Christmas and Other Holiday Season Events Around Ventura County

Here is a compilation of local area Thanksgiving, Christmas and other winter holiday events in and around Ventura County for the 2024 holiday season…parades, Santa visits, carnivals, nativity displays, entertainment and more!

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

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

11/21-11/23: Festival of the Trees, Ventura County in Simi Valley

Fri 11/22: Tree Lighting Event at The Promenade at Westlake (4-8PM; show at 7PM)

Thu 11/28: Five07 Turkey Day Dash 5K and Zack Zernik Mile in Thousand Oaks

Thu 11/28: Ventura Turkey Trot 5K

Thu 11/28: Thanksgiving Day 5K in Simi Valley

Thu 11/28: Free Breakfast Buns at California Bun in Moorpark (7:30-11:30AM)

Fri 11/29: Jingle Bell Jump (Santa Arrives Via Parachute) at Janss Marketplace (Noon)

11/29-12/1: Dudley House Holiday Boutique in Ventura (11AM-5PM)

Sat 11/30: 73rd Annual Santa Paula Christmas Parade (6:30PM)

Sun 12/1: Holiday Market, Santa Claus at Santa Paula Aviation Museum (10:30AM-12:30PM

Sun 12/1: Holiday Open House at Strathearn Historical Park Simi Valley (11AM-3PM)

Sun 12/1: City of Fillmore Annual Tree Lighting and Night Market (5-8PM)

12/3-12/4: Christmas at the Ranch at the Camarillo Ranch House (5-8PM)

Thu 12/5: Oxnard Christmas Tree Lighting and Makers’ Market (5-9PM)

12/6-12/7: Village Voices Choral “Spirit of the Season” Concerts

Fri 12/6: City of Agoura Hills Holidays on the Hill (4-8PM)

Fri 12/6: Camarillo Old Town Glow and Holiday Village (5-9PM)

12/6-12/8: Holiday Art Market at Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo

12/6: Holidays at the Inn at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park (6:30-8:30PM)

Fri 12/6: Holiday Tree Lighting Event in Downtown Ventura (5-8PM)

Sat 12/7: Breakfast with Santa at the Simi Valley Family YMCA (8:30-11:30AM Must RSVP)

Sat 12/7: Breakfast with Santa at Janss Marketplace (9-11AM $32.27/person RSVP)

Sat 12/7: City of Agoura Hills Holidays on the Hill (10AM-3PM)

Sat 12/7: Santa Paws Portraits With Santa at Camarillo Animal Shelter (10AM-Noon)

Sat 12/7: Winter Wonderland with Santa at The Learning Experience NP (9:30AM-12:30PM)

Sat 12/7: Camarillo YMCA Run for Holiday Fun 5K/10K

Sat 12/7: Oxnard Christmas Parade (10AM)

Sat 12/7: Holidays in the Village in Thousand Oaks (11AM-8PM)

Sat 12/7: Humane Society Happy Pawlidays Market in Oxnard (11AM-2PM)

Sat 12/7: Ventura Winter Wine Walk & Holiday Street Fair (12-8PM)

Sat 12/7: Christmas Caroling at the Gardens of the World (12:15-2:30PM)

Sat 12/7: Holiday Roundup at the Leonis Adobe in Calabasas (1-4PM)

12/7: Holidays at the Inn at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park (1-4, 6:30-8:30PM)

Sat 12/7: Holiday Kick-Off Event at the Camarillo Premium Outlets (1-4PM)

Sat 12/7: Holiday on High Street in Moorpark

Sun 12/8: Santa to the Sea Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon and 5K in Oxnard

Sun 12/8: Holiday Sing-A-Long at The Shoppes at Westlake Village (3-8PM)

12/6-12/8: Simi Community Christmas Creche Exhibit and Music

12/6-12/8: Christmas Concerts at Cal Lutheran Thousand Oaks (RSVP)

12/7-12/8: Dudley House Holiday Boutique in Ventura (11AM-5PM)

