Category: Entertainment

July 28 — Introducing IchigoCon: Ventura County’s First Gaming and Anime convention

OXNARD — The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) is proud to present Ventura County’s first one-day convention that brings together the worlds of gaming and anime on Friday, July 28! IchigoCon promises an unforgettable day where gaming and anime enthusiasts of all ages can come together, reveling in the fandom of these captivating worlds. 

The convention kicks off at 11 am with the highly anticipated Super Smash Bros tournament. Prepare to witness an intense clash of skills as over 100 players, including both amateur enthusiasts and professional players, battle it out for glory and a handsome $1,000 cash pot. With a diverse range of competitors, the tournament guarantees electrifying matches that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Confirmed players include Missouri’s Apollokage (Top 20 Best World Super Smash BrosPlayer) and Canada’s Ouch!? (Top 50 Best World Super Smash BrosPlayer).

July 29 — Community Roots Garden in Oxnard will host free cultural art workshops

OXNARD — Community Roots Garden, at 1801 Joliet Pl. in Oxnard, will host  some beautiful collective workshops and conversations guided by some wonderfully talented individuals. These workshops are geared towards healing and connecting by sharing knowledge of ancestral ways of being through storytelling and cultural art practice shares. All workshops start at 10 a.m. with options to stay to help paint the mural after each workshops.

Aug. 4 — Yarrow YMCA’s ‘Parents’ Night Out’ in Westlake Village

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Parents can have an evening to themselves while their kids have fun under supervised care at the Yarrow Family YMCA, Friday, August 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

While parents spend the event out, their kids will enjoy a night of carnival games, races, prizes, and basketball gym free play. All activities are led by YMCA staff.

Aug. 4 — Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) to present twelfth annual Night in Oaxaca

On Friday, August 4th, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) will hold its twelfth annual Night in Oaxaca. Throughout the years, Night in Oaxaca has become the largest and most sought-after fundraiser that helps MICOP continue our mission of supporting, organizing, and empowering the indigenous migrant community on California’s Central Coast. 

Your attendance and participation during Night in Oaxaca enable us to provide vital resources to our community, including crucial services such as case management, system navigation, community organizing, and policy advocacy. Together, we can ensure our community’s voice is heard loud and clear. Let’s celebrate the vibrant indigenous culture and help us advance our important work.

Aug. 4 — Celebrate Tay Day – A Taylor Swift Event in Ventura Harbor Village Where One Lucky Fan Will Win Tickets to the Eras Tour in Los Angeles!

VENTURA — Celebrate Tay Day where One Lucky Fan Will Win Tickets to the Eras Tour in Los Angeles! The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, A Taylor Swift Event in Ventura Harbor Village, 583 Spinnaker Drive Ventura.

Ventura Harbor Village is teaming up with Cumulus Broadcasting KBBY 95.1 to give away 2 tickets to the most popular concert of the year – Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour! Tickets are for the August 5, 2023 show at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Aug. 11-12 — Teatro de las Américas — Will you be at opening night for Entre Pancho Villa y una mujer desnuda?

Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to bring this production to life. Break a leg!

Entre Pancho Villa y una mujer desnuda
Presented By Teatro De Las Americas

Aug 11th 2023, 7:00 PM
Aug 12th 2023, 7:00 PM

Aug. 11 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Star Trek at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden

Get ready to explore the galaxy this summer with UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2023 FREE Summer Cinema line-up: Out of This World. The series continues with J. J. Abrams’ thrilling 2009 resurrection of the Star Trek franchise. 

Aug. 19-20 — 42nd Annual Wings Over Camarillo to honor Korean War Veterans

CAMARILLO — Welcome to the 42nd annual Wings Over Camarillo presented by Oxnard Auto Center.

Wings Over Camarillo is back and better than ever!  Our 2023 theme is “Honoring Our Korean War Veterans”.

Join us in celebrating our aviation heritage at Ventura County’s premiere family event.

