lutheran (8PM)

Sat 12/1: 57th Annual Oxnard Christmas Parade

Sat 12/1: Run for Holiday Fun 5K/10K at Camarillo Family YMCA

Sat 12/1: 11th Annual Oxnard Tamale Festival

Sat 12/1: Ventura Winter Wine Walk and Holiday Street Fair

Sat 12/1: Christmas Festival Concert “Star of Wonder” at Cal Lutheran (4PM)

Sat 12/1: Breakfast with Santa at Camarillo Community Center

Sat 12/1: Los Robles Master Chorale Performs The Messiah in Oak Park

11/30-12/2: Dudley House Victorian Holiday Boutique in Ventura

11/30-12/2: No Room at the Inn Nativity Display in Camarillo

12/1-12/2: Snow Days Event at America’s Teaching Zoo in Moorpark

Sun 12/2: Cancer Support Community Holiday Boutique in Westlake Village

Sun 12/2: Chanukah Celebration at Simi Valley Town Center (2:30-4:30PM)

Sun 12/2: Glow in the Dark Chanukah Celebration in Dos Vientos (Newbury Park)

12/1-12/2: Ventura County Ballet Company “The Nutcracker” in Oxnard

12/1-12/2: Studio Channel Islands Annual Holiday Market in Camarillo

Sun 12/2: Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis in Agoura Hills (new venue being sought)

Sun 12/2: Holiday Roundup at Leonis Adobe Museum in Calabasas

Sun 12/2: Christmas Festival Concert “Star of Wonder” at Cal Lutheran (4PM)

Sun 12/2: Santa Paws Annual Holiday Photo Shoot in Ojai

Sun 12/2: Las Posadas Event at Cal Lutheran (6-9PM)

Sun 12/2 Tuba Christmas at Pacific View Mall Ventura (Noon-1PM)

Sun 12/2: Holiday Open House at Stagecoach Inn Museum Newbury Park (1-4PM)

Sun 12/2: Snow Leopard Festival / Sledding at Santa Barbara Zoo

Sun 12/2: Chanukah Celebration at Simi Valley Town Center (2:30-4:30PM)

Sun 12/2: Silent Santa (for special sensitivity needs) at The Collection Oxnard (RSVP)

Sun 12/2: 7th Annual Holly Jolly Half Marathon, 5K/10K in Camarillo

Mon 12/3: Chanukah Celebration at The Shoppes at Westlake Village (5:30-7PM)

Tue 12/4: 1st Night of Hanukkah Celebration at Janss Marketplace (5-7PM)

Wed 12/5: Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Janss Marketplace (6:30-8PM)

Wed 12/5: Christmas at the Ranch with Santa at Camarillo Ranch House (4:30-7:30PM)

Wed 12/5: Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration in Calabasas (6:30-8PM)

Thr 12/6: Chanukah Festival at Pacific View Mall Ventura (7-8PM)

Fri 12/7: 66th Annual Santa Barbara Downtown Christmas Parade

Fri 12/7: City of Agoura Hills Holiday Boutique

Fri 12/7: Camarillo Old Town Winter Walk & Tree Lighting (5-9PM)

Sat 12/8: 56th Annual Camarillo Christmas Parade

Sat 12/8: Santa at the Adobe in Agoura Hills

Sat 12/8: Jingle Bell Hike in Thousand Oaks (register in advance)

Sat 12/8: Los Robles Master Chorale Holiday Concert in Calabasas

Sat 12/8: 53rd Annual Holiday Parade of Lights at Channel Islands Harbor

12/7-12/9: Simi Community Christmas International Creche Exhibit and Music Performances

12/7-12/9: Ventura County Ballet Company “The Nutcracker” in Ventura

Sun 12/9: Heritage Holiday in the Park at Strathearn Park Simi Valley

Sun 12/9: Christmas Concert in the Park: The Nativity - Camarillo (7PM)

Sun 12/9: Community Chanukah Festival in Moorpark (4:30-6PM)