Sun 12/8: Camarillo Community Band Christmas Concert (4PM)

12/6: Holidays at the Inn at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park (6:30-8:30PM)

12/13-12/15: Night in Bethlehem Event in Thousand Oaks (5:45-8PM)

12/13-12/14: 47th Annual Ventura Harbor Holiday Parade of Lights (6:30-8:30PM)

Sat 12/14: Camarillo Christmas Parade (10AM)

Sat 12/14: Santa’s Village at Camarillo Community Center (9AM-2PM)

Sat 12/14: 57th Annual Parade of Lights at Channel Islands Harbor (7PM)

12/14-12/15: Dudley House Holiday Boutique in Ventura (11AM-5PM)

Sun 12/15: Holiday Dinner and Tour at the Reagan Library (5:30-8:30PM RSVP)

Sun 12/15: Holly Jolly Half Marathon, 5K and 10K in Camarillo

Thu 12/19: Holiday Lunch and Tour at the Reagan Library (12:30PM RSVP)

Sat 12/21: Winter Wonderland and Holiday Marketplace at Ventura Harbor Village (12-4PM)

Sat 12/21: Jingle Bell Jog 5K/10K Run/Walk in Dos Vientos (Newbury Park)

Wed 12/25: Community Holiday Dinner at Temple Adat Elohim Thousand Oaks (11:30-1:30)

Thu 12/26: Chanukah Family Festival at Janss Marketplace (5-7PM)

Sun 12/29: Menorah Lighting Celebration at the Reagan Library (3:30-5PM)

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

11/22-12/23: Wild Lights Holiday Display at The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College

11/18-12/9: Letters to Santa in Camarillo

11/9-1/5: Christmas Around the World Tree Exhibit at the Reagan Library

11/22-12/24: Photos with Santa at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard

11/17-12/16: Letters to Santa Mailbox at The Collection at RiverPark

11/26-12/24: Santa Paws Pet Photo Nights on Tuesdays at The Collection at RiverPark

11/8-12/24: Photos with Santa at The Oaks Mall

11/29-12/24: Christmas on the Farm at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark

11/14 -12/24: Santa Photos at the Pacific View Mall Center Court

11/29-12/28: Holiday Road Holiday Experience at King Gillette Ranch

11/23-12/7: Festival of the Trees - Hospice of the Conejo at The Oaks Mall

11/16-12/24: Santa Claus Photos at the Simi Valley Town Center

11/25, 12/2, 12/9: Pet Photos with Santa at the Simi Valley Town Center

11/23-12/24: Santa Photos at The Promenade at Westlake

11/1-12/22 Holiday Experience at the Simi Valley Town Center (Thu-Sun)

11/17-11/30: November Snow Show Schedule at the Simi Valley Town Center

12/1-12/24: December Snow Show Schedule at the Simi Valley Town Center

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CHRISTMAS TREE LOTS

Seasonal Adventures Christmas Trees in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley (opens 11/29/24)

Bennett’s Best Christmas Tree Lots in Agoura Hills (opens TBA)

Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark (opens 11/29/24)

Big Wave Dave’s Christmas Tree Lots in Ventura, Camarillo, Moorpark and Santa Barbara (opens 11/29/24)

Hagle Tree Farm in Somis (“Cut Your Own”) (opens 11/29/24)

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Residential and Other Light Displays

Here are some local area displays that we found to be of particular note - entertaining, beautiful and bright. Keep in mind that residential displays usually don’t have set hours and are often impacted by the elements (e.g. rain and wind). List will be updated as we confirm displays are in place. CONTACT US FOR ADDITIONS

CONEJO VALLEY DISPLAYS

Entertaining residential display at 2768 Baywater Place in Thousand Oaks is simulcast to music on 87.9 FM. Learn more and vote for your favorite songs at www.baywaterlights.com. Bring canned goods to drop off if you can for the Manna Food Bank. And check out Chuck’s laser engraving offerings at www.BuiltByCharles.com

NEARBY CITY DISPLAYS

12/8-12/26: Oxnard Christmas Tree Lane along F & G Streets between 5th and Palm in the Downtown Oxnard Historic District is a perennially great display you need to experience. Nightly 6PM-10PM.