Buy your tickets in advance and SAVE. No cash will be accepted at the gate

Aug. 19 — Flying Goat Cellars Hosts National Honey Bee Day Celebration

LOMPOC — Lompoc Valley Beekeepers Association will celebrate National Honey Bee Day on August 19 from 11am-4pm at Flying Goat Cellars Tasting & Art Salon, located at 1520 East Chestnut Court in Lompoc. LVBA members will be on hand to offer local expertise and education on beekeeping, a peek into the life of bees with an observation hive and honey tasting. There is no charge and children of all ages are welcome. Local raw unfiltered honey will be available for purchase in several sizes. 

Aug. 19 — Santa Paula Art Museum to present 13th Annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser

The Santa Paula Art Museum’s biggest fundraiser of the year is back in person! Sixty works of art will be up for grabs during the Museum’s 13th Annual Fine Art Auction Fundraiser on Saturday, August 19. The silent auction featuring 40 fine art pieces will run from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The live auction featuring 20 museum-quality artworks will run from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. led by professional auctioneer John Eubanks of California Auctioneers. Admission to the auction event is $15.00 for SPAM members and $20.00 for non-members. All proceeds benefit the Santa Paula Art Museum, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Aug. 20 — New venue announced in Oxnard for Judy Collins/Sophie B Hawkins Concert

OXNARD — Sterling Venue Ventures has just announced that, due to the inclement weather forecast for Sunday evening, August 20, the Judy Collins / Sophie B. Hawkins concert scheduled to be outdoors at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai has been re-located to the Oxnard Performing Arts Center at 800 Hobson Way. Likewise, the show start time is moved to 7:30pm. All previously purchased Libbey Bowl tickets will be honored at this new location.

Aug. 20 — Free Summer Family Day at the Wildling Museum

SOLVANG — The Wildling Museum is pleased to announce the return of its free Summer Family Day event, now in its third year, on Sunday, August 20, 2023, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The event is now offered in both the winter and summer after growing popularity. Visitors are invited to bring the whole family and enjoy free museum admission during event hours, along with a day of art and nature-inspired activities.

Aug. 20 — Ventura Harbor Village to Host C.A.R.L.’s Pooch Parade

Costume contest with other canine activities returns after a four-year hiatus   SANTA PAULA — Do you love dogs and superheroes? Canine Adoption and Rescue League’s (C.A.R.L.) 2023 Pooch Parade Dog Walk and Pet Expo on Sunday, August 20, will give…

Through Aug. 25 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the 2023 FREE Summer Cinema

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the 2023 FREE Summer Cinema line-up: Out of This World, seven nights of space-inspired movies under the stars at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden, Friday nights from July 7 through August 25. (No screening Friday, August 4 due to Fiesta)

Aug. 25 — Grammy-nominated Pianist and Composer David Benoit to Perform at the Lobero Theatre

SANTA BARBARA — Iconic pianist, composer, arranger, producer, film and TV scorer David Benoit will be performing on Friday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E Canon Perdido St, Santa Barbara. 

For four decades, the Grammy-nominated pianist, composer and arranger David Benoit has reigned supreme as one the founding fathers of contemporary jazz.  He has received three GRAMMY® nominations in the categories of Best Contemporary Jazz Performance for “Every Step of the Way” (1989), Best Large Ensemble Performance for GRP All-Star Big Band (1996), and Best Instrumental Composition for “Dad’s Room,” the latter from the album Professional Dreamer (2000) and in 2010, Benoit received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Smooth Jazz Awards.

Aug. 26 — Ventura Land Trust Hosts Annual Film Festival for Open Space Conservation

VENTURA — Ventura Land Trust’s annual benefit, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, returns on Saturday, August 26th to the expansive lawn of the Ventura County Credit Union headquarters. Now in its 14th year, the film festival features nearly two hours of environmental and activism films along with music, food trucks, and local beer, wine and spirits. 

Beyond being the Trust’s signature event to raise funds for the environment, it shares an urgent call to action, encouraging participants to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet. A family-friendly event, participants are encouraged to spread out on the Ventura County Credit Union lawn (2575 Vista Del Mar Drive, Ventura) with chairs and blankets. Doors open at 5 pm, and films begin just before 8 pm as the sky darkens. 

