Cool Ventura County Residential Holiday Light Displays This 2014 Holiday Season

UPDATE: 2015 residential holiday light displays are compiled at THIS LINK.

We are in the home stretch of the winter holiday season 2014 and once again are fortunate to have a number of great residential light displays thanks to the amazing efforts of local Ventura County residents. This is just a sampling of what's out there...please let us know if you come across other noteworthy displays around town!

In Camarillo on Gemini Street and Waverly Avenue south of Dunnigan Street, dozens of homes are decorated once again with cartoon characters, Santas, snowmen and tens of thousands of lights and other decorations.

Do I detect Dora at this house on Gemini St in Camarillo!?

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.

The holiday light display by the Higgins family at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks is a 30 minute display synchronized with music and over 150,000 lights.

This image of the epic light show on El Dorado Drive display does not do it justice!

There's a breathtaking display of lights, decorations and falling snow at Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Night, until Christmas from 5:30 to 9:00pm the lights at 4903 Pathfinder in Westlake Village that is highlighted in more detail at this link.

Take Walter Avenue off of Kimber Drive in Newbury Park and you'll be treated to what may be the tallest inflatable Rudolph in Ventura County! And homes have joined in on the fun.

The Winter Wonderland home at 469 Highland Road at Sinaloa in Simi Valley is a sight to behold!

Simi Sue reminded us of a neat display wooden animated Disney figures at the house at the corner of Timberlane and Fearing in Simi Valley.

There are some nice displays on Camino Dos Rios in Thousand Oaks and Silverwheel Place in Newbury Park. More details at this link.

A late edition! The outstanding animated holiday light display at 538 Brisbaine Avenue in Newbury Park is back! Lights synchronized with lively music simulcast on 100.5 FM. Really fun, sparkly display!

A fantastic music and lights display at 538 Brisbaine in Newbury Park

There's a synchronized music/light display at 3167 Gold Hill Circle (at Sundance Street) in Thousand Oaks, off of Lynn and Wildwood. Check out some footage at this link.

There's a particularly festively decorated residence on Shetland Place in North Ranch worth a look!

For other local holiday events and activities in and around Ventura County, click here!

The. Most. Awesome. Holiday. Light. Show. You. Will. Ever. See. In. Thousand. Oaks!

2016 Update: The Higgins family moved and thus no more display. Plenty of other awesome displays in and around Ventura County though at THIS LINK.

UPDATE FALL 2014: The display is back again this year, longer than ever!

Located at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks. Take Janss Road east off the 23 Freeway, turn right on El Monte Drive (past the Thousand Oaks Library), then left on El Dorado. Be mindful of the neighbors!

The Higgins family of Thousand Oaks may have the most entertaining and fun residential holiday light show in the Conejo Valley.

Photo of the Higgins' holiday light show in 2012.According to Ed Higgins, this amazing display was constructed with over 150,000 lights, over 3 1/2 MILES of hard wire extension cords, 192 digital channels and over 1,000 feet of Cat 5 cable in the "Old Oaks" section of Thousand Oaks at 1566 El Dorado Drive.

Higgins admits "we're nuts" but they obviously have a passion and talent for this. And the neighbors are great about it they say. Ed and his wife Valerie are often out on Friday/Saturday nights with tables of cocoa and whipped cream, cookies, cider and cinammon twists!

Below is footage of the display in 2012. This short video does not do it justice. Go check it out!

Live Beehive on Display at the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum

The Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula contains nearly a thousand vintage farm items ranging from tractors, machines and tools as well as rotating art and photo exhibits as well as educational sessions for all ages. One other unique aspect of the Agriculture Museum is this live beehive exhibit, which bees can access through the exterior wall. Fascinating to see in person! This is a permanent display at the museum.

General public admission to the Agriculture Museum (as of February 2015) is $5 adults, $3 seniors, students and AAA members and $1 for children 6-17. Kids 5 and under are free. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (changing to Fri-Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3/1/15)

For more information, visit the Museum of Ventura County website at www.venturamuseum.org or call 805.653.0323.

New Farm Motif Playground at Borchard Community Park in Newbury Park

Borchard Community Park is located at Reino Road and Borchard Road in Newbury Park. Recently a new play area was completed in this cool barnyard motif. Based on initial response on the CVG Facebook page, this new playground is already a big hit!

This nicely appointed park and community center also has softball/soccer fields, restrooms, tennis courts, a labyrinth and fitness area, skate park, basketball courts and more. Visit crpd.org for more information.

How to Protect You and Your Children From the Spread of Enterovirus D68

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is one of more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses. This virus was first identified in California in 1962. EV-D68 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. Mild symptoms may include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, and body and muscle aches. Severe symptoms may include wheezing and difficulty breathing.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed 4 enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) cases in patients in San Diego (3) and Ventura (1) counties a few weeks ago.

Parents should seek medical attention immediately for children who are having any breathing difficulty (wheezing, difficulty speaking or eating, belly pulling in with breaths, blueness around the lips), particularly if the child suffers from asthma. There is no specific treatment for persons with EV-D68, nor is there a vaccine to prevent it. However, everyone six months of age and older should receive influenza vaccine every year to protect themselves against that important cause of respiratory disease. 

Healthcare providers should consider EV-D68 as a possible cause of acute, unexplained severe respiratory illness, even if the patient does not have fever, and consider laboratory testing of respiratory specimens for enteroviruses when the cause of respiratory illness in severely ill patients is unclear.

The best way to prevent transmission of enteroviruses is to:
 
• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.

More information at www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/ev-d68.html.

Scenes From Saturday's City of Thousand Oaks 50th Anniversary Parade

The weather was perfect for today's 50th Anniversary City of Thousand Oaks Parade down Thousand Oaks Boulevard.  The theme of the parade was "Remembering the past, honoring the memories" and the event lived up to it. The 1 1/2 hour parade featured marching band, color guards and drill teams from Westlake, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park High Schools, the Redwood Middle School Marching Band, dozens of dignitaries from Thousand Oaks past and present, vintage cars, floats, equestrians and much more.The following video footage and photos capture just a small fraction of the fun! There were smiles all around. More photos on the CVG Facebook Page at this link.