Photo courtesy Ventura Harbor Village
VENTURA — Listen up, it’s not just hocus pocus! Ventura Harbor Village is getting into the spooky spirit by brewing up a variety of fall festivities for visitors this Halloween. There is no better place to be than seaside as it casts a magical spell.
This spook-tacular destination invites guests from near and far to stop in for some enchanting entertainment. The real treat is complimentary community events for costumed kids, pets and parents who wish to celebrate the season in costume.
Festively decorated with local pumpkins, skeletons, and a myriad of scenic marina photo ops, Ventura Harbor is pulling out all the stops for Halloween weekend, made possible by partner, Underwood Family Farms.
Find the full lineup of Ventura Harbor Village fall festivities: https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/events/
Plus, here’s a closer look at what’s brewing up by the beach later this month:
Seaside Skeleton Hunt:
Over a dozen skeletons have escaped and are on the loose at Ventura Harbor. Visitors are invited to roam the waterfront Village and locate them all at Seaside Skelton Hunt on October 29 and 30, 2022. Take photos of all the skeletons you find and post to social media for a chance to win a Harbor Halloween prize pack filled with goodies from Village shops (use #SeasideSkeletons in the caption and tag @venturaharbor to enter). Look for the mermaid skeleton for bonus points!
HOWL-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest 2022:
Get your furry four-legged friends and their creative costumes ready! The 10th Annual Ventura Harbor Village HOWL-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest is back. A fashionable lineup dogs dressed in creative and cute costumes have a chance to win prizes for best attire. The Instagram-worthy pet costume event is set for Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 11am to 12:30pm. Owners and their furry com-pet-itors are encouraged to arrive at 10:30am to check-in before the judging begins.
The contest is open to canines only, and a maximum of 60 dogs can enter. There is no entry fee and online pre-registration is encouraged to secure your spot. The dog costume contest online registration opens the week of October 20th where dog owners can sign up. A handful of spots will be available (first come first serve) the day of the event.
Owners are encouraged to get dressed up in theme too. Memorable dog/owner duos from previous years feature a farmer & a cow, bumble bee & bee trainer, and a fisherman & his first mate. This year, participants will vie for the top dog spot in costume categories that include Best in Show, Spookiest, Most Sea-Worthy, Most On-trend, and Most Creative.
Winners will receive a blue ribbon, a gift certificate to a Ventura Harbor Village shop or eatery, a pumpkin courtesy of Underwood Family farms, and a complimentary pup cream from Coastal Cone. The best in show “top dog” receives the coveted 2-foot-long rawhide bone. All registered doggies who participate are treated to a doggy goody bag from this year’s sponsor Ventura Pet Barn as well! A professional photographer will also be on site to snap photos of festivities.
Kids Seaside Trick or Treat 2022:
The fang-tastic series of seaside events continue with a Kids Seaside Trick or Treat on Sunday, October 30, 2022 from 11am to 1pm in Ventura Harbor Village. Families decked to the 9’s navigate through the Village with over a dozen treats stops at participating Harbor businesses. Trick or treaters should bring their own treat bags. Treats are available while supplies last.
Kids get creative at a complimentary craft station, hosted by Lakeshore Learning, where each child can decorate mini pumpkins using colorful stickers and sparkles (300 pumpkins and décor donated by the kind folks at Underwood Family Farms). Bring the entire family for a spooky photo op with the Halloween Hearse (thanks to the Joseph P. Reardon funeral home) decked out to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in Ventura Harbor Village’s courtyard.
For a nominal fee, a face painter can add a bit of glitz and final costume touches, and a fortune teller can add some mystic. Need a last-minute costume accessory or some fall décor? Ventura Harbor Village boo-tique shops and galleries have you covered. Check out Ventura Harbor shops to top off your Halloween costumer like Lost in Socks or Hats Unlimited. Plus, pick up Halloween-themed treats from Top This Chocolate and Sugar Lab Bake Shop.
Professional Pumpkin Carving:
Throughout Halloween weekend on October 29-30, 2022, kids and adults can meander throughout Ventura Harbor Village and catch a glimpse of professional pumpkin carving each day from 11am to 1pm. Local artist and professional pumpkin carver, Dawn Reily, will be on the seaside Promenade Stage carving a massive pumpkin! Geta front row seat to the creative carving process and “sea” what she makes. Also visit Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts where Riley is a contributing artist. Discover her mixed media art for sale that is on display just a short walk away from where she will be carving.
Escape Room Experiences:
Got tweens? The Ultimate Escape Rooms at Ventura Harbor Village offers thrilling, interactive experiences daily. Choose from three themed rooms where participants solve riddles & puzzles to escape in an hour or less if they can. Put your brain to the test and earn bragging rights with your buddies. Most rooms can accommodate 10 people max; reservations recommended.
How Sweet It Is:
Ventura Harbor Village has no shortage of seasonal sweet treats! Sink your teeth into an array of delectable desserts from Ventura Harbor Village’s top confectioners: Top This Chocolate (customers can witness candy being made right before their eyes), Coastal Cone, Sugar Lab Bake Shop, and Le Petit Café & Bakery.
Celebrate Seafood Month:
Cap off a great day of Halloween festivities by saluting the sea in celebration of National Seafood Month. Stop to get the fresh catch of the day and get hooked on the nationally recognized holiday. Enjoy some fresh seafood lunch or dinner at local restaurants or by visiting top notch fish markets, including Andria’s Seafood Market and Wild Local Seafood Co.
About Ventura Harbor Village:
Situated along the picturesque California Central Coast, endowed with breathtaking views, Ventura Harbor Village also offers visitors an escape for coastal visitors and residents. This waterfront attraction boasts seaside dining, coastal shopping & boutiques, galleries, wine tasting, pampering services, on the water rentals, entertainment venues, live music, sweet treats, dog-friendly facilities, soft adventure, and spectacular beaches with sunset views of the Pacific coastline. Home to the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center, (open daily with free admission, within walking distance to the Village), this stunning national park center
features its own viewing tower, exhibits, movie theater, and bookstore.
It is here that visitors can learn more about exploring the Channel Islands for world-class island diving, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, sea cave exploration, photography, camping and wildlife viewing via Island Packers and a number of local outfitters.
Ventura Harbor is 20 miles from Santa Barbara and is 60 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. It is accessible in just minutes from scenic US Highway 101/Highway1 and via the 126 from the 5 Freeway. For additional visitor information, contact Ventura Harbor Village at 805-477-0470, or visit VenturaHarborVillage.com. Ventura Harbor Village is located at 1583 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura. Post, share, and like @VenturaHarbor.