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PREVIOUS EVENTS

Sat 11/16: Tree Lighting Event at the Simi Valley Town Center (4-9PM)

Wed 11/20: Tree Lighting Celebration at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard (7PM)

President Trump Issues Executive Order to Postpone Easter Sunday to Sunday, July 5th

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order to defer celebration of Easter Sunday from April 12th to July 5th, 2020. Here is a transcript of Trump’s remarks at signing of the order.

Trump: The whole world is inflicted with this horrible, horrible virus. With Easter just 11 days away, I decided we need to do something big, very, very big, to show the children of this country that they are not forgotten. This was a tremendous decision that I have to say, no other President in the history of the United States has ever done. Huge, very huge. A tremendous, tremendous decision, the likes of which no one, I’m told, by many other people, that no one, no one, has ever even thought about doing.

By rescheduling Easter to Sunday, July 5th, the day after July 4th, we have a terrific opportunity to do something never done in history. And it will be a very, very great thing. Something that is, just, incredible., really incredible. Melania and I will be hosting the largest Easter egg hunt in history on the White House lawn that day. Believe me, it will be the greatest Easter egg event ever seen. People have told me that it would be spectacular. We’ll have eggs with chocolate, jelly beans, maybe other things. Maybe money. A lot of it. We’ll see what happens.

Vice President Pence: I can’t emphasize enough the incredible decision that President Donald J. Trump, has made. Moving Easter Sunday 12 weeks into the future gives us the opportunity to stretch Lent out by another 12 weeks. Thank you so much, Mr. President.

Trump: Good ole’ Mike. I can’t wait. Now stand over there. You’re too close to me. Remember, folks, to practice social distancing. Mike, you’re a good man. But you need to give me six feet clearance. Now, press, we have time for one question, then we have to go. Jim, go ahead.

Jim Acosta: Mr. President, I understand that Easter Sunday will be a challenge to celebrate this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. But does it really make sense to push this holy day back 12 weeks?

Trump: That is a terrible question. You are fake news. Thank you everyone!

The Easter Conejo

APRIL FOOL’S!!

Residential Holiday Lights and Decorations on Gemini/Waverly in Camarillo

NOTE: The post below was originally mad in December 2012 but still applies now in 2019! For a compilation of local area residential holiday light displays, visit THIS LINK.

Every year that I can recall, a vast majority of the homes on Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street in Camarillo are lit up and decorated with cartoon characters, trains, Santas, snowmen, and plenty of lights and other decorations. Quite a sight! Either drive the route or park and walk it. Plenty to see and your kids will love it.  From the direction of the 101, take Arneill north past Ponderosa to Dunnigan. Turn right on Dunnigan and Gemini is the 4th street on your right.

Brief tour of the display in 2010 with whiny kids in the background:

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page Followers Share Their Father's Day Plans

Bunnies pondering their Father’s Day plans.

In a recent drawing on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page, we asked folks what their Father’s Day weekend plans were. The response was outstanding and of course we’re going to share some highlights of these responses right here for future reference!

CVG Facebook Fan Selected Responses:

All the ladies in my family are going to cook for the amazing dads in our family. We are going to cook a traditional dish. Of course all of us are going to enjoy.

Chores at home and spending time together ❤️

My daughters and I will spend the morning baking my husband's favorite cake 🤪😊

We are going to church in the morning and then lunch with my husband's parents. Hopefully a relaxing day.

Both our kids will be over, we have not had any quality time since Christmas as we have been so busy with work, school, fixing house up and new puppy!

Channel Islands Harbor vintage boat show!

Church and family BBQ! (BBQ and lunch was a recurring theme).

Our Fathers Day plan is to bbq and play games with family and friends who have become family. Family is what my husband loves.

