Ventura, CA – With its beautiful beachside location and idyllic climate, Ventura beckons visitors to enjoy a weekend escape during the spring season. From a world renowned music festival to fun for the whole family at the Ventura Harbor Village, there’s never a dull moment in Ventura.
Whale Watching Cruises
December 26 - April 17, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Every year Pacific Gray Whales migrates up to10,000 miles to secluded lagoons in Mexico to breed and bear their young and then journey back to their feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. Island Packers invites you to observe these magnificent animals as they pass through the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. Cruises depart from Ventura Harbor, 1691 Spinnaker Dr. Ste 105B.
http://www.islandpackers.com/
Ventura Music Festival presents celebrated drummer Tito Puente, Jr. and his band
Saturday, February 16 at 8 p.m.
The propulsive percussion and raucous rhythm of Latin Jazz dance into town when the Ventura Music Festival presents celebrated drummer Tito Puente, Jr. and his band at this year's Latin Jazz concert. New York-born, South Florida-based Tito Jr. preserves the legacy of his father, the legendary Mambo King, who popularized Afro-Cuban rhythms in the 1950s. Joining Tito Jr. onstage will be the winner of the Ventura Music Festival’s annual Student Jazz Competition. Now in its seventh year, the competition is open to high school students from Southern California. Tickets to Tito Puente, Jr. at the Ventura High School Theater on Saturday, February 16 at 8 p.m. are on sale now at venturamusicfestival.org, or call (805) 648-3146.
Murder Mystery Dinner “Viva Las Vegas”
Fillmore & Western Railway
February 23, 6:30 p.m.
Step back to the 1960’s and commiserate with familiar characters from “The Rat Pack.” As with all murder mysteries on Fillmore & Western Dinner Theaters you will have your choice of a scrumptious dinner to go along with the “over the top” acting. Be ready to croon with the crooners and be dazzled by the leggy ladies who will entertain you. Tickets are $89 per person, ages 18 and up.
http://www.fwry.com (805) 524-2546
The Ventura Gem Show
March 2 – 3, Sat 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Ventura “Golden Anniversary” Gem Show: 51st annual Gem, Mineral, Lapidary & Fossil Show. Displays of gems, minerals, fossils and lapidary arts from the personal collections of VGMS members and guests, on-going demonstrations of lapidary arts and jewelry making, door prizes and silent auctions, a “country store” flea market and planet sale, dealers and children’s activities. http://www.vgms.org (805) 648-3376
Ventura Music Festival presents the world-renowned Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
March 4, 7:30 p.m.
The most famous, and most recorded, chamber orchestra in history, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields will perform with exciting international soloists Cellist Alyssa Weilerstein and Pianist Inon Barnaton. Tickets to at the performance at Ventura High School Theater on Monday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. are on sale now at venturamusicfestival.org, or call (805) 648-3146.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
March 7 – 8, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy will present the 2013 Wild & Scenic Film Festival, having won a grant from Patagonia for the fourth year running. The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is a national tour of independent short and feature films highlighting a celebration of human outdoor adventure and interactions with Earth’s natural places and creatures. The festival will be held at Ventura’s Poinsettia Pavilion over two evenings. Several short films will be screened with a different program each night. http://www.venturahillsides.org/events.shtml (805) 643-8044
From Shore to Sea Lecture Series
March 13 – May 8, 7 p.m.
The “From Shore to Sea” lecture series in sponsored by Channel Islands National Park. The purpose of the series is to further the understanding of current research on the Channel Islands and surrounding waters. 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura Harbor. www.nps.gov/chis
Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 17, 10 a.m.
Themed “Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day,” the parade takes off from the San Bueanventura Mission and makes its way up Main Street. The participants showing the most Irish pride in front of the judges will win a trophy from one of the many categories. After the parade, revelers can raise pints of green beer at restaurants and bars in Downtown Ventura offering St. Patrick’s Day specials.
http://www.venturastpatricksdayparade.com
“George Washington’s Acts of Congress” Display at the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum
March 1 – 19
George Washington’s original annotated copy of the Acts of Congress, including the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, will be on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum through most of March. Emblazoned with Washington’s bookplate and featuring his handwritten notes penciled in the margins, the 106-page book contains his personal copies of numerous documents recording the early acts of Congress. http://www.reaganlibrary.com OR (800) 410-8354
Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives Lunch & Tour
March 20, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, in conjunction with the Official Disney Fan Club presents the final TREASURES OF THE WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES lunch and tour. This lunch and tour will feature a three-course meal and a special guest speaker while you dine, followed by a self-guided tour of the exhibit.
http://www.reaganfoundation.org (805) 577-4057
Roller Derby – Ventura County Darlins
March 23 & 30, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Come and witness the transformation as mothers, workers, teachers and everyday women of Ventura County metamorph into hard-hitting, mouth-guard touting, quad-skate speed demons in the epic winner-takes-all fight known as roller derby competition. http://www.vcderbydarlins.com
Cottontail Days at the Ventura Harbor Village
March 23, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Ventura Harbor Village is filled with the sights and sounds of family on the Village Main Lawn. The Cottontail Bunny can be spotted hopping around giving children a chance to shake hands or grab a hug. Other activities include face painting, petting zoo, hands-on arts & crafts, pony rides and so much more. $1 Easter egg hunts are held every 30 minutes for ages 1-7 (weather pending).
