2025 Scandinavian Festival at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks on April 5-6

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.

2025 Arbor/Earth Day Celebration at the Thousand Oaks Community Center on Saturday, April 19th

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.

Spring "Conejo" Hunt at the Stagecoach Inn Museum Newbury Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025

Spring “Conejo & Easter” Hunt & Festival on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 1-4PM.

Hop on over to the Stagecoach Inn Museum and bring the kids and grandchildren to hunt for “conejos,” while the whole family enjoys exploring historic structures and interacting with costumed docents. A map is included with admission for marking bunny sightings to be turned in for a prize in this frolicking outdoor hunt around the beautiful museum grounds.

Our Conejo Hunt this year will send “kids” of all ages hunting for several numbered metal art “Conejos” made by blacksmith Bobby Mensinger and there will be new baby animals to look for this Spring to add to the fun... ducklings, chicks, and of course, baby bunnies.

Have your picture taken with our resident Easter Bunny and we’ll have crafts and “bunny” sack races and frolicking about to the sweet sounds of a local live band.

Regular admission is $10 per person; children 5 to 12 are $5 Children under 5 and Conejo Valley Historical Society Members are free. Annual CVHS Family Memberships can be purchased online or at the door for as little as $50. stagecoachinnmuseum.com

2025 Conejo Valley Parade Planned for Sunday, May 18, 2025

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.

13th Annual Autism Society of Ventura County Aut2Run Event on Sunday, April 27, 2025

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.

2025 Santa Barbara Fair & Expo April 24-27 and May 2-4

The Annual Santa Barbara Fair and Expo is planned for April 24-27 and May 2-4, 2025 at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara.

The event will feature carnival rides, farm animals, fair food, great live entertainment and more. There will be over 30 rides and attractions, pony rides, petting zoo, kids' carnival, live entertainment featuring music, illusions, dancing, magic and more, expo showcase of local foods, wine and beer, arts and crafts, horticulture and fine arts displays, free samples of featured desserts, appetizers and other foods at the Fair & Expo Cooking Contest and interactive exhibits. Fair hours as follows:

• Thursday April 24th, 4pm - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday April 25th, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Saturday April 26th, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday April 27th, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Friday May 2nd, 4pm - 10pm (Carnival 10pm)

• Saturday May 3rd, 11am - 10pm (Carnival 12am)

• Sunday May 4th, 11am - 9pm (Carnival 10pm)

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit earlwarren.com/events/santa-barbara-fair-and-expo.

Arbor Day Celebration in Calabasas on Saturday, March 15, 2025

The City of Calabasas will host an Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until noon at Wild Walnut Park, 23050 Mulholland Hwy.

The event is free and residents are welcome to come out and get involved in helping to create a beautiful and healthy environment in Calabasas.

www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/public-works/environmental-igr-division/arbor-day

Touch-A-Truck at Thousand Oaks Community Park on Saturday, June 14, 2025

The Conejo Recreation & Park District’s 2025 Touch-A-Truck will be held on Saturday, June 14th, from 10:00am-2:00pm at Thousand Oaks Community Park, 2525 N. Moorpark Rd. in Thousand Oaks.

This popular event allows kids to have fun kicking the tires, honking the horns, and climbing up into the driver’s seat of their favorite trucks and construction vehicles such as a garbage truck, an Army truck, tractor, excavator, dump truck, school bus, fire engine, ambulance, bulldozer, police cruiser, SWAT vehicle, K-9 and search and rescue vehicles, motorcycles, and more!

In addition to dozens of trucks and vehicles of all shapes and sizes, there are tons of fun activities, including arts and crafts, a kids’ construction zone, jolly jumps, and a motorized train ride. Water balloons will drop from a cherry picker, and beach balls will be unloaded from a dump truck! The parking lot fills up quickly, so be prepared to park at the Thousand Oaks High School parking lot. Admission is free for all ages. Food trucks will be onsite. For information, call 805-381-2793 or email toc@crpd.org.

www.crpd.org/truck

2025 City of Moorpark Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19th

The Annual City of Moorpark Easter Egg Hunt takes place on Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Arroyo Vista Community Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark. 

Admission is paid per child (ages 1+) (adults enter free with paid children) and must be purchased in advance. Infants under one enter free with paid sibling.

• Wristbands purchased 3/3-3/31: $10 per child

• Wristbands purchased 4/1-4/17: $13 per child

• If available, wristbands may be sold at the event for $16 per child.

Wristbands are your child's admission to the event and allow them to participate in one (1) time-specific egg hunt, and unlimited access to carnival games, attractions, and crafts.

To purchase wristbands you must come in person to the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center (4550 Tierra Rejada Road, open Mon-Fri 8:30-6:00).

Children will enjoy an event full of Easter fun with age-appropriate egg hunts, photo opps with the Easter Bunny, crafts, carnival games, and attractions (bounce houses, slide, obstacle course, and petting zoo).

How it works: Bring your favorite basket, collect as many eggs as you can, and turn them all in for a prize! For safety reasons, parents are allowed in hunts only as indicated in the schedule. Strollers and pets are not allowed in any egg hunt. All hunts are age specific. Please note that each hunt has a maximum capacity. A Family Hunt is available toward the end of the event if your hunt is full. Prizes distributed at this event are not recommended for children under 3 years of age.

More info at moorparkca.gov/egghunt.

The Bunny Trail Junior Egg Hunt at De Anza Park in Calabasas on Saturday, April 12, 2025

The Bunny Trail Jr. Egg Hunt for kids 8 and under will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 9 am to noon at Juan Bautista de Anza Park, 3701 Lost Hills Road in Calabasas.

Travel the De Anza Park trail loop and stop to visit farm animals, hunt for eggs, enjoy craft activities and hop through a bunny obstacle course. Easter Bunny will be on hand for family photos.

Loop takes about 30 minutes. Maximum 15 children per time slot. Start times every 10 minutes from 9am to 11:50am.

$5.00 Per Child. Includes crafts, prizes and candy (stuffed toys available for children under 3)

No walk-ups on event day.

Must register in advance at www.cityofcalabasas.com/register. Tickets go on sale March 12th.