My husband and I are taking a Sunday drive along Mulholland and having dinner at PF Chang’s (lettuce wraps)

We have planned a family hike through Wildwood Park and then home for waffles!
We will be spoiling my husband with Fathers Day gifts and taking him out for lunch at Cheesecake Factory, one of his favorite places to eat. Not a bad day at all.

Going to the beach😎

Finney’s with my family, and seeing my father in law after!!

Going to the Channel Islands car show in the morning followed by bbqing at home with family 💙

Dinner at Bandits tonight. Miss the crowd!

BBQ swim party with family

My three boys and I are surprising my husband by making an omelette bar (*which is huge, cause I don’t cook 😂) and then we are all going bowling! 🎳

Spending time together as a family, and letting dad sleep in!

Taking my dad to breakfast then for a walk in Oak Canyon Park!

We don’t have plans for this Sunday for Father’s Day as my daughter's father (my hubby) is serving overseas. But he will be visiting later this month...so we will celebrate then ❤️ Happy Father’s Day to all you wonderful daddies out there, near or far xoxo.

We are going to church and then out to a Fathers Day lunch at my favorite place. Then a nap 💤.

Here are some more ideas for future Father’s Day or any day for that matter plans:

OVER 50 THINGS TO DO IN THOUSAND OAKS

LOCAL AREA BEACHES

LOCAL HIKING AND TRAILS

LOCAL AREA CAMPING

BIKE PATHS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Mother's Day is the Second Sunday of May

Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May each year.

On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that the observance of Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May serves as a "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."

Mother's Day was initiated on May 10, 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia. On that day, Ann Jarvis organized a celebration at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, now called the International Mother's Day Shrine (a National Historical Landmark), with 407 children and their mothers in attendance. The custom caught on and led to the Federal observance in 1914.

Jarvis trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day" - purposefully putting the apostrophe before the "s" as the holiday is for each family to honor their mother.

Mother's Day is not considered a Federal Holiday. It is considered a day of Federal "observance" - a reminder to pause and show appreciation for all of the mothers in our lives.

Mother's Day 2018 is Sunday, March 13th!

West Virginia Governor William Glasscock's Proclamation of Mother's Day Dated April 26, 1910

Christmas Tree Lane in Downtown Oxnard is a Fun Residential Holiday Display

Every holiday season, one of Ventura County's biggest residential light displays lights up the historic section of Downtown Oxnard on F and G streets between 5th and Palm. Worth a visit! And check out the holiday decorated pagoda at nearby Plaza Park. More information at www.oxnardhistoricdistrict.com.

For the 2017 holiday season, Christmas Tree Lane will be on display by local residents nightly from 6-10PM from December 10 to December 26.

Video and photos below from prior year Christmas Tree Lane displays.

Christmas Tree Lane Visitor Tips from the Oxnard Historic District:

Visitors are asked not to walk in private yards or driveways, unless allowed by residents.

Visitors can walk the route (the best way to fully take it all in) by parking on adjacent side streets and making the 10 block loop. Warm attire is recommended.

Visitors in vehicles are asked to keep headlights on for safety reasons. Old timers to Ventura’s Candy Cane Lane remember the rule of turning off your headlights off, but with three cross streets on Christmas Tree Lane and significantly more visitors headlights must be on for everyone’s safety.

Please respect the privacy of all residents. Please keep children attended with adults at all times, do not allow them to touch or climb on any exhibits - this is for their own safety!

Please be courteous when the crowds are larger on weekends and the sidewalks are congested.

Christmas 2013 Residential Holiday Light Display on Gemini/Waverly in Camarillo

As in years past, many homes on Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street in Camarillo are lit up and decorated with cartoon characters, trains, Santa, snowmen, and plenty of lights and other decorations this holiday season. Drive the route or park and walk. It is worth going out of your way for! From the the 101, take Arneill north past Ponderosa to Dunnigan. Turn right on Dunnigan and Gemini is the 4th street on your right.

Here are some scenes from this display in prior years.