First of all I’d like to send a HUGE thank you to the 1,000 + artists, friends, family, and art lovers that came to the opening of our summer exhibitions earlier this month. The team and I are so happy that visitors have been enjoying the exhibits and are seeing what the amazing artists of Santa Barbara have to offer.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura invites the public to celebrate the completion of the Moon Ditch Mural, a landmark public art project that has transformed a flood control channel into one of the largest murals in the United States. Spanning approximately 3,400 linear feet (about two-thirds of a mile), the project was created through a partnership of local artists, volunteers, community organizations, and County agencies, demonstrating how participation in the arts can foster connection, support mental well-being, and inspire environmental stewardship.
Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC) for an uplifting evening of movement, creativity, reflection, and play designed to help you slow down, tune in, and experience a deeper sense of belonging. Through a series of guided, beginner-friendly exercises, you’ll explore how curiosity, imagination, and embodied awareness can open new pathways to connection and resilience.
This year, as we celebrate 50 years of service, we’ve combined our Summer Polo Soirée with our Summer Campaign to make an even greater impact. Join us in making a difference. Whether you attend the event or make a donation, your support helps ensure local seniors living with dementia and their families receive the care and support they deserve.
Step into the glamour of the 1920s for an unforgettable evening of fine dining, vintage-inspired cocktails, entertainment, dancing, and philanthropy as we celebrate Ventura County’s remarkable role in the early days of filmmaking.
TASTE OF HISTORY 2026
Thursday, September 10
We are so excited to share the good news with you! Every year we provide financial support and mentorship to low-income single mothers pursuing financial security through higher education. This year we had a total of 11 applications from our three area community colleges. All 11 women are single moms who are graduating from community college and have been admitted to a 4-year university or advanced professional training. We were able to support all 11 women! This support can be used for any expenses related to education or caring for their children while enrolled in classes. Over the last 10 years we have awarded 94 Women United Education Awards totaling $175,500!
In 2080, there will be androids to satisfy your emotional needs. Who wouldn’t want to get the “love vaccine”? An author laments not having been a prophet in her own land and orders her little bonsai tree to report an interruption in her streaming of the acceptance of a major literary award. For a writer, there’s always the possibility of “killing off” a character, but what do you do when the protagonist demands that you write a few extra pages so she can deeply feel the pain and seek healing once the story ends?
With free live music and activations down Main Street, we expect a high volume of foot traffic for MMV, and we need your help!
Join us as a volunteer for Make Music Ventura and experience the day from a backstage perspective, while helping our community make the most of this wonderful, free event. Shifts are available all day, between the hours of 8am to 8pm, and we have numerous opportunities in stage support, wayfinding, booth staffing, and more! Thank you for joining us.
On view now through July 12, 2026
Santa Paula artist Cornelis Botke (1887-1954) is best known as a master etcher and as a supporting figure in the career of his wife, artist Jessie Arms Botke (1883-1971). His etchings earned international acclaim and entered the collections of the California State Library, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. Yet from childhood, Cornelis’ true ambition was to be a painter.
Botke was born in Leeuwarden, Holland, in 1887. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised and educated in a Mennonite orphanage in Haarlem. Although he longed to pursue painting, his guardians worried about his livelihood and enrolled him instead at the Haarlem School of Applied Art, where students trained for professional trades such as architectural drawing, engraving, and metalwork.
VENTURA — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, during their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 9, approved construction of a new playground at Steckel Park, marking a major investment in recreation, accessibility, and family-friendly amenities at one of the County’s most popular parks.
VENTURA — The inaugural Bike the Coast Ventura hosted nearly 600 riders on June 13, welcoming participants of all ages and experience levels to ride through the scenic City of Ventura. The event partnered with local businesses and organizations to ensure that the Ventura community charm was truly highlighted throughout the event. The field of riders included Ventura locals, loyal participants of Bike the Coast San Diego, the event’s sister ride that takes place in the fall, and cyclists who traveled from Northern California, Las Vegas, and Arizona.
VENTURA — With Summer fast approaching, Island Packers, the official concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, is expanding its non-landing schedule to include Summer Island and Summer Whale Watching excursions from Ventura Harbor from May – September 2026. Visitors of all ages can view some truly magnificent mammals and also have the option to board a vessel to experience specialty trips to destinations on The Nature Conservancy property, in addition to the company’s full schedule of transportation to destinations in the Channel Island National Park. www.islandpackers.com and Ventura Harbor Village
SANTA CLARA RIVER VALLEY — The Santa Clara River Valley (SCRV) Pride Committee is proud to announce SCRV Pride Week 2026, a weeklong celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, visibility, inclusion, and community. The week will bring together residents, families, allies, businesses, public agencies, and community-based organizations from throughout the region for a series of events that celebrate diversity, honor local leaders, and strengthen community connections.