Aug. 27 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Dancing Out Loud: Free Public Performances’

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present “Dancing Out Loud: Free Public Performances” at 5 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Front Terrace, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Award-winning dancer, choreographer, and deaf artist and advocate Antoine Hunter is joined by members of the Urban Jazz Dance Company, which he founded, in an imaginative, joyful celebration to accompany the exhibition The Private Universe of James Castle: Drawings from the William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation and James Castle Collection and Archive. Enjoy the electric energy of dancing out loud with this free public performance that Mr. Hunter has said, “puts the capital D in Deaf, representing power, culture, and strength.”

Sept. 8, 9, 10 — Bilingual report — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! Launches 2023-2024 Season with Three Free Performances by Grammy-Nominated Perla Batalla

SANTA BARBARA — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva) is back with the first event of its spectacular 2023-2024 season. The season will launch with a free community performance by grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Perla Batalla. A collaboration between UCSB Arts & Lectures, The Marjorie Luke Theatre, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, and the Isla Vista School Parent Teacher Association, Viva is dedicated to bringing  the rich cultural heritage of Latin America to Santa Barbara County students and community members.

Sept. 9-10 — Seaside Street Painters & Art Vendors Line the Waterfront for 15th Annual Summer Festival at Ventura Harbor Village

VENTURA —The 15th Annual Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival returns to picturesque Ventura Harbor Village on September 9th & 10th, 2023 from 10 AM to 5 PM. www.venturaartfestival.com

Presented by Ventura County Art Events, Inc., the Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival boosts 30 curated artist vendors showcasing their art in Ventura Harbor Village between popular eateries Brophy Bros. Restaurant & Clam Bar, On the Alley, and Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market. Works of art includepaintings, pottery, photography, and jewelry — all available for purchase.  Additionally, the sidewalks along the Ventura Harbor Village promenade and Fisherman’s Memorial will be the canvas for more than 20 talented and colorful chalk artists, creating murals ranging from 10×5 ft. to 10×10 ft. in size.  Well known chalk artists, Clif Gold, Julio Jimenez and Rod Tryon, plan to attend.

Sept. 18 — Unite to Light Presents ‘Mike Love Benefit Concert’ in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — Unite to Light, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing clean, renewable light and energy to people living without electricity, is partnering with REACH For Uganda to host the Mike Love Benefit Concert, an electrifying musical event with a purpose.

Reach For Uganda.
The concert aims to provide 2,000 solar powered Luke Lights to create Light Libraries at REACH For Uganda schools. A Light Library is where schools possess a number of solar-powered Luke Lights for students to “check out.”

Sept. 21 — Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation Presents: The Power Within

SANTA BARBARA — Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation presents, “The Power Within,” an evening with Victoria Arlen, ESPN host, Dancing with the Stars semi-finalist, Gold and Silver Medalist Swimmer and inspirational speaker, on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. Hear Victoria’s inspiring story of recovery and rehabilitation.

In 2005, Victoria was only 11 years old when she was diagnosed with two rare neurological disorders, Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. In a persistent vegetative state for four years, Victoria was unable to communicate with those around her — sometimes suffering from seizures for more than 20 hours per day. After a decade-long rehabilitation, she regained the ability to walk again in 2016 after being paralyzed from the waist down.

Sept. 22 — One805 Live! Fall Music Festival with Headliner Maroon 5, John Fogerty, Raises Funds for Local First Responders

SANTA BARBARA — The One805LIVE! Music Festival fundraiser at Kevin Costner’s estate near Summerland, headlined by Maroon 5, will have some high-profile guests and participants who have graciously agreed to present the annual Heart of the Community Awards.  

“We are absolutely delighted that internationally well-known residents of Santa Barbara County (some, yet to be publicly announced), including Ellen DeGeneres, have agreed to support our County’s First Responders, by joining us at One805LIVE! this year,” said Kirsten Cavendish, CEO and Co-Founder of One805.  

