4th of July Fireworks, Parades and Other Events Around Ventura County

America's 249th birthday is Friday, July 4, 2025! Here is a compilation of local holiday events and activities in celebration of Independence Day.

Fireworks Display Summary for 2025:

• Thursday 7/3: Moorpark, Fillmore

• Friday 7/4: Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Simi Valley, Ojai, Camarillo, Ventura, Channel Islands Harbor, Santa Paula, Santa Barbara, Woodland Hills

• Sunday 7/6: Agoura Hills (Drone Show)

4th of July celebration parades to take place in Westlake Village, Ventura, Ojai, Channel Islands Harbor and Carpinteria (June 28).

Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park

The annual Conejo Recreation and Park District and City of Thousand Oaks 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is launched from the hill behind the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks. Best viewing will be at Janss Marketplace and The Oaks Mall parking lots. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Patriotic music simulcast by KHAY 100.7.

Other CRPD 4th of July events around town include a $5 family Pancake Breakfast and Home Run Derby in the morning at Borchard Park in Newbury Park, Concert in the Park at 5pm at Conejo Community Park and free swimming from noon to 4pm at CLU and NPHS pools.

Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks once again will be hosting a free viewing of the fireworks along with live music and family activities starting at 5pm on the 4th. Wristbands required to gain access to entertainment and activities on the rooftop of the parking garage starting at 5pm. (Two additional paid ticket options for early access available at THIS LINK.)

Independence Day Festivities at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park will take place on Wednesday, July 2nd from 1-4PM.

Bethany Church on the Hill in Thousand Oaks at 200 West Bethany Court once again opens its incredible views to the public with a 4th of July Fireworks Viewing from its parking lot. Starts at 6pm and fills up quickly - they have free children’s activities, inflatables and more. BBQ available for purchase. www.bethanyto.org

Pancake Breakfast from 8am to noon at the Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge, 158 N. Conejo School Road. Pancakes, bacon or sausage links, coffee and juice for $6. Live music from 2-5pm featuring Unkle Monkey.

4th of July Essentials

Westlake Village

The Westlake Village 4th of July Parade and Party in the Park starts at 9:30am at the corner of Lakeview Canyon and Agoura Roads, culminating at Berniece Bennett Park.

The City of Westlake Village presents its 10th Annual Fireworks Spectacular Show from the Westlake Village Golf Course, with additional viewing locations available. Activities begin at 6pm, including family-friendly activities, music and food trucks. The show will start at 9:10pm.

Moorpark (3rd of July)

The City of Moorpark presents its 3rd of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Arroyo Vista Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road once again. A fun family event with festivities (games, food, entertainment) starting at 4pm. Tickets are $8 in advance; $10 at the gate. Onsite parking $5 (advance purchase only.)

Simi Valley

The Reagan Presidential Library 4th of July Celebration is back this year from 10am to 3pm on July 4th, featuring patriotic music, family entertainment, games, crafts and more.

The Kiwanis Club of Simi Valley presents the Star-Spangled Rock & Country Jam and Fireworks Celebration on July 4th at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, 5005 E. Los Angeles Avenue. Gates open at 3pm. There will be music, food and craft vendors, beer and wine, shopping and a free kids’ fun zone. And of course, fireworks! Event is free of charge but VIP passes are available.

Calabasas

The City of Calabasas is hosting the Lakeside Fun Run 4 and 2 mile runs in the morning and Summer Splash Party at the Tennis & Swim Center from noon to 5pm, as well as a pet show at 11 a.m.

Camarillo

The City of Camarillo is hosting a July 4th Fireworks Show at the Camarillo Premium Outlets again this year at 9pm. Park and enjoy the fireworks. Last entry is 8:45 pm.

Free recreational swim at the Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center, 1030 Temple Avenue, from 1-4 pm.

Oxnard/Channel Islands Harbor

The Channel Islands Harbor 4th of July Family Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at Albacore Way, travels north up Harbor Blvd. and ends at Cabezone Circle, home to Marine Emporium Landing. Then from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. there will be farmers’ market vendors and other activities at Harbor View Park.

The Channel Islands Harbor will be offering activities and entertainment all day, followed by Fireworks by the Sea at 9pm on the 4th of July.

The educational tall ship Mystic Whaler will be hosting a viewing party for the Fireworks by the Sea from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Guests will view the fireworks from Mystic Whaler's deck while they enjoy snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/MysticOceanAdventures ($55 adults, $35 12 and under).

