Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase in Pasadena January 1-2, 2024

Looking for something fun to do after the Rose Parade in Pasadena? Check out the Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase on Monday, January 1, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. (4 p.m. last entry) and Tuesday, January 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (4 p.m. last entry) to get an up close view of the beautiful floats appearing in the Rose Parade.

Senior citizens and disabled visitors welcome for an early viewing on January 2nd from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Rose Parade floats are required to be completely covered by flowers or other natural materials, such as leaves, seeds or bark. You will enjoy seeing this incredible work up close and with your camera handy!

The Post Parade Showcase is extremely popular, so be sure to get there early!

Wear comfortable walking shoes! Viewing all the floats will require walking a distance of approximately 2.5 miles and will take at least two hours.

For more information and parking/shuttle options, visit tournamentofroses.com/events-calendar/floatfest.

Location: End of Parade route on Sierra Madre Blvd

Admission: $20 (free for ages 5 and under). Ticket sales end between 2:30-3PM daily. Buy tickets in advance at tickets.sharpseating.com/p/tickets/events/floatfest-a-rose-parade-showcase.

David Mann Chopperfest in Ventura on Sunday, February 11, 2024

The annual David Mann Chopperfest is planned for Sunday, February 11, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

This event features vendors, a new and used part swap meet, new and old school bike show, an art exhibit, live blues and rock bands, a tribute to David Mann, beer, food and more! $20 General Admission. Kids 12 and under free. Military with ID $15.

More information at www.chopperfestival.com or call 805.217.2113.

Fall Festival at the Ojai Raptor Center on Sunday, November 12, 2023

The Ojai Raptor Center (ORC) is hosting its 2023 Fall Festival on Sunday, November 12, 2023 from 11am to 3pm, after a four year hiatus. The public is invited for a fun afternoon of performances, presentations, interactive games, activities, live music and an auction.

There will also be bird walks, a tour of ORC’s Freedom Flight, California’s largest flight cage for raptors in rehabilitation and bird-friendly native plant seed packets, as well as lunch available from on-site food trucks.

Normally, ORC is closed to the public year-round because of the sensitive nature of wildlife in rehabilitation. This is a great opportunity to check it out. Note that no live birds will be present at the event. Dogs are not allowed. 
 
The Ojai Raptor Center is located at 370 Baldwin Road, Ojai. Admission is $8 for children ages 4 to 15, $15 for adults, $10 for age 65+ and free for 3 and under.

Buy tickets at www.ojairaptorcenter.org.
 
About Ojai Raptor Center
Ojai Raptor Center is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, is dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of birds of prey and other wildlife and to providing educational programs to teach communities about wildlife and our shared environment. This facility takes in an average of 1,000 animals a year, specializing in raptors, with a release rate of 65%. ORC provides permanent sanctuary to some of the non-releasable raptors who go on to become education ambassadors in the Wildlife Education Program.

Public Tours at the Camarillo Bird Museum

The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology (WFVZ) (aka Camarillo Bird Museum), a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation, is both a natural history collection specializing in eggs and nests of birds from around the world, and a research and education institution dedicated to bird conservation. The Foundation's collections are the largest in the world, and its mission is to contribute to the conservation of the world’s wild bird species through the accessibility of the collections and their data to researchers, educators, students, and the public. 

The Museum both guided and unguided tours on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon and 2pm. A two hour guided tour for two is a $20 donation. A self-guided one hour tour is $7.

Visit www.wfvz.org for more information.

2023 Ride of Silence in Thousand Oaks on Wednesday, May 17th

Residents are encouraged to participate in the annual Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Pedals & Pints Brewing Company, 156 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

The International Ride of Silence unites people worldwide who ride bicycles and those who love them in solemn remembrance of the tragic deaths and terrible injuries caused by motorists. Over 600 cyclists are fatally injured by motor vehicles on America’s roads each year.

Bicycle riders of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join the Conejo Valley Ride of Silence. The groups rides silently together for 10 miles on some of the busiest Thousand Oaks roads during rush hour. By doing so, the group reminds drivers that cyclists are traffic too and educate drivers to be more attentive and careful when sharing the roads. To ensure the safety of all, the Ride of Silence is escorted by the Thousand Oaks Sheriff's Department. The Conejo Valley Ride of Silence is hosted by the Conejo Valley Cyclists with the support of the Thousand Oaks Bicycle Advisory Team and the Ventura-Conejo Bicycle Coalition.

Gather at The Oaks Mall near Pedals & Pints Brewing beginning at 5:30pm. A ceremony at 5:45 will honor cyclists who have lost their lives to vehicular violence. After the ceremony, at approximately 6:00, the entire group will roll out to the solemn tones of a lone bagpiper. The procession of silent riders will keep an even pace of about 10-11 miles per hour, making it achievable by most riders. Helmets are mandatory.

Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/conejo-valley-ride-of-silence-tickets-579743577647

For information on the Ride of Silence or www.rideofsilence.org.

Safe Boating Open House at Channel Islands Harbor on Saturday, May 20, 2023

In conjunction with National Safe Boating Week, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands will host its Annual Safe Boating Open House on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday May 20, 2023 at the Coast Guard Station, located at 4201 S. Victoria Ave. in Oxnard. Admission and parking are free.

USCG Boat Tours & Helicopter Rescue

Multiple public safety agencies will be present to demonstrate and provide an opportunity for the public to learn about recreational safe boating. Active duty members of the Coast Guard will conduct informative tours of their rescue boats and the USCG Cutter “Blacktip.”

