Free and Nearly Free Movies All Summer Long Around Ventura County 2024

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Stay cool this summer of 2024 with several hundred free and nearly free ($1 to $6) movies in and around Ventura County and surrounding areas!

Rancho Simi Rec & Park District Movies in the Park on June 28 and August 9 in Simi Valley and June 21 in Oak Park

City of Moorpark Movies in the Park on June 8, July 13, August 10 and September 14 at Arroyo Vista Community Park.

Free Movies at the Park at Thousand Oaks Community Park on May 24, August 23 and September 20.

Free Movies in the Park in Camarillo on June 30, July 14, July 28 and Aug 11.

City of Agoura Hills Summer Movies in the Park on June 8, July 13 and July 27.

Studio Movie Grill at the Simi Valley Town Center is offering $6 Children's Summer Movies (including small popcorn and small drink) Mondays through Thursdays from June 10 to August 8.

CineMalibu Summer Movies at Malibu Bluffs Park on July 27 and August 17.

Free Movies at Warner Ranch Park in Woodland Hills on Saturday nights in August.

Free Movie in the Park. at Berniece Bennett Park in Westlake Village on July 20th..

Outdoor Movie Night at Ventura Harbor Village on Saturday, May 17th featuring “The Parent Trap.”

AMC Dine-In Thousand Oaks 14 hosts Summer Movie Camp - $3 family movies for 8 weeks - Mondays and Wednesdays at 11am and 2pm, from June 24 to August 14.

Movies/dates subject to change. Contact organizers to confirm.

AND HOW ABOUT FREE CONCERTS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Free Concerts and Live Music All Summer Long Around Ventura County

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Summer 2024 will be here soon and we’ll have another outstanding summer of free live music throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas! Rock, jazz, pops, R&B, reggae, classical, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, Classic Rock, Latin, tribute bands, etc. The compilation below has links to more detailed information.

Concerts subject to change. List will be updated regularly as new events are added.

Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Newbury Park

Agoura/Oak Park/Calabasas/Woodland Hills

  • City of Agoura Hills Free Summer Concert in the Park at Chumash Park (except 7/21 concert at the Agoura Hills High PAEC. Concerts start at 6pm.

    • Sun, June 16: Foo Fighters Tribute

    • Sun, July 7: Neil Diamond Tribute

    • Sun, July 21: Conejo Valley Community Concert and Jazz Bands (at AHS PAEC)

    • Sun, Aug 4: Taylor Swift Tribute

    • Sun, Aug 18: The Yacht Groove

  • Valley Cultural Foundation’s Free Concerts at Warner Park in Woodland Hills on Sunday nights from June 16 to August 25 at 5:30PM (emerging artist) followed by headline acts.

    • June 16: Linda Ronstadt Tribute

    • June 23: The Soul Juice Band

    • June 30: The Doors Tribute

    • Thursday, July 4: 4th of July Event with Angela O’Neill and Outrageous8

    • July 14: Foreigner Tribute

    • July 21: Fleetwood Mac Tribute

    • July 28: Prince Tribute

    • Aug 4: Bon Jovi Tribute

    • Aug 11: ABBA Tribute

    • Aug 18: Taylor Swift Tribute

    • Aug 25: Aerosmith Tribute

  • Sun Sets Summer Concert Series at Calabasas Lake on Sunday nights at 6pm.

    • June 2: Tribute to Grease

    • July 21: On Tap Band (80s/90s)

    • Aug 11: U2 Tribute

    • Aug 25: R&B/Motown

  • Music in the Park at Oak Canyon Community Park in Oak Park on Saturday, July 13th (DSB - Journey Tribute)

Moorpark/Simi Valley

  • Summer Music in the Park Free Concerts at Rancho Simi Community Park on Saturday nights at 6:30pm.

    • Sat, June 15: Garth Brooks Tribute

    • Sat, July 20: Foo Fighters Tribute

    • Sat, August 17: Queen Nation (Queen Tribute)

  • Simi Civic Center Plaza Concerts in the Courtyard on six designated Sat nights from 6-9pm.