“We have a packed evening of incredible music this year! The gates open at 4:00 PM and we encourage people to arrive by 5:00 pm so as not to miss any of the award ceremony or our special guests. And we may have additional surprises up our sleeves” added Richard Weston Smith, COO and Co-Founder of One805. 

Sept. 23 — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Annual Bloom Fundraiser to honor Lynda Fairly & John Franklin

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria announced their annual event, An Enchanted Evening in Bloom, set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 23, honoring Carpinterian’s Lynda Fairly and John Franklin.

Lynda Fairly, a community philanthropist, is retired from a distinguished career in public education serving youth and adults and served at Santa Barbara City College for 34 years. She retired from her last position as Vice President of Adult Education almost 10 years ago. Upon retirement, Lynda moved to Carpinteria and dedicated her time to making a  difference in the community. She now serves on three nonprofit boards, actively volunteers with various organizations, and is a passionate advocate for the arts, notably as a lead donor for the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center. Raised by a single mom, Lynda had a role model for independence and knows the value mentorship plays in a child’s life. 

Sept. 24 — C.A.R.L.’s Pooch Parade Returns to Ventura Harbor

VENTURA — Animal welfare non-profit Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) will welcome canine superheroes and their owners to the 2023 Pooch Parade Dog Walk and Pet Expo on Sunday, September 24, at Ventura Harbor Village, 1583 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura on the grassy area. The expo starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. with the Parade starting at 1:15 p.m. 

With this year’s theme of “Superheroes,” participants will have opportunities to dress themselves and their dogs up as their favorite fictional comic book character. Canine contestants will be eligible for ribbons, prizes and a grand award going to the “Top Dog” of the Pooch Parade. The event will feature an emcee, Ken Vela, who served as emcee at the 2018 and 2019 Pooch Parades, vendors, a silent auction and a Frisbee demonstration with dogs. Major sponsors include Ohana Pet Hospital with offices in Ventura and Santa Paula and Boone Graphics in Goleta. 

Sept. 24 — Wildling Museum of Art and Nature in Solvang to present ‘California National Parks: Stories of Water’ exhibit

SOLVANG — The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to present its third juried exhibition showcasing California’s nine national parks this fall. California National Parks: Stories of Water will feature 37 artists and 39 selected artworks juried from a pool of more than 240 submissions by artists across the U.S., competing for $4,000 in awards. The public is invited to attend an opening reception and awards ceremony at the Wildling on Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 3 – 5 p.m.

The exhibition explores various impacts of water – or its lack – in California’s national parks through a wide range of media and techniques, from acrylic, oil, and watercolor paintings, to photography, mixed media, and textile art.

Through Oct. 1 — Yankee Dawg You Die at the Elite Theatre Company in Oxnard

OXNARD — The Elite Theatre would like to announce theupcoming production of Yankee Dawg You Die – a play by Philip Kan Gotanda, directed by Jolyn Johnson. The production runs for four weekends on The Elite’s South Stage beginning September 8, 2023 in Oxnard, California.

Long before Crazy Rich Asians or Everything Everywhere All At Once, Philip Kan Gotanda explored being Asian in Hollywood in Yankee Dawg You Die. In this play, two Asian-American men struggle to find a space in Hollywood in the 1980s: Bradley Yamashita is brash, outspoken, and opinionated; Vincent Chang is a survivor of Old Hollywood stereotypes, trying to remain regal and honorable. Bradley and Vincent’s unlikely friendship–as they talk of life, love, and Tinseltown–shows that generational divides might not be as wide as we think.

Oct. 1 — OPAC rebrands its annual arts festival to “CHELITA: Arts, Music and Miches Festival”

OXNARD — Making its post-COVID debut is OPAC’s annual arts festival scheduled for Sunday, October 1 from 11 am to 6 pm at picturesque Heritage Square, but with a twist.  Once known as “PACC the Arts Festival,” the event has been rebranded as “CHELITA: Arts, Music, and Miches Festival” and will continue to showcase local culture and creativity.

“COVID provided arts organizations an opportunity to reevaluate what we do and how we can best serve our community. PACC the Arts no longer felt on-brand for us, but CHELITA certainly does,” reflects OPAC’s Executive Director Carolyn Merino Mullin. “The concept: If Coachella and a Michelada Festival had a baby in Oxnard, it’d be CHELITA.”