SCRV Pride Week reflects the Santa Clara River Valley’s commitment to creating a community where all people are welcomed, respected, and empowered to thrive. This year’s celebration will feature the SCRV Pride Mixer, a City of Santa Paula Pride Proclamation, and the annual SCRV Pride Brunch, highlighting the power of community, advocacy, and belonging.
Launched in response to growing uncertainty surrounding federal and state funding, the campaign was designed to help sustain life-changing programs that provide safety, healing, and prevention throughout San Luis Obispo County. With nearly 50% of Lumina Alliance’s budget historically supported by government funding, the campaign focuses on building long-term community investment to ensure survivors continue to have access to 24/7 crisis support, emergency shelter, transitional housing, therapy, advocacy, and prevention education.
SANTA MARIA — For the past 20 years, Nick and Deborah Carpenter have shared a tradition that has become an important part of their lives: taking Community Education art classes together at Allan Hancock College.
Over two decades, the couple has explored a variety of creative pursuits through the college’s tuition-free art offerings, developing new skills while building lasting memories. Among their most meaningful projects were creating the rings they later exchanged on their wedding day.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation (Foundation) raised over $234,000 at its annual Voices of Hope Gala on Wednesday, May 27, at Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms in Moorpark. The evening drew 240 community leaders, elected officials, and supporters who gathered to raise critical funds for the Foundation’s free programs serving individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, and other violent crimes.
Proceeds from the gala will support Camp HOPE, Voices of Ventura County, and the Pathways to Hope program, as well as the Foundation’s continued expansion. Two new Family Justice Centers are on track to open in 2027: the Carmen Ramirez Family Justice Center in Oxnard and the East County Family Justice Center, both of which will extend critical, trauma-informed services to communities across the county.
VENTURA — City Impact, Inc. celebrated a landmark morning on the Ventura Promenade on Saturday, May 30, as the 16th Annual Beachfront Run drew its largest field in event history. With 1,267 registered runners — a new record — participants of all ages and abilities took to the scenic coastal course in support of City Impact’s mental health, youth outreach and family services programs serving over 500 Ventura County residents annually.
This year’s event not only attracted regional runners in Ventura County from Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Fillmore, Simi Valley, Santa Paula, Camarillo and Ventura, but also runners from San Diego, Carpinteria, Long Beach, Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, Santa Maria, Whittier, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Sylmar and Reno, Nevada. Following are finalist winner results for first and second place runners.
SANTA PAULA — In advance of the Fourth of July Holiday and Fireworks event, the City of Santa Paula and the Santa Paula Police Department are announcing schedule and guidelines for those making plans to attend the fireworks show at Santa Paula Creek Sports Park at Harvest.
Please be aware, as with any community fireworks show, there will be extended traffic delays upon exiting the event for those who choose to drive a vehicle and park it in spaces available at Santa Paula Creek Sports Park.
OXNARD — We’re putting our heart and soul into making this year’s Panteón Fest one to remember.
Thank you for always supporting what we do. Please help us spread the word and we’ll see you October 17 at Panteón
THOUSAND OAKS — The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival launched in 1997 with the professional production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and the goal of presenting the magical comedy every decade with a different theme. Now, as the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company celebrates its milestone 30th year, it will again honor the tradition. This summer’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is set in the 1920s jazz and gangster world of Chicago and will run June 19 to July 5. “Hamlet” is the second production, July 10 to 26, and will be set in the late 19th century. All performances are at 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday, in Kingsmen Park on the California Lutheran University campus.
SANTA PAULA — More than 3,000 attendees packed Historic Main Street for the June edition of Cruise Night 2026 on Friday, June 5 — one of the strongest turnouts in the event’s 25-year history.
Hundreds of classic cars filled the street as families, car enthusiasts, and visitors from across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties came together for a free evening of community, culture, and live music by Ventura County-based bandRed Rock Road. Downtown shops and restaurants stayed open late, bringing the city’s historic core to life well into the evening.
“We are absolutely thrilled by the incredible community response to the Cruise Night on June 5. More than 3,000 attendees came out to celebrate on Main Street, and the energy was electric from start to finish. Seeing so many families, car enthusiasts and visitors from across the region come together in historic downtown Santa Paula reminds us exactly why this 25-year tradition matters. We can’t wait to see everyone again on August 7.”