Heritage Square Oxnard is hosting a 4th of July concert from 4-8:30pm featuring two bands. Table seating available at www.oxnarddowntowners.org/event-details/fourth-of-july-at-heritage-square-the-gamble-band-the-soul-revival-band or sit on the lawn and enjoy the music for a requested donation of $5.

Ventura

The City of Ventura 4th of July Street Festival and Annual Pushem-Pullem Parade are back this year, with the parade starting at 10am, street fest on Main Street and side streets with artisans, food booths, vendor displays and live music.

Ventura Rotary hosts its Annual Fireworks Show and Family Picnic this year on July 4th at the Ventura College Athletic Fields starting at 5pm, featuring a family picnic, live music, kids' fun zone, followed by fireworks show at 9pm. Tickets $12 ($13 day of event) for ages 13+ and $6 for ages 4-12. Family of 4 pre-sale pass is $36 (online only).

Ojai

The annual Ojai Independence Day Parade will take place at 10am on Friday, July 4th.

Live music and fireworks show will take place on July 4th at Nordhoff High School Stadium, starting at 6 pm (gates open at 5:30pm). Fireworks will begin at 9:15 pm. Presale tickets for the nighttime event are available at www.4thofjulyinojai.com. $13 (plus fees) adults, $6 (plus fees) for kids, $30 (plus fees) family of 4 pass. (pre-sale)

Free concert on Thursday, July 3rd at Libbey Bowl at 6pm featuring the Ojai Band.

Pancake breakfast at Chaparral Auditorium, 414 East Ojai Ave from 7am to 10am on July 4th hosted by the Ojai Lions Club. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for kids.

Fillmore

The Sespe Creek 4th of July Car Show, Chili Cook-Off & Cornhole Tournament will take place in downtown Fillmore on Friday, July 4th from 9 am to 4 pm.

The City of Fillmore is hosting its annual fireworks show on Thursday, July 3rd at 9pm at the Fillmore Middle School athletic field, 532 A Street. Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the show from their homes and city parks. www.fillmoreca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=233

Santa Paula

The City of Santa Paula invites the community to a day of celebration capped by a spectacular Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular at the new Santa Paula Creek Regional Sports Park at Harvest at Limoneira (301 Harvest Loop). Festivities kick off in the afternoon from 4-8:30PM and include live music at the amphitheater, food trucks, face painting, lawn games, inflatable jumpers, and the City Corps Wagon Train. The fireworks show begins at 9:00 PM. Admission and parking are free.

Agoura Hills

There will be a fun Patriotic Drone Show after the free concert at Chumash Park on Sunday, July 6th (featuring DSB - Journey Tribute).

Woodland Hills

Valley Cultural Foundation presents a July 4th Extravaganza at 6pm, featuring live music, then fireworks at 9pm.

Carpinteria

The 28th Annual Rods and Roses Classic Car Show will take place from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, June 28th in Downtown Carpinteria, followed by an Independence Parade at 3:30pm.

Santa Barbara

The City of Santa Barbara is planning fireworks at West Beach at 9 p.m. this year and there will be other festivities during the day.

Malibu

The City of Malibu does not host a public fireworks display but the LA County Fire Dept approves permits for private fireworks displays off of barges in the ocean.

Ten Things To Do in the City of Moorpark

The City of Moorpark has the distinction of being the youngest city in Ventura County,  incorporating July 1, 1983.

According to the Moorpark Historical Society, the city originated when land investor Robert W. Poindexter of Los Angeles and his wife Madeline purchased the plot of land that is now Moorpark after Southern Pacific Railroad announced plans to relocate its tracks Los Angeles to San Francisco route from the coast to Chatsworth.

For many years, Moorpark was mostly farmland, with dry land crops including apricots, hay and lima beans, then later, walnuts and citrus when irrigation systems were improved. Moorpark became known as the "apricot capital of the world" and held an annual apricot festival by the late 1920s

So where did the name Moorpark come from? Apparently, Poindexter named the community after the Moorpark Apricot. Simple as that. Heck, he could have named it Poindexter!

So in any case, Moorpark is now a full-fledged city of 12.8 square miles with a population of approximately 35,000. Here is a selection of over 10 things to do within the City of Moorpark.

• The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College is a five acre zoo housing 200 exotic animals as part of the Exotic Animal Training & Management program. Great place for a quick weekend wild animal fix right here in our backyard.

• Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park is a 3,000 acre wilderness area with over 12 miles of trails.

• Ambush Paintball and Airsoft Park

• Moorpark City Library

• Underwood Family Farms offers fresh produce, kids' activities, special events, farm animals and more.

• High Street Arts Center

• Poindexter Skate Park

• Tom Barber Golf Center Driving Range

• Arroyo Vista Recreation Center

• 18 community parks in Moorpark

• Take a tour of Apricot Lane Farms

• Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes and Arcade

For more things to do in Moorpark, visit the Do Something, Kid Fun and Fitness & Sports sections of the site. And of course the Events Calendar highlights daily goings on around the county.

A DOZEN FUN THINGS TO DO IN SIMI VALLEY

Memorial Day Weekend Events and Activities Around Ventura County

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 2025 Memorial Day weekend around Ventura County and adjacent areas.

• Fri 5/23: Camarillo Old Town Cruise Night (4-7PM)

• 5/23 to 5/27: Mobile Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Simi Valley

• Fri-Mon: Simi Summer Days Carnival at the Simi Valley Town Center

• Sat-Sun 5/24-5/25: Gold Coast Gem Show at Ventura County Fairgrounds

• Sat-Mon 5/24-5/26: I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival in Santa Barbara

• Sat-Mon 5/24-5/26: Live Music at Ventura Harbor Village (1-4PM)

• Sat-Mon 5/24-5/26: Deck Tours on the Tall Ship Mystic Whaler at Ventura Harbor Village (1-6PM)

• Sat/Sun 5/24-5/25: 48th Annual Ojai Art in the Park

• Sat 5/24: Happy Face Hill Music Festival in Simi Valley

• Sat 5/24: Westlake Village Pancreatic Cancer Research Run/Walk 5K/10K

• Sat 5/24 Mizel Estate Wines - Wine Tasting in the Vineyard (1PM, 2:30PM)

• Mon 5/26: Memorial Day Service at the Port Hueneme Pier (8:30AM)

• Mon 5/26: Memorial Day Service at Pierce Brothers Westlake Village (10:30AM music, 11AM program)

• Mon 5/26: Memorial Day Service at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo (11AM)

• Mon 5/26: Memorial Day Ceremony at Plaza Park in Oxnard (11AM)

• Mon 5/26: Moorpark Field of Valor Event (10AM-4PM Flag Viewing, 1PM Ceremony)

• Mon 5/26: Memorial Day Free Admission at the Ventura County Botanical Gardens (9AM-5PM)

• Mon 5/26: CPRD Concert in the Park - Journey Tribute (5PM)

• The annual Butterflies Alive! summer exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History opens on Sat, 5/24

Tell Me a Little Bit About Newbury Park

Newbury Park is a community located in the western portion of Thousand Oaks. Most of Newbury Park became part of Thousand Oaks by community vote sometime in the 1960s and 1970s. Thousand Oaks became a city in October 1964.

A view of Newbury Park from Boney Peak in October 2021. (Feet Model: Conejo Joe)

Egbert Starr Newbury (Photo Courtesy Conejo Valley Historical Society)

Newbury Park is named after Egbert Starr Newbury, who owned thousands of acres of land in the Conejo Valley after moving to California from Michigan for health reasons in 1871.  Newbury was one of the three largest Conejo Valley landowners of his time. He and his wife Fannie became the first postmasters in the Conejo Valley in 1875.  The post office was located in a small compound near their house, which was located at the current location of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. 

The other major landowners at that time were John Edwards, who owned much of the current Newbury Park/Thousand Oaks area north of the 101, and Howard Mills, who owned much of what today is Westlake Village and Hidden Valley.

Edwards sold 10,000 acres of what is now central Thousand Oaks to Edwin and Harold Janss in 1893.  The Janss Corporation also bought thousands of acres of land in Newbury Park (Friedrich, Running Springs and Borchard Ranches) in 1962. 

There were efforts to incorporate Newbury Park in 1961 and 1963 that failed due to a lack of sufficient votes.

Over a 30 month period beginning in the Fall of 1876, only 6 inches of rain fell in the Conejo Valley.  This drought brought devastation to landowners, most of whom lost their crops and livestock and had to sell at a loss or went bankrupt.  The Newburys were no exception; they moved back to the midwest in 1877.  Egbert fell ill to pneumonia in 1880 and passed away at the young age of 36.