CHELITA is set to transform Heritage Square into a dynamic hub of creativity, fostering an environment where art, music, and gastronomy collide to create an unforgettable experience for attendees of all ages. 

Oct. 1 — UCSB Arts & Lectures kicks off its 2023-2024 season with performance by five-time Grammy-winner Jacob Collier

SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Jacob Collier on Sunday, October 1 at 7 p.m. at Campbell Hall. Moving fluidly across jazz, pop and R&B, Jacob Collier creates mesmerizing soundscapes using layered vocal tracks and sophisticated digital editing techniques. His multi-frame, multi-instrumental viral videos and five Grammy wins have earned him a devoted international following and a roster of collaborators that ranges from Coldplay and SZA to Hans Zimmer. An energetic and engaging live performer, Collier is known for conducting his audiences in multi-part harmonies and beats.

Pre-concert festivities on the plaza in front of Campbell Hall begin at 6 p.m. Enjoy food trucks and a live DJ set by KCRW Program Director Anne Litt. 

Oct. 1 — Bilingual report — Half a Century of Hope: Festival Celebrates 50 Years of Service to Santa Maria Families

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Family Service Agency is thrilled to announce Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center’s (SMVYFC) 50th anniversary celebration, marking half a century of dedicated service to the Santa Maria Valley community. The Santa Maria Family Festival takes place on Sunday October 1st from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Teresa Machado Plaza, located at the corner of North Pine Street and West Chapel Street.

“We invite the entire Santa Maria Valley community to come together to celebrate the remarkable achievements of SMVYFC and the countless lives it has positively impacted,” said Arcelia Sención, Chief Strategy and North County Programs Officer. “We anticipate many more years of promoting hope, strength and stability to children, families, and seniors in Santa Maria.

Oct. 4 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents iconic Martha Graham Dance Company at the Granada Theatre, Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents the Martha Graham Dance Company’s Graham100 on Wednesday, October 4 at the Granada Theatre. Recognized as a primal artistic force of the 20th century, Martha Graham single-handedly defined contemporary dance as a uniquely American art form. In this evening of new and reimagined works framing a Graham classic, the company performs Hofesh Shechter’s high-energy CAVEand Graham’s Dark Meadow Suite, an abstract work about life’s journey and the search for connection with one’s self and one’s community. A reconstruction of Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo rounds out the program, with a reorchestration of Aaron Copland’s score performed by a live bluegrass ensemble led by Punch Brother Gabe Witcher.

Oct. 6 — Works of Protest, Resistance at Cal Lutheran

THOUSAND OAKS — On Oct. 6, California Lutheran University’s William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art opens “Print+: Sameness & Otherness in Contemporary Print Media,” a show that presents works of protest and resistance by 22 artists from different backgrounds who use the tools and techniques of printmaking in novel ways. The opening corresponds with Cal Lutheran’s annual homecoming weekend and will be on display through Feb 1.

Multidisciplinary artist Sheila Goloborotko, the curator for “Print+,” said in her curatorial statement that the exhibit “focuses on the importance of showcasing artwork where diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion create an essential and fertile ecology.”

Oct. 6 — Sacred Arts Festival in Goleta explores ‘Wonder as Worship in Orthodox Christian Art’

Beginning October 6, St. Athanasius Orthodox Christian Church is reviving its Sacred Arts Festival, first inaugurated back in 2011 when the community was worshipping in an interim building on Calle Real in Goleta.  The plan was to host an Arts Festival every two years, but the global pandemic interrupted that flow.  In 2014, the church moved into a new building on its 20-plus acres of land just down the street from Goleta Cottage Hospital.  This will be the third festival in that building.

Oct. 7 — Bilingual report — Celebrate Diversity at Free Multicultural Festival

OXNARD — Join the community in celebrating Oxnard’s cultural diversity at the 26th Annual Multicultural Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Plaza Park (500 S. C St.). The event is free and open to the public.