SANTA MARIA — This summer, PCPA invites audiences to enjoy a season of inspiring true stories, family-friendly adventures, and memorable music. Performances run from June 11 through August 23 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria and the Solvang Festival Theater. Experience the true-life triumph of Come From Away, the magic of Frozen, the excitement of Luchadora!, and the energy of Beehive. This season promises theatrical experiences that will move, delight, and inspire, both under the stars and on stage.
LOMPOC — If your ideal summer getaway includes scenic beaches, local wine, outdoor adventure, and a slower pace, Lompoc deserves a spot on your Central
Coast itinerary. Located along California’s scenic Highway 1 corridor, Lompoc offers a refreshing mix of laid-back charm and unforgettable experiences.
One day you can hike through California history, the next you can sip Pinot Noir, watch a rocket launch, or relax at the beach with a famous burger in hand.
Whether you’re planning a long weekend or a full summer road trip, here are seven great ways to experience Lompoc this season.
Friday Nights Under the Stars at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden
July 10 – August 28 | 8:30 PM
(No screening on Friday, August 7 due to Fiesta)
UCSB Arts & Lectures and the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture present the 2026 FREE Summer Cinema lineup: “Mixtapes & Misfits,” seven films powered by iconic music, big emotions and unforgettable characters who refuse to fit the mold. Screenings take place Friday evenings at 8:30 p.m. from July 10 through August 28, under the stars at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden (no film on Friday, August 7 due to Fiesta).
This year’s lineup includes: Pretty in Pink, Say Anything…, La Bamba, Rushmore, Love & Basketball, Napoleon Dynamite and Hairspray. Begun in 2010, this collaboration between Arts & Lectures and the County Office of Arts & Culture has become a cherished Santa Barbara summertime tradition.
OXNARD — The City of Oxnard Recreation and Community Services announces registration open for 2026 Camp Serendipity ‘Summer Day Camp’ from June 22 through Aug. 14. Open to children 5 to 12 years of age.
Click here for more information.
17.7 million Americans live in communities too road-poor to evacuate safely.
Read more about the threshold
Parallel Histories: Ventura County during the US Revolution
As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Parallel Histories explores what was unfolding at the same time in Ventura County. While British colonialism and the Revolutionary War reshaped the East Coast, California, not yet part of the United States, was being transformed by Spain.
READ MORE
Patriotic Threads: Textiles, Tapestries, & T-Shirts
Patriotic Threads explores how textiles have long served as powerful expressions of national identity. Through handcrafted works, the exhibit reveals how textiles and design embody patriotism and collective memory.
READ MORE
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. For graduates, especially. Commencement season has arrived.
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OXNARD — The Mestizo Folklórico Dance Company presents Fiesta Folklórica, marking its 45th anniversary with two shows at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building, located at 4000 S. Rose Avenue.
The performances will take place on Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 31 at 4:30 pm.
For information on advanced online ticket sales, please visit: https://oxnard.vbotickets.com/event/mestizo_dance_company_presents_fiesta_folkl%C3%B3rica/192913, or you can scan the QR code or click on the link on the poster.
Tickets will also be available at the door one hour before each show.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
California Lutheran University
Gilbert Sports & Fitness Center
130 Overton Ct, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wildfire, drought and insect infestations are causing forests to emit more greenhouse gasses than carbon-credit systems currently account for.
Read more about the risks
Cerca de ti
(Close to you)
Play in Spanish
?Written by Conchi León?
Directed by Juliana Acosta
LOMPOC — There is still time to enjoy Spring with a wildflower-colored drive to Lompoc. This hidden gem tucked along the Central Coast offers a rich history, fun outdoor activities, impressive sights, a flourishing wine industry, and outstanding options for accommodations.
During the spring, it’s a little cooler and quieter, making it one of the best times to visit. While you plan your trip to Lompoc, here’s a list of things you don’t want to miss during this season – we call it “Lompoc’s Spring Bucket List.”
We can’t wait to celebrate our stars in the community with you! Mark it on your calendar today! Partners, individuals, corporations, donors, and volunteers! We celebrate your support with awards for your gifts of time, talent, treasure, AND your Spirit! We are already working on the silent auction too!
LOMPOC — n the “Valley of Arts and Flowers,” visitors can now see spectacular patches of colors from spring through fall in the farm fields of Lompoc Valley – Stock, Larkspur, Delphinium, Sweet Pea and Bells of Ireland along with other varieties are grown in abundance by local commercial flower growers.
Where to See Them: The flower fields rotate every year, and are scattered throughout Lompoc Valley. Some can be spotted west of Old Town Lompoc, along Central Avenue, from Floradale Ave. to Union Sugar Ave.