    • Saturday, June 29: 805 Social Club (Dance/Pop)

    • Saturday, July 13: Sidetracs (Top 40, R&B, Latin)

    • Saturday, July 27: Little Alice (Top 40)

    • Saturday, August 10: Beatles Tribute

    • Saturday, August 24: Pat Benatar Tribute

    • Saturday, September 7: The Dirty Lowdown (Yacht Rock/80s)

  • City of Moorpark Concerts in the Park at Arroyo Vista Park at 6pm

    • June 22: Rockin’ Oldies

    • July 27: Country/Pop/Rock

    • Aug 24: Classic Piano Rock

    • Sept 28: Moorpark Symphony Orchestra

  • Free Summer Concert Series at the Simi Valley Town Center features a variety of bands, including a number of tribute bands at 7pm. TBA

Camarillo/Oxnard/Port Hueneme/Ventura

Santa Barbara

Free Thursday Night Concerts at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara on Thursday nights, June 27 and July 11, 18, 25 from 6-7:30pm.

Have something to add to this list? CONTACT US!!

Check the Events Calendar for things going on around town as well as the Local Events and Community Messages sections of Conejo Valley Guide.

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 2023 Memorial Day weekend around Ventura County and adjacent areas.

Upcoming 5K, 10K and Other Ventura County Area Running and Fitness Events

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Start training for upcoming 5K, 10K, half marathon and other Ventura County running and fitness events! We've made it easy for you to find a local race by tracking local events right here. So go on, get moving, lace up those shoes and start training!

Training for a marathon? Check out 26.2 Training Tips for Your First Marathon!

Running Clubs in the Local Area

Ventura Running Club www.venturarunningclub.com Sunday beach runs at the Ventura Pier, Wednesday track workouts and social event.

Inside Track Running Club www.insidetrackrunningclub.com Club has been training in Ventura since 1976. Saturday long runs, Tuesday intervals, Thursday hills and Sunday easy runs.

Thousand Oaks Pacers www.runpacers.org/thousandoaks/about Running club founded in 2014.

Future Track Running Pack futuretrackrunningpack.org Founded in 1988 in Agoura Hills. Tuesday night track workouts at Oak Park High School and more.

The Pacific Coast Track Club hosts training sessions on Sunday mornings at the Camarillo High School track and Ojai community track. Individual training sessions also available. Email mgenebyme@gmail.com for more information or visit www.facebook.com/genebyrne101.

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For great running shoes from local businesses that know a lot about them, try the following:

Several Dozen Things to See and Do in the City of Oxnard

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The City of Oxnard was incorporated on June 30, 1903. Covering an area of just over 39 miles, of which 70% is land, Oxnard is the most populous city in Ventura County, with nearly 208,000 residents in 2016.

Oxnard's namesake is Harry T. Oxnard, who opened a beet factory in 1899 and taught local farmers the ins and outs of growing sugar beets. The land for the factory was purchased from Thomas S. Rice (of Rice Avenue fame) and the first plant manager was Major J. A. Driffill, who later became mayor.

There's plenty to see and do in Oxnard, and we've summed up some of our favorite activities below.

Great beaches in Oxnard include Mandalay Shores, Hollywood Beach and Silver Strand Beach, which are highlighted at THIS LINK.

Speaking of beaches, Oxnard Beach Park is a nice park with a pirate-themed, accessible playground area, large grassy area, restrooms and quick access to the beach.

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum located at the Channel Islands Harbor is home to world class maritime art, ship models and other maritime items. Admission is free the 3rd Thursday of the month.

Channel Islands Harbor is a great place to beat the heat with the family, offering a variety of activities, such as fishing trips, boat cruises, eateries, water sports, shopping and special events year-round.

Oxnard Beach Park

Oxnard Beach Park

There's a nice bike path in Oxnard that takes you from Oxnard Beach Park to Channel Islands Harbor that we enjoy from time to time.

The Henry T. Oxnard Historic District is located on F and G Streets, between Palm and 5th Streets. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Most of the 144 historic homes and buildings in the area were built before 1925 and includes Mission/Spanish revival, bungalow/craftsman and Colonial Revival architecture.