The Multicultural Festival features a variety of fun, educational activities, entertainment and exhibits for all ages. Activities include:

Musical performances by Caliente805 Band, Heart and Soul Band, Oxnard College Ballet Folklórico Mestizo, Premier Dance Studio, and more!
A chance to learn more about the areas of the world represented in the Oxnard community. Grab a Multicultural Festival passport and receive stamps by visiting the booths representing Bolivia, Scotland, Cambodia, Chile, China, India, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Italy, Oaxaca and Colombia.
Attendees who submit a fully stamped passport will receive a prize and be entered into the hourly raffle.
Enjoy various activities for kids including the adrenaline-pumping fun in the jolly jumpers, City Corps Wagon Train and the Rad Hatter for a chance to create their very own silly hats and more!
Indulge in cuisine and treats for sale including Masarap Lumpia (Filipino Fusion), House of Tacos Grill Food Truck, Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales, Passion Empanadas Food Truck, Magic Hot Dogs & Churros, JK Catering Food Truck, Bell Catering Food Truck, Pan de Elote and many others!

Oct. 8 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Nickel Creek at the Granada Theatre

SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Nickel Creek with special guest Hawktail on Sunday, October 8 at 7 p.m. at the Granada Theatre. Nickel Creek is the platinum-selling, internationally renowned roots trio featuring mandolinist Chris Thile, violinist Sara Watkins and guitarist Sean Watkins. The Grammy Award-winning band has revolutionized bluegrass and roots music since they captured the world’s attention with their self-titled LP, which showcased their instrumental virtuosity and songwriting prowess. All solo artists in their own right, the beloved trio’s 2023 album Celebrants represents a triumphant return to form after a nine-year break from recording and touring together. Special guest Hawktail are an acoustic instrumental quartet featuring Punch Brothers bassist Paul Kowert, fiddler Brittany Haas, guitarist Jordan Tice and mandolinist Dominick Leslie.

Oct. 8 — 21st Anniversary Party for the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum

~You are Invited~ Music Performance by Royal Garden Swing Orchestra Performance by Cal Poly Ballroom Dance Team Silent Auction and Raffle Baskets Exhibit Honoring Local WWII Veterans & History BBQ Dinner, Beer and Wine, Photo Booth, and more! It’s our 21st Anniversary…

Oct. 10 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Lisa Batiashvili and Gautier Capuçon

SANTA BARBARA —  UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano, Lisa Batiashvili, violin and Gautier Capuçon, cello, on Tuesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. at the Granada Theatre.Three friends and award-winning classical stars come together for an evening of chamber music at the highest level of cohesion and artistic insight. Gautier Capuçon’s powerful cello blends with the warm, brilliant tone of violinist Lisa Batiashvili and the finesse of Jean-Yves Thibaudet in a program of masterpieces that showcases their individual and collaborative gifts. “When you have the possibility to play incredible music with great friends onstage, this is just pure luxury,” Capuçon says. “There is nothing better than that.”

Oct. 13, 14, 15 — Bilingual report — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! Presents Three Free Performances of Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles

SANTA BARBARA — The nation’s premier Mexican folk dance company, Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles, will hold three free public performances in Santa Barbara County October 13-15, 2023. The performances are a part of ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva), a program dedicated to sharing the rich cultural heritage of Latin America to Santa Barbara County students and community members. 

Oct. 13 — OPAC presents “TALKING NARDCORE”: 40 years of punk music in Ventura County

OXNARD — To celebrate the County of Ventura’s 150th Anniversary, OPAC is honored to present “Talking Nardcore” on Friday, October 13 at 6 pm at the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. 

This rare storytelling event will chronicle 40 years of punk music in our community through a legendary panel of guest speakers. Guests will also enjoy a live DJ set prior to the panel, which will be followed by a performance by Out of Trust.