12/7-12/9: Dudley House Victorian Holiday Boutique in Ventura

12/8-12/9: Footworks Youth Ballet Presents "The Nutcracker" in Oxnard

12/8-12/9: Free Photos with Santa at Hollywood Storage Newbury Park

12/7-12/22: Holidays at the Plaza Downtown Ventura Events

Sun 12/9: Santa to the Sea Half Marathon and 5K in Oxnard

Sun 12/9: Holiday Sing-Along Family Event at The Shoppes at Westlake (3-6PM)

Sun 12/9: 40th Annual "Homes for the Holidays" Home Tour and Boutique in Camarillo

Sun 12/9: Olivas Adobe Holiday Candlelight Tours in Ventura

Tue 12/11: Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration in Calabasas (5:30-8:30PM)

12/12: Christmas at the Ranch with Santa at Camarillo Ranch House (4:30-7:30)

Residential Holiday Light Displays in the Conejo Valley and Surrounding Areas

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There are an amazing number of spectacular residential holiday light displays throughout the Conejo Valley and Ventura County this 2018 Christmas season! We've compiled this list of displays that are synchronized to music. Click the links below for more detailed information about each display. Since these are residential displays, timing can and will vary and of course be impacted by rain, wind and other factors.


Residential 50,000 Light Display on Via Patricia in Newbury Park

Residential display simulcast to music on Baywater Pl in Thousand Oaks

Neat display at a home on Montgomery Road, just south of Janss Road in T.O.

Fun residential display in the 300 block of East Gainsborough Road in Thousand Oaks

Neat Christmas residential display simulcast to music at a home on Cantera Street in Thousand Oaks

Giant Rudolph and Fun Holiday Lights on Walter Avenue in Newbury Park, south of Kimber Drive, is another perennial favorite, with Rudolph, his girlfriend Clarice, Santa, Snowman and this year I was shocked to see a massive Nutcracker, towering higher than the two story house. There are also other great displays nearby, making this a nice neighborhood to drive through.

And just off of Walter Avenue is the Synchronized Light Display at 538 Brisbaine Avenue, Newbury Park - one of my personal favorites. Fun music and animated display. A kid favorite too. 5PM-10PM nightly through 12/31. Animated display features weekend appearances by Santa.

Two other great displays synchronized to music on an FM station are at 4687 Via Grande and just around the corner at 600 Via Vista in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park.

Yet another cool light display simulcast to music (FM station at the very low end of the dial) on Gold Hill Circle at Sundance in Thousand Oaks.

4903 Pathfinder Way in Westlake Village (Oak Park adjacent) (6:30-8:30 Fri-Sun dates in December - 12/1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23. Manna canned food collection drive.)

No music but another gigantic Rudolph at a home on Via Coronado, east of Borchard in Dos Vientos.

Outstanding high-tech light show set to music on a local FM station once again this year at a home on Doone Street (cross street Warwick) in Thousand Oaks.

Through 1/6: Holiday Lights at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley

Winter Wonderland Holiday Display on Highland Road in Simi Valley (click their Facebook page for details, including open houses)

Fun single home cartoon character display at the corner of Timberland Ave and Fearing St in Simi Valley is worth a drive-by with the kids. Quite unique. Has been a holiday fixture for a number of years.

Santa’s Workshop on side of home at corner of Timberland Ave and Fearing St in Simi Valley.

Santa’s Workshop on side of home at corner of Timberland Ave and Fearing St in Simi Valley.

Huge and awesome neighborhood display in the area of Timberdale and Pinedale Roads in Moorpark includes dozens and dozens of brightly decorated homes.

Magnificent Christmas display at 11425 Broadview Drive in Moorpark, close by the Timberdale and Pinedale neighborhood display

11/16-1/6: L.A. Zoo Lights Holiday Display

Sanch-wold Residential Holiday Light Display in Goleta

12/9-12/26: Christmas Tree Lane in Downtown Oxnard Historic District

Candy Cane Lane is a group of homes located on Lubao Avenue at Oxnard Street in Woodland Hills that has been fun to drive through for over 60 years.