A great time to check out the Historic Oxnard District is during the two weeks preceding Christmas each year, when dozens and dozens of residents decorate their homes in lights and holiday decor for Christmas Tree Lane.

The Oxnard Performing Arts Center hosts concerts, musicals, speakers and other performances year-round. At over 1,600 seats, it is one of the largest venues in Ventura County and is a performance venue for the New West Symphony.

The Collection at RiverPark is an outdoor shopping center located on the northeast side of the 101 between the Oxnard and Vineyard exits. The 650,000 sq ft center includes a combination of entertainment, retail, restaurants, open space with fountains, parks and playgrounds and quality art. Activities at The Collection include The Painted Cabernet, Color Me Mine Ceramics Studio, Century RiverPark Movie Theater and Levity Live Comedy Club, Jump ‘n Jammin Children’s Entertainment Center, Red Door Escape Room and Bowlero.

Something we have to be extremely thankful for here in Ventura County is the endless supply of strawberries grown on the Oxnard Plain. The annual California Strawberry Festival held the 3rd weekend of May each year in Oxnard showcases our favorite local fruit!

Swing for the fences at Who's on First Batting Cages in Oxnard. What's on second? I don't know's on third. Who? First base.

The Murphy Auto Museum houses a collection of over 40 vintage and classic cars, artifacts. (However, the museum announced it will be closing its doors in July 2024.)

Hollywood Beach

Hollywood Beach

River Ridge Golf Course is a public golf course offering two 18-hole courses as well as footgolf!

Skateboarders and in-line skaters are on a roll at the City of Oxnard Bedford Pinkard Skate Park near Channel Islands High School. Pinkard is a former City Council member who was a supporter of many youth and community programs.

First Thursdays Food Trucks at Plaza Park in Oxnard is a popular gastronomic destination.

The Elite Theatre Company, located at Fisherman's Wharf at Channel Islands Harbor, Fisherman's Wharf, is host to musicals, plays, comedies and more.

The Dallas Cowboys have held Summer Training Camp for a number of years at River Ridge Fields at Oxnard's Marriott Residence Inn. Practices and scrimmages taking place in August are open to the public and free of charge. Check for updates at www.dallascowboys.com/trainingcamp.

Over 25 Things to Do in Agoura Hills

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The City of Agoura Hills incorporated in 1982 and is part of Los Angeles County. But we consider Agoura to be part of our family, consisting of Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Oak Park and other communities that form the Conejo Valley.

Agoura Hills has an area of 7.86 square miles, with a population of approximately 20,000. It became the 83rd city in Los Angeles County when residents voted to incorporate, just one year after neighboring city Westlake Village incorporated.

Here is a compilation of things to do in the City of Agoura Hills.

Trails and Hiking

  • Malibu Creek State Park is an 8,000 acre wonderland of trails, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. The Hike to the Rock Pool at Malibu Creek State Park is extremely popular. Equally if not more popular is the hike to the M*A*S*H television show set.

  • Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons include 4,000 acres of terrain with dozens of miles of trails to explore in the northernmost section of the Santa Monica Mountain range. Popular with cyclists, runners and hikers.

  • Paramount Ranch, maintained by the National Park Service on Cornell Road in Agoura Hills, was used by Paramount Pictures for over 80 years of film and television production. Sadly, the Woolsey Fire in November 2018 destroyed the historic structures at the park. However, four new structures will be constructed by the fall of 2024.

  • The 64 acre Peter Strauss Ranch in Agoura Hills is also managed by the National Park Service and features hiking and an outdoor amphitheater area.

A "must do" in the Agoura Hills area is the hike to the old M*A*S*H TV series set in Malibu Creek State Park.

A "must do" in the Agoura Hills area is the hike to the old M*A*S*H TV series set in Malibu Creek State Park.

Kids

Fitness Related

  • The Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center is a 30,000 square foot facility with basketball courts, fitness studio, 35 foot rock climbing wall, dance/exercise studio, kids' programs and more. (Currently closed as of June 2023 as renovations will be made to the facility.)