Panelists include representatives from:

Aggression • Ill Repute • Dr. Know • Stalag 13 • Dead Heat • The Missing 23rd
Burning Dog • In Control Annihilation Time • Omega Point • It’s Alive Fanzine
BYO Records • 185 Miles South Podcast • Salzer’s Records

Oct. 18 — Bilingual report – Celebrate recent food policy wins and connect with peers at this year’s farmer gathering in Santa Ynez2023 Central Coast Farmer Gathering

Looking for ways to make your voice heard and effect change in our food system? Join us at the 2023 Central Coast Farmer Gathering to contribute thought leadership on food policies for 2024 and beyond. Learn about available program resources and opportunities available to food producers at the county and state levels. Connect with other farmers, ranchers, and food producers during the networking dinner prepared by Chef Melissa of Clean Slate Wine Bar.  The menu will feature, as we continuously commit to, locally sourced ingredients.

Through Oct. 22 — Teatro de las Américas presents Romantic comedy ‘Stage Kiss’

Theatrikos brings the romantic comedy Stage Kiss to the Flagstaff stage. A kiss is not just a kiss in this whirlwind knockabout farce. When two actors with a history are thrown together as leads in a 1930s romantic comedy, they quickly lose touch with reality.

“This play is so much fun for the cast, as they get to play both real-life actors and characters in a play-within-a-play. When the actors really enjoy doing a play, the audience enjoys it, too. You can expect to have a rollicking good time at the theatre,” said director Stan Sutherland.

Through Oct. 22 — Moorpark College Piques Audience Curiosity with ‘The Curious Savage’

MOORPARK — The Curious Savage is coming to The Moorpark College Performing Arts Center Mainstage Oct. 12-22. This uproarious 1950s comedy set in The Cloisters Sanitorium in Massachusetts follows the story of a flamboyant widow who is forcibly admitted to the sanatorium by her greedy stepchildren when she refuses to hand over her sizable inheritance.

“This play was very ahead of its time in terms of its message and structure,” said director and Theatre Arts faculty Suzanne Fagan. “It’s hysterical, and yet, by the end of the play, you’re blown away by the social commentary surrounding mental health, stigma, and family that’s been woven in throughout the story.”

Oct. 22 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Día de los Muertos’ Free Family Day

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present a “Día de los Muertos” Free Family Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

For the 34th year, the Museum honors the Mexican tradition of remembering the dead with a display of altars created by students in the Museum’s outreach programs and community groups. Día de los Muertos inspired art activities for all ages will be offered on the Front Terrace and in the Family Resource Center. New this year, end the event at 3:45 pm with a procession down State Street to the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) with Latinx Indigenous immigrant community members and traditional dances and music from the Mixtec and Zapotec region of Oaxaca.

For the procession, costumed participation (Catarinas, Calaveras, and skull or skeleton and human and animal inspired designs) is encouraged.

Through Oct. 22 — Student-Directed Play Opens at Cal Lutheran ‘The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza’

THOUSAND OAKS — The California Lutheran University Theatre and Dance Department presents “The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza,”written by Don Zolidis, in the Cal Lutheran Black Box Studio Theatre in Thousand Oaks, CA, from Oct. 18 to 22. Theatre Arts student Brayden Galante is the director of this all-student production.

“The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza” tells the story of two bickering narrators who attempt to share the most famous stories of Greek mythology. As the play progresses the narrators try their best to remain reliable. They re-create the story of Pandora’s box and put their own twist on Cronus and the Titans. Other famous myths in the play include Icarus, and Jason and the Argonauts. The play culminates in a heart-pounding, five-minute, two-actor version of “The Iliad.” “Greek Mythology Olympiaganza,” which includes audience participation, is funny and absurd.

Through Oct. 24 — World-Renowned Voyaging Canoe Hokule’a Heads To Ventura As Part of Southern California Planned Visits

MONTEREY — Legendary Hawaiian canoe H?k?le?a, revered for reviving the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation, is currently docked in the picturesque coastal city of Monterey, California. The traditional double-hulled canoe has been sailing from Southeast Alaska down the Pacific Coast since June, 2023, when the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) launched the Moananui?kea Voyage and began its four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific.  H?k?le?a is set to make several stops in Southern California as part of this historic journey including Ventura, Marina Del Rey, Newport, Dana Point, and San Diego