Fantastic multi-family residential Holiday Light Display on Gemini, Waverly and Saturn Avenues in Camarillo

For all sorts of holiday season events and activities, click THIS LINK.

Happy Face Hill in Simi Valley Shown in Green and Not So Green Times

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"Happy Face Hill" was created by Northridge gardener Sonny Klamerus in 1998, making it 19 years old.  This video documents the changes in its looks over the last several years. The hill is seen by westbound drivers on the 118 freeway just west of Kuehner Drive.

Happy Face Hill in mid-December 2018 looking happier than ever with some nice, bright, apparently new set of LEDs.

Happy Face Hill in mid-December 2018 looking happier than ever with some nice, bright, apparently new set of LEDs.

Trolley Services in Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

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Trolley seen around town in Westlake Village

Trolley seen around town in Westlake Village

The term "trolley" is derived from a grooved conductive wheel attached to a pole that "trolls," or pulls along, an overhead wire to transfer electricity to a streetcar. The first large-scale trolley line in the world, the Richmond Union Passenger Railway, was a 12 mile system that opened on February 12, 1888 in Richmond, Virginia. This trolley service operated until November 25, 1949. 

You don't see many trolley buses anymore (San Francisco's historic streetcars are a well known exception), but here in Ventura County and adjacent areas we do have some electric trolleys in operation!

Camarillo: The City of Camarillo provides free trolley bus service seven days a week, with 10 stops at various shopping centers in town.

Ojai: The City of Ojai's Ojai Trolley Service has operated since 1989, providing low cost fixed route service with 45 stops over roughly five miles in Ojai, Meiners Oaks and Mira Monte.

Ventura:  The Downtown Ventura-Harbor Trolley provides year-round free service to local shopping, tourist and hotel locations over an hour-long route, Wednesday through Sunday.

Calabasas: Just east of us, City of Calabasas offers free trolley service on Saturdays at 24 stops at various shopping and other venues.

Westlake Village: A free trolley service is offered by the City of Westlake Village from time to time on Friday/Saturday nights, including the winter holiday time frame and summer months.

Santa Barbara: The Santa Barbara Trolley Company is a commercial service that provides trolley tours to some of the area's great tourist venues seven days a week, year-round.

Birthday Party Places In and Around Ventura County

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Trying to figure out what to do for your kids' birthday parties in and around Ventura County? We've got you covered with this compilation of over 150 birthday party options in and around Ventura County, spanning from Ventura to Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Westlake Village, Newbury Park and surrounding areas. We have categorized venue by "type" as best we can.  Contact us if you have something to add!

Compilation of Great Trails and Hikes In and Around Ventura County

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FIRE DAMAGE: Note that numerous trails and open space areas were severely damaged by the Woolsey and Hill Fires of November 2018 and the Thomas Fire of December 2017. We will notate which areas have been impacted as best we can, but we will not be aware of every closure and re-opening at any given point in time. More info HERE and HERE.

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Looking for a good hike around Ventura County and nearby areas? We've highlighted a number of our favorite hikes in the Do Something section of Conejo Valley Guide.

HIKE TO A CONEJO VALLEY BENCH WITH A VIEW

HIKE TO AUTOMOTIVE RELICS IN THE CONEJO VALLEY OPEN SPACE

SEVEN FLAT, STROLLER FRIENDLY TRAILS IN THE CONEJO VALLEY

DOG-FRIENDLY TRAILS IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS

Lone Oak at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa

Lone Oak at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa

Lynnmere Open Space views to the west.

Lynnmere Open Space views to the west.

Views from the Ray Miller Trail in Malibu.

Views from the Ray Miller Trail in Malibu.

Danielson Road trail in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

Danielson Road trail in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

Views of Simi Valley from the peak of Mt. McCoy in Simi Valley.

Views of Simi Valley from the peak of Mt. McCoy in Simi Valley.

Sunset Hills Trail in Thousand Oaks.

Sunset Hills Trail in Thousand Oaks.

Tree encampment along Los Padres Trail in Thousand Oaks.

Tree encampment along Los Padres Trail in Thousand Oaks.