  • Looking for some fresh air on the golf course but don't golf? That's ok, try FootGolf at the Lake Lindero Country Club in Agoura Hills. Quite fun and no experience necessary.

  • Other fitness and sports activities in Agoura Hills compiled at THIS LINK.

Ah yes, comic relief courtesy of Caltrans signmakers in 2013 when a new Agoura Hills sign on the 101 was put up filled with typos. It was subsequently corrected.

Ah yes, comic relief courtesy of Caltrans signmakers in 2013 when a new Agoura Hills sign on the 101 was put up filled with typos. It was subsequently corrected.

Other Entertainment, Things to Do and Annual Events

The old Agoura sign on Agoura Road at Lewis Road.

The old Agoura sign on Agoura Road at Lewis Road.

Closed: Troutdale was a local fishing pond for those looking for the experience of fishing but without the hassle of driving far! Located just off of Kanan Road, near Triunfo Canyon. It appears to be closed as of summer 2018.

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 2024 is March 31st! 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):

Fri March 29: Inclusive Egg Scramble in Simi Valley (4-5:30pm; must pre-register)

Sat, March 30: Easter Eggstravaganza Event in Camarillo (10am-1pm) EVENT IS BEING MOVED INDOORS DUE TO RAIN IN FORECAST

Sat, March 30: City of Moorpark Easter Egg Hunt (10am-1pm; Purchase wristbands in advance beginning March 1st) CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

Sat, March 30: Egg Scramble Event at Rancho Santa Susana Park in Simi Valley (9-10am) CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

Sat, March 30: Easter Scavenger Hunt at the Simi Valley Town Center (11am-5pm) EVENT IS ON, RAIN OR NOT

Sat, March 30: Egg Scramble Event Mae Boyar Park in Oak Park (9:30-11:30am) CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN

Sat, March 30: Spring Conejo & Easter Hunt at Stagecoach Inn Museum (1-4pm) EVENT IS A GO, RAIN OR NO RAIN

Sat/Sun, March 30-31: Cottontail Bunny at Ventura Harbor Village www.venturaharborvillage.com/event/easter-weekend-2024 POSTPONED

Sun, March 31 Easter Egg Hunt and Free Breakfast at Christ the King Church NP 9:30-10:15am

Sun, March 31: Easter Egg Hunt at Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge (Noon-2pm; egg hunt at 1pm) EVENT TO TAKE PLACE - MAY BE MOVED INSIDE DUE TO RAIN

Sun, March 31: Easter Sunrise Service at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks (6am)

Mar 16 to Apr 7; Springtime Easter Festival at Underwood Family Farms

March 1-30: Photos with the Bunny at The Oaks Mall www.shoptheoaksmall.com/bunnyphotos

March 1-30: Photos with the Bunny at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura

March 15-30: Photos with the Bunny at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard thecollectionrp.com/portfolio/photos-with-the-bunny-2024

March 1-30: Spring Scavenger Hunt at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard

PAST EVENTS

Sat, March 16: Easter Bunny at the Simi Valley Town Center (11am to 5pm)

March 16-17, 22-24 Annual Spring Spectacular at America's Teaching Zoo in Moorpark

Fri, March 22: Flashlight Egg Hunt at 9 Locations in Thousand Oaks (6:30-8:30)

Sat, March 23: Meet Officer Bunny and Chase from Simi Patrol (9am-11am)

Sat, March 23: Springtime at the Adobe at Leonis Adobe Calabasas (1-4pm)

Sat, March 23: The Bunny Trail Junior Egg Hunt in Calabasas (SOLD OUT)

Sat, March 23: Breakfast with the Bunny and Egg Hunts at the Reyes Adobe in Agoura (SOLD OUT)

Sat, March 23: The Hunt Holiday Egg Hunt in Ventura (10am-5pm: RSVP required)

March 23-29: PVRPD Hosts “The Big Egg Hunt” at local parks in Camarillo

March 25-29: Easter Bunny at Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley (10am-noon)

Wed, March 27: Shine Homeschool Easter Egg Hunt in Thousand Oaks (Noon; RSVP)