The Newburys lived here only six years, so why is it still called Newbury Park? Because the name of the Newburys' post office never changed! The Newbury Park Post Office has changed locations a number of times (including 1602 Newbury Road from May 1968 until it moved to its current location at 3401 Grande Vista Drive in 2013). So the Newbury name and legacy live on here in the Conejo Valley.

Horse tied to a sign indicating the Newbury Park Post Office, in 1909. The location was near modern-day Lynn Ranch. (Courtesy of the Thousand Oaks Library Local History Photo Collection).

Sources: "The Conejo Valley - Old and New Frontiers" by Carol A. Bidwell and "The Newburys of Newbury Park" by Miriam Sprankling

But wait...there's more to Newbury Park! Casa Conejo is also part of the Newbury Park community but is not an incorporated part of Thousand Oaks. It is considered a census-designated place in Ventura County, with its own Municipal Advisory Council. Casa Conejo is the first planned community in Newbury Park and was built in the early 1960s. It has an area of .5 square mile and is bound by Borchard to the south, Old Conejo Road to the north, Jenny Drive (east of Newbury Park High School) to the west and Sequoia Middle School to the east.

TELL ME ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE STREET NAMES IN THE CASA CONEJO NEIGHBORHOOD

Interested in historical pictures of the area going back to the 1950s?  Click here to read about the work of prolific Conejo Valley photographer, Ed Lawrence. 

Click here for a history of Thousand Oaks. Thousand Oaks is over 56 square miles and Newbury Park represents about 40% of that square footage. Thousand Oaks was incorporated as a city on October 7, 1964.

Three dozen or so things to do in Newbury Park

Another three dozen or so kids' activities in Newbury Park

Yet another three dozen or so sports and fitness activities in Newbury Park

Earth Day Events In and Around Ventura County

Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22nd each year since 1970. Earth Day events celebrate the planet we live on and helps to renew our commitment to building a safer, healthier and cleaner world. Here is a compilation of 2025 Earth Day as well as Arbor Day events in Ventura County and neighboring areas.

Sat 4/12: Calabasas Earth Day Festival (2-5PM)

Sat 4/19: Arbor/Earth Day Celebration in Thousand Oaks (10AM-2PM)

Sat 4/19: Ventura Earth Day Festival (11AM-4PM)

Fri 4/25: Earth Day Event in Simi Valley (3:30-5:30PM)

Sat 4/26: Earth Day Festival in Westlake Village (3-8PM)

Sat/Sun 4/26-27: Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival (11AM)

Sat 5/3 Moorpark Earth Festival & Arbor Day Celebration (9AM-1PM)

Easter Egg Hunts and Other Fun Easter Activities Around Ventura County

Here at Conejo Valley Guide we have a special place in our heart for Easter fun! The bunnies of the Conejo Valley and surrounding Ventura County areas are planning ahead to make this Easter memorable.

We have the Germans to thank for the Easter Bunny concept, which came about in the 1500s. Hares and bunnies are signs of fertility and eggs signify rebirth. The Germans brought Easter traditions to America and it wasn't until after the Civil War that Easter became widely celebrated.

Easter Sunday 2025 is April 20th! Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox. As a result, Easter Sunday ranges from March 22nd to April 25th

Upcoming Easter season events and activities in and around Ventura County (list will be updated regularly; dates/time subject to change, so check with event organizers to be sure):

March 22-23, 29-30 Spring Spectacular at America's Teaching Zoo in Moorpark

Sat, April 5: Springtime at the Adobe at Leonis Adobe Calabasas (1-4pm)

Sat, April 5: The Hunt Holiday Egg Hunt in Ventura (10am-3pm: RSVP required)

Sat, April 5: Easter Bunny Arrival and Family Fun at the Simi Valley Town Center (11am-5pm)

Fri, April 11: Flashlight Egg Hunt at 5 Locations in Thousand Oaks (6-9pm)

Sat, April 12: The Bunny Trail Junior Egg Hunt in Calabasas (SOLD OUT)

Sat, April 12: Breakfast with the Bunny at Reyes Adobe Park in Agoura (SOLD OUT)

Sat, April 12: Selfies with the Bunny at The Collection at Riverpark (1-3PM)

Thu, April 17: Spring Egg Hunt at Century Academy/Shine Homeschool Thousand Oaks (RSVP)