Ventura Flea Market & Swap Meet
March 31/May 5, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Ventura flea market is held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds near the ocean in Ventura and is a great place to shop. The event features antiques, used and new merchandise sold by hundreds of vendors with more than 6,000 buyers visiting each time the market is held. $5 admission. http://www.rgcshows.com (805) 648-3376
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Benefit Concert
April 13, 7:30 p.m.
Ventura Education Partnership, Ventura Unified School District and the City of Ventura Office of Cultural Affairs are excited to present Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in a benefit concert to support art and music education for the 17,000 students in VUSD schools. Proceeds will provide art and music programs – choir, jazz, theater, marching band, orchestra, visual and performing arts for VUSD’s elementary, middle and high school students. For more information, call (805) 641 – 5000 or email info@vep4vusd.org. http://www.vep4vusd.org
Paint Ventura
April 27 – 28
A plein-air event, Paint Ventura incorporates a wide variety of art mediums and venues. Each day is free to the public and open to all ages. Paint Ventura invites artists, art aficionados and the artistically curious to join Ventura’s creative producers as they visually explore and interpret historic Downtown Ventura’s art scene. http://www.paintventura.com OR call (805) 643-6400
19th Annual Ventura Music Festival “Vivacity!”
May 2 – 11
Taking place in venues throughout the city, this year’s line-up of performances include the big band sounds of the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra; the award-winning classical piano of Haochen Zhang, the amazing technical virtuosity of jazz piano wunderkind Eldar Djangirov; and M-Pact, a pop-jazz a cappella sextet whose wonderful voices comprise the sound of an entire band. Also on tap is the perennially popular Tea & Trumpets, an English High Tea with entertainment by the Festival Brass Quintet. In addition to the music, each year a group of local artists are selected by the Festival to create works for display preceding the concert. For more information and tickets call (805) 648-3146 or visit http://www.venturamusicfestival.org
Family Festival in the Park & Kids Swap Meet
May 11, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The 10th annual family festival in the park offers free daylong entertainment and activities for the whole family at the Barranca Vista Imagination Center and Park, located at 7050 Ralston Street, just east of Johnson Drive. Festival attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and picnic and spend the day at Barranca Vista and stay for the day’s performance finale. “Kids Swap Meet” opens the festival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and encourages kids under age 18 to clean out their closets and garages of gently used games, toys, clothes, bikes and books to sell or trade. For more info: http://www.cityofventura.net or (805) 644-6542
AIDS/Life Cycle
June 7
A 7-day, 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that raises money and awareness for the HIV and AIDS services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. This marks the 12th year for the AIDS/LifeCycle and the 20th for the event overall. Thousands of Cyclists and volunteer Roadies will come together to do something incredible. Lompoc to Ventura – begins on one of the prettiest roads on the entire route. Camping will take place at the San Buenaventura State Beach, promising excellent dolphin sightings. The final day of the ride (Day 7) will be from Ventura to Los Angeles. For more information, visit the website. http://www.aidslifecycle.org/life-on-the-event/route/
A Tribute to the Music of Johnny Cash
June 15
Now in its 5th year, A Tribute to the Music of Johnny Cash is the ultimate way to celebrate the legacy of the Man in Black. The festival features a great line-up of bands playing their owns hits along with Cash covers, a display of vintage cars and motorcycles, priceless memorabilia, a juried pin-up contest, and plenty of food and drinks. The event will take place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
http://www.roadshowrevival.com
Ventura Harbor Summer Sounds Concert Series
Sundays – June 23 through Labor Day (first weekend in September), 1 - 4 p.m.
Soak up the sun while listening to an array of music ranging from Jazz & Soul to Pop & Rock to a blend of Caribbean & Reggae during the Summer Sounds Concert Series every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Carousel Stage.
Vans Warped Tour 2013
June 23, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
The touring concert and extreme sports event has been a favorite among multigenerational rockers since 1995. Returning to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. http://www.vanswarptedtour.com/bands
Dinner At The… Series
June 27/July 18/October 10, 5 p.m.
Southern California foodies rejoice as Totally Local VC announces its third annual “Dinner At The…” series, innovative dining events that marry iconic Ventura County locations with some of the area’s topline chefs. The series will be structured in three successive events, revolving around seasonal, local fare. Events are priced at $135.00 per person and include a five-course meal paired with local wine, beer and entertainment.
http://www.totallylocalvc.com/dinner-at-the-2013-dinner-series/
A recent national Gallup poll placed Ventura in the “Top Ten Happiest Cities in America.” For information on Ventura accommodations and attractions, visit www.ventura-usa.com or phone 800-483-6215. A non-profit organization, the Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau enhances tourism and the economy by positioning the City of Ventura as a visitor and conference destination. The Visitors Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
