Christmas and Other Holiday Season Events Around Ventura County

iStock_XmasBunny.jpg

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.



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

A visually appealing holiday light display at a residence on Flaming Star Avenue and Shenandoah Street in Thousand Oaks (take Lynn Road to Avenida de las Flores and head west) is back again this year for the holiday season. Light, bright and fun!

Bright, colorful display is back yet again this year at a home at the corner of Holloway Street and Wendy Drive in Newbury Park.

Another display full of colorful lights and decorations at a home on Camino Dos Rios, west of Lynn Road, on the right (north) side

A fun residential display is back again this year with music and brightly lit cast of cartoon characters at a home on Donald Avenue, just east of Wendy Drive, in Newbury Park.

Lots of lights, lighted figures and lighted palm trees at a home at the corner of Bernadine St and Wauneta St in Newbury Park.

Fun animated residential display simulcast to music at a home on Mapleleaf Ave (cross street Madrid) in Newbury Park. Music simulcast on 97.7 FM.

Fun cast of characters, including The Grinch and others, at a bright display at a home on Orangewood Avenue, north of Felton, in Newbury Park.

Residential 50,000 light and music display on Via Patricia (cross street Via Ricardo) in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park is back up and running this year. Simulcast to music on 89.7 FM. Perennially one of the most entertaining displays around town. Worth going out of your way for!

Outstanding high-tech light show set to music is back again this year at a home on Doone Street (cross street Warwick) in Thousand Oaks. Several nearby homes are nicely decorated with holiday cheer too.

Gigantic Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and other fun decor at a home on Via Coronado, west of Borchard, in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park.

Home with giant snowmen and brightly lit front lawn at a home on Golden Crest Avenue, between Antelope and Deer Valley Ave in Newbury Park. (Note: The neighboring home, well known for its massive annual holiday display, is taking a breather in 2024 but will be back in 2025.)

Fun, festive, colorful, synchronized light display at 538 Brisbaine Avenue, Newbury Park 5PM-10PM nightly through 12/31. Simulcast to music on 100.5 FM.

Residential light show is back at 1062 Sheffield Place in Thousand Oaks. Open 5:30-10PM nightly through January 1st. Music simulcast on FM 87.9. Vote for your favorite songs at www.sheffieldlights.com.

Beautiful Christmas light display at a home on Kingham Court in Agoura Hills (north of T. O. Blvd, off of Grey Rock Road).

Gorgeous display is back again this year at a home on Middle Crest Drive, south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, in Agoura Hills.

There is a pretty and bright display that populates the entire front yard of 1170 Earlham Court in Oak Park, south of Pathfinder Ave. Dozens of lighted snowmen and other cartoon characters.

Once again this year, there's a particularly festive, brightly lit residence on Shetland Place in the North Ranch section of Thousand Oaks. While you’re there, drive Upper Ranch Road and Golf Course Drive for some festive lighting on some beautiful trees.

Christmas spirit on display at two homes on Verde Vista Drive (across from Cambria St) in Thousand Oaks (near CLU, north of Olsen).

Neat display at a home on Montgomery Road, just south of Janss Road in Thousand Oaks that has been up consistently for the holiday season for many years.

Festive, colorful and bright displays at several homes on Yew Drive in Newbury Park. Take Borchard, turn south on Carob, then an immediate left on Yew.

See a festive display with plenty of cartoon characters at 3337 Lang Ranch Parkway in Thousand Oaks. The residents will be hosting Santa and Elf on Sat, 12/21 from 7-8:30PM. Visit @langranchholidays for more info.

Dozens of cartoon characters at a home on Via Grande (cross street Via Vista) in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park. Music simulcast on 90.5 FM.

Bright display with a tremendous cast of characters at 3337 Frankie Drive in Newbury Park. Lights on 5-10PM. The Grinch will be live and on hand from 6-8PM this Saturday night.

Fun holiday display at a home at the end of the cul de sac on Summerfield Street off of Mountclef across from CLU in Thousand Oaks.

NEARBY CITY DISPLAYS

Huge and awesome neighborhood display in the area of Timberdale and Pinedale Roads in Moorpark (just west of Moorpark High School, off of Countrywood Drive). Dozens of homes decorated in bright lights and decorations.

Fantastic multi-family residential holiday light display on Gemini and Waverly Ave and Saturn Street in Camarillo is back again. Great one to bring the kids to….lots of cartoon character decorations and a great area to park the car, stroll and enjoy. You won’t be disappointed. Take Arneill to Dunnigan St, east to Gemini Avenue.

Auburn Lane Community at Summerwood Avenue (at Cochran) in Simi Valley has thousands of Christmas lights strung from house to house over the streets of the entire neighborhood and most every home is decorated. Santa will make an appearance from 6-9PM on Sat 12/14. (Overflow parking at Phoenix Ranch School, just west of the neighborhood, at 4974 Cochran St. See www.facebook.com/auburnlane.

Winter Wonderland Holiday Display at 469 Highland Road in Simi Valley has well over 100, maybe 200 figurines and happy characters throughout the yard. Cross street Sinaloa, south of Royal.

Candy Cane Lane is a group of homes located in the vicinity of Lubao Avenue at Oxnard Street in Woodland Hills that has been fun to drive through for over 60 years.

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.


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)

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

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

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

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

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: Santa Coming to Malibu Country Mart (4-7PM)

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

Fri 12/6: Winter Wonderland Drop-In Crafts at the Camarillo Library (All Day)

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: Holidays at the Inn at the Stagecoach Inn Museum (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)

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

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

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

Sat 12/7: Elf Movie Screening and Holiday Crafts at Camarillo Library (10AM-1PM)

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 (9:30AM)

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: Winter Walk at Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills (11AM-6PM)

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 Stagecoach Inn Museum (1-4, 6:30-8:30PM)

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

Sat 12/7: Holiday Experience at the Simi Valley Town Center (5-7PM)

Sat 12/7: Holiday on High Street in Moorpark

Sat 12/7: New West Symphony Winter Spectacular Concert in Thousand Oaks (7PM)

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

12/6-12/8: Christmas Concerts at Cal Lutheran

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 (3-6PM)

Sun 12/8: New West Symphony Winter Spectacular Concert in Camarillo (3PM)

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)

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

Mon 12/9: Oxnard PD Santa at the Station Event (for Oxnard residents) (4:30-6:30PM)

Thu 12/12: Santa Lucia Celebration of Lights at Cal Lutheran (6:30PM)

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

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

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

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

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

Sat 12/14: A Very Merry Moorpark Holiday Concert (7PM)

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

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

12/14-12/15: Breakfast with Santa in Moorpark (must RSVP by 12/11)

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

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

Trump Eggs.jpg

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

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.

CamarilloXmasLights1.JPG
CamarilloXmasLights2.JPG
CamarilloXmasLights3.JPG
CamarilloXmasLights4.JPG
CamarilloXmasLights5.JPG

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.

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

iStock_MomsDay.jpg

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

OxnardXmasLights1.jpg

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.

OxnardXmasLights2.JPG
OxnardXmasLights4.JPG

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.