Highlights include USCG Helicopter rescue demonstration over Channel Islands Harbor. Boaters may receive free life jacket exchange, drop-off expired flare disposal collected by the Ventura County Sheriff Office – Bomb Squad, Touch a Truck with Ventura County Fire Department, and much more.

Families and Children are welcome. Kids will delight with the antics of the talking Coastie Safety Boat robot! There are several information booths with safety brochures, boating safety class registration, vessel safety check RSVP, and all things to help adults and children learn about safe boating.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the members of the active duty Coasties will be on hand to answer your questions and make your visit to the station enjoyable.

www.channelislandsharbor.org/event/2023-u-s-coast-guard-safe-boating-open-house

First Lady's Tea & Tour at the Reagan Library on Saturday, March 25, 2023

The Ronald Reagan Library is pleased to offer our First Lady’s Tea and Tour on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Join us for this elegant tea including fresh baked English scones, petite finger sandwiches, a selection of delectable tea cakes, and of course tea. This event comes complete with linen and china service, fresh floral centerpieces on your table, and a professional wait staff. By yourself or with a group of friends, our First Lady’s Tea and Tour is truly an exceptional experience. Following the tea conclusion at 1:30 p.m., all guests will have the option to embark on a docent-led tour of the entire Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum and our amazing Air Force One Pavilion. If you purchased reservations to tour our Auschwitz Exhibition, please note that these tours will be self-guided tours beginning at 1:30 p.m., following the tea. Also, these self-guided tours are expected to take 3 hours and will conclude around 4:30 p.m. All guests will have the option of self-touring the Museum and Air Force One Pavilion prior to or after the tea. The Museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This all-inclusive offer is only $66.00 per person (please note that our temporary exhibit, Auschwitz: Not Long Ago. Not Far Away., will not be included with this event. Please note that tickets to this event are quickly selling out. Reservations are required and must be made by March 20 at 8:00 a.m. The tickets for Auschwitz: Not Long Ago. Not Far Away are $16.95 per person and it includes the audio wand. Reservations for both the tea and the Auschwitz exhibit can be made exclusively online on our website. Do not miss out on the elegant tea and tour. “Sunday best” attire is suggested. For more information, to view a complete menu and to make reservations, visit www.reaganfoundation.org/events or call 805-577-4057.

Cash-less bar available, accepting Debit and Credit Cards, Apple and Google Pay only. NO CASH ACCEPTED.

Conejo Valley Cars & Coffee Meetup - 1st and 3rd Saturday of the Month in Thousand Oaks

Conejo Valley Cars and Coffee meets every first and third Saturday of the month from 7am to 10am at the Firestone Auto Center, The Oaks Mall, 598 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

The general public and car aficionados are welcome to enjoy classics, muscle cars and exotics.

Upcoming Dates: February 4th

Learn more at www.cvcarsandcoffee.com.

2023 Point Mugu Air Show Planned for March 18-19 at Naval Base Ventura County

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, will be joined by the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, as co-headliners for the 2023 Point Mugu Air Show March 18-19, at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), 311 Main Road, Point Mugu.

For 77 years, the Blue Angels have showcased the teamwork and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstrations and community outreach while inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country for nearly 500 million fans. The Blues showcase the mainstay of modern Naval air power operating off U.S. aircraft carriers, the combat-proven F/A-18 Super Hornet, along with the Marine Corps' premiere logistics support aircraft, the C-130J.

The Thunderbirds perform for people all around the world to display the pride, precision, and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The Point Mugu Air Show will be the third time America’s premiere demonstration squadrons have performed at the same public event, and the first time at Point Mugu.

The Point Mugu Air Show, Ventura County’s largest public event, is open to the public on March 18, 19, 2023. Gates open at 8 a.m. daily. Honors/national anthem at 10 a.m. Performances begin at noon.

Parking, admission, and blanket seating are free. Upgraded preferred seating options will be available.

NBVC is a strategically located Navy installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants.

To learn more, visit www.pointmuguairshow.com.

EVENT CANCELLED Civil War Days at Strathearn Historical Park Simi Valley April 1-2, 2023

EVENT CANCELLED

Strathearn Historical Park will transform itself into a small town in rural America in the 1860’s for the 11th Annual Civil War Days Encampment on Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 10am-4pm and Sunday, April 2, 2023 from 10am-3pm.

Step back to another place and time, when President Lincoln could take a break from his Washington duties to give a speech on the steps of our Strathearn House.  Here, costumed civilians, as well as soldiers from the north and south stand ready in their camps, eager to tell their stories to the passing visitors. Sergeants drill groups of local boys and girls curious to experience military life. Skirmishes, as well as artillery, infantry and cavalry demonstrations will take place throughout the weekend.

Highlights include:

• President Lincoln delivers his Gettysburg Address

• General Ulysses S. Grant & General Robert E. Lee reenact the Surrender at Appomattox

• Kids wanted as recruits – come early & enlist; interview a soldier

• Food for sale from local food vendors

• Experience Authentic Artillery & Infantry Demonstrations

• Enjoy a 1860s Women’s Clothing Demonstration

• Tour historic Simi houses & buildings

• Historical Demonstrations: Civilian Encampment, School Room, Newspapers, Apothecary & more

• Meet Harriet Tubman and listen as she shares her experiences on the Underground Railroad

• Music daily performed by Orange Town Revival, Mountain Fife and Drums and Camp Carleton

Advance Adult Tickets: TBA

Tickets at the Gate:  TBA ages 13 and up; TBA ages 5 to 12 and free to 4 and under.

Strathearn Historical Park & Museum is located at 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley.  Information: (805) 526-6453, www.simihistory.com