SANTA BARBARA — The regional Mexican music community is coming together for a powerful evening of music, solidarity, and support for immigrant families through the inaugural Freedom Music Fest, featuring performances by Larry Hernández, Régulo Caro, and Roberto Tapia.
A portion of the event proceeds will benefit 805UndocuFund, a nonprofit organization providing direct financial assistance to immigrant families impacted by recent ICE raids and climate-induced disasters while also advocating for long-term systems change at the policy level.
All donated proceeds received by 805UndocuFund will directly support the organization’s Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides immediate relief to families affected by immigration enforcement throughout California’s Central Coast. Since launching the Emergency Assistance Fund in April 2025, 805UndocuFund has distributed more than $1 million in direct assistance to impacted families across the region.
VENTURA — Bike the Coast Ventura will be hosting their inaugural event on June 13, showcasing the charm of the Ventura community. The event has put a strong emphasis on its local involvement, focusing on building partnerships with businesses and organizations within the Ventura region and authentically connected to the community. Registration for the 2026 event is now open.
This year’s sponsors and partners include Visit Ventura, Downtown Ventura Association, Ventura Coast Brewing Company and Ventura Coast Cycling. The event has also partnered with local charity organizations, including The Los Angeles Chapter of National MS and the Downtown Ventura Foundation. The event will also host Ventura-based band The GAMBLE at their free Finish Festival, which will also include various local food, drink and vendors for riders, spectators and community members to all enjoy.
Parallel Histories: Ventura County during the US Revolution
As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Parallel Histories explores what was unfolding at the same time in Ventura County. While British colonialism and the Revolutionary War reshaped the East Coast, California, not yet part of the United States, was being transformed by Spain.
READ MORE
Patriotic Threads: Textiles, Tapestries, & T-Shirts
Patriotic Threads explores how textiles have long served as powerful expressions of national identity. Through handcrafted works, the exhibit reveals how textiles and design embody patriotism and collective memory.
READ MORE
RSVP REQUESTED
Ticket sales have opened to the public at venturamusicfestival.org with a 20% early bird savings, using the code: EARLY2026
SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) announces the opening of a new exhibit, Fine Print, Hard Lines: Housing and Exclusion in Santa Barbara, which examines how discriminatory housing policies and practices have shaped the city’s past and continue to influence the community today.
On view at Casa de la Guerra, Fine Print, Hard Lines explores the use of restrictive covenants and other exclusionary practices embedded in historical “fine print” that limited who could buy, rent, or reside in certain neighborhoods. Through a compelling mix of primary sources including property records, real estate advertisements, newspaper articles, and historic maps, the exhibit reveals how these practices produced lasting social inequities and barriers that still affect the lived experiences of Santa Barbara residents.
VENTURA — Setting the stage to linger longer, Ventura Harbor Village is continuing its live entertainment series of free, family-friendly music on the Seaside Promenade at the waterfront throughout May 2026. The ongoing music series showcases a dockside selection of top-notch musicians who present a variety of genres, including Pop, Rock and coastal surf rock.
Revel in the perfect coastal day with live music from 1 – 4 PM. Relax by the water as talented local musicians set the scene with a mix of lively and laid-back tunes. Whether you’re dining at a waterfront restaurant or simply soaking up the ocean breeze, the vibrant music adds the perfect soundtrack to your visit.
Friday, May 8
A screening of the 1981 landmark adaptation by Luis Valdez features accompaniment by a live orchestra.
OXNARD — As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, a new exhibition in Oxnard invites the community to explore the game of soccer through a local perspective. The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC), in partnership with the Consulado de México en Oxnard, presents Once Miradas, Un Balón (Eleven Gazes, One Ball)—a group exhibition that looks at fútbol as both a cultural presence and a source of artistic inspiration. The exhibit opens to the public with a reception on May 21 from 5:30-8pm and will celebrate (4) youth soccer teams with a custom jersey giveaway and hands-on activities. Once Miradas, Un Balón will be on view from May 14 – September 4, 2026. Gallery hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday. Admission is free.
VENTURA — Ventura Charter School welcomed an estimated 2,500 attendees to its 15th Annual EcoFest on Sunday, April 26, as students, families, local businesses and community organizations gathered on the school’s Ventura campus to celebrate sustainability and demonstrate what a school rooted in its community looks like in practice.
All proceeds from booth fees, sponsorships, the silent auction and raffle ticket sales go directly to student programs and educational enrichment at Ventura Charter School.
Celebrate leadership. Inspire community.
For over 35 years, El Concilio Family Services has honored outstanding Latino leaders across Ventura County who are making a meaningful difference through education, advocacy, volunteerism, health, and more. Know someone who is uplifting others and creating impact?
