Events in and around Ventura County and surrounding areas, including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Somis, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Camarillo, Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Barbara and Port Hueneme.
Find events in Ventura County and surrounding areas in this section, by category at this link and in the Events Calendar. Community events of broad public interest can be submitted at this link for possible inclusion in this section (at our discretion).
We encourage posting of other events, activities, fundraisers, classes, workshops, sales, shout-outs, etc. directly to the COMMUNITY FORUM section!
Moorpark Recreation Dept hosts the 2nd Annual "Cinco de Mile" Family 5K Fun Run/Walk on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 11am at the Arroyo Vista Community Center. Run or walk, play la loteria, enjoy music, prizes, taco lunch and a t-shirt. Learn more and sign up at www.moorparkca.gov/cinco
Bark in the Park is planned for Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 9am to noon at Conejo Creek Park North, 1379 E. Janss Road (behind the Thousand Oaks Library).
Special activities include a dog costume contest, big and littlest dog contests, small dog races, dog entertainers, dog agility course, vendors and more. Dogs available for adoption will also be on hand.
Event free of charge and activities are free to participate in. Food available for purchase.
For more details, visit www.crpd.org/events/bark-in-the-park.
The 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, 2025 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura). Festivalgoers can indulge in strawberry treats from over 50 food and beverage booths. Strawberry-themed nachos, chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry kabobs, popcorn, and margaritas are just a few of the choices. The festival also features 150 artists and crafters, a Strawberryland for kids, live entertainment on three stages, carnival rides, and a "build-your-own" strawberry shortcake experience.
Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days. General admission is $15, active military with ID and family and seniors 62 and over, $10, youth ages 5 to 12, $8 and children 4 and under are free. Limited parking onsite. Visitors are encouraged to use the free shuttle service nearby or take advantage of the Ventura Amtrak Station across the street. For more information, go to www.CAStrawberryFestival.org.
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.
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 19, 2025 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 event will include:
Electric vehicles (EVs)
Environmental Workshops/presentations
Bicycle safety course and instruction
Bicycle donation/collection for underserved youth (hosted by Conejo Rec & Park District)
Kids Crafts, games, and bounce house
Compost and plant giveaways
Raffles
Live music
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.
The Earth Day Festival will return to downtown Ventura on Saturday, April 19, 2025, 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 by Inlakech Art Center’s Mariachi Band & Ballet Folkrórico; and local musical talent.
Event will also feature environmental booths and sustainable goods, local food vendors, EV showcase, and more.
More information at meritostaff.wixsite.com/meritoearthday.
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.
The Autism Society of Ventura County hosts its 12th Annual charity “Aut2Run!” race at California State University Channel Islands on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
The event features a 10K trail run, 5K Run/Walk, 15K "Hero Run" (10K and 5K combined), 1 mile walk/run and a Fun-K. Open to competitive runners, casual walkers, families & the community. Learn more and register at www.aut2run.org.
Proceeds benefit the Autism Society of Ventura County. ASVC is a local chapter of the national Autism Society, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of all affected by Autism. ASVC was founded in 1994 by local parents and educators to provide support groups, community events, information and resources to families and individuals on the Autism Spectrum.
Mark your calendars for the 48th Annual Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off, Car Show & Craft Brew Festival on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Held from noon – 5pm (11:00 am entry for VIP tickets), this family friendly extravaganza will take place at Conejo Creek Park North at Janss Rd & Hwy 23 in Thousand Oaks.
There will be over 40 chili tasting booths – and included with your general admission is free unlimited chili tasting. Returning again is the popular Craft Brew Festival – an event within an event – with a multitude of participating breweries! There will also be a Classic & Custom Car Show in several style and vintage categories and live music on two stages. Also on hand will be over a dozen food trucks and beverage booths and a free kids’ fun zone.
The Chili Cook-Off is proudly presented by the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks, with 100% of the net proceeds going to local charities. Tickets will be available in advance, along with more information at www.chili-cook-off.com
The City of Moorpark presents its Earth Festival and Community Yard Sale on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 9am to 1pm. There will be tree giveaways (first 100 households) seed packet giveaways, recycled crafts and eco-friendly vendors.
The Community Yard Sale is a gathering of many families and non-profits selling used items including housewares, clothing, toys and more at the Arroyo Vista Community Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark from 9 am to 1 pm. Free to the public. www.moorparkca.gov/663/Earth-Festival-Community-Yard-Sale
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