Sat, April 19: Egg Scramble Event at Rancho Santa Susana Park in Simi Valley (9-10am)

Sat, April 19 Easter Eggstravaganza Event in Camarillo (10am-1pm)

Sat, April 19: City of Moorpark Easter Egg Hunt (10am-1pm; Purchase wristbands in advance beginning March 3rd)

Sat, April 19: Egg Scramble Event Mae Boyar Park in Oak Park (9:30-11:30am)

Sat, April 19: Selfies with the Bunny at The Collection at Riverpark (1-3pm)

Sat, April 19: Spring Conejo & Easter Hunt at Stagecoach Inn Museum (1-4pm)

Sun, April 20: Easter Egg Hunt at Christ the King Newbury Park (11am)

Sun, April 20: Easter Sunrise Service at Pierce Brothers Westlake Village (6am)

Sun, April 20: Easter Egg Hunt at the Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge (noon)

Sun, April 20: Meet & Greet with the Seaside Bunny at Ventura Harbor Village (1-4pm)

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Mar 22 to Apr 21; Springtime Easter Festival at Underwood Family Farms

Mar 24 to Mar 28: Visit the Bunny at Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley

Mar 28 to Apr 19: Photos with the Bunny at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura

Mar 21 to Apr 19: Bunny Photos at The Oaks Mall

April 1-30: Spring Scavenger Hunt at The Collection at Riverpark

April 5-6, 12-19: Bunny Photos at the Simi Valley Town Center

Ventura County Area Car Shows, Car Clubs and Car Museums

Looking for automotive fun around Ventura County?  Here are some options.

Monthly and Annual Car Shows:

County Line Cars and Coffee meets the 2nd Saturday of the month from 8-10AM at The Promenade at Westlake. www.facebook.com/countylinecarsandcoffee

Conejo Valley Cars and Coffee meets the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 7-10AM at Firestone Tire at The Oaks mall, 598 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. www.cvcarsandcoffee.com

Firebill Tim Wheels & Waves monthly car show is currently at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum at the 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard the first Sunday of the month from 8-10AM. Free to the public, featuring classic cars, coffee, art, donuts, and more. www.cimmvc.org/events-activities

Ventura Raceway offers racing events for dwarf cars, hobby stocks, motorcycles and more. Pricing varies. Visit venturaraceway.com for more information.

The Annual Touch-a-Truck Event in Thousand Oaks for kids and their families takes place on Father’s Day weekend each year.

The Thousand Oaks Rotary Annual Street Fair in October always has a fantastic vintage and eclectic auto show worth stopping by for. www.tostreetfair.com

Father’s Day Car Show at Channel Islands Harbor every June www.channelislandsfathersdaycarshow.com

The annual Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off, Car Show and Craft Brew Fest takes place usually the first Sunday of May each year at Conejo Creek Park North.

Sespe Creek Car Show in Fillmore every 4th of July sespecreekevents.org

Simi Valley Knights of Columbus Chili Cook-Off & Car Show every June chilikc.com

Tri-County Mustang Club Ponies by the Sea Car Show at Channel Islands Harbor is every October www.tricountymustangclub.com/car-show

Central Coast British Car Club Car Show is in the Sept/Oct time frame each year at the Channel Islands Harbor centralcoastbritishcarclub.com/car-show

Camarillo Old Town Friday Night Car Cruise takes place every 4th Friday in April through October. www.camarillooldtown.org/car-cruise

Ventura Nationals every Labor Day weekend in Ventura venturanationals.com

Annual shows usually pop up in the CVG Events Calendar.

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The Nethercutt Museum in Sylmar (free admission; open Tuesday to Saturday).

Looking for local car clubs? Check the Social/Hobby Clubs section of CVG. Or here's a list of car and motorcycle clubs.

And also check the Events Calendar and Event Listings for additional events that you will enjoy!

Have something to add to this list? CONTACT US

CLOSED OR STATUS ON HIATUS OR UNCLEAR

Malibu Cars and Coffee on hiatus (still on hiatus as of December 2023).. www.malibucarsandcoffee.com

Muscles & Mojo Cars and Coffee took place every 3rd Sunday at the Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard, but it’s finale was June 16, 2024 as the museum is closing on July 7th.

The Mullin Auto Museum in Oxnard closed its doors on Feb 10, 2024.

The Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard closes its doors on July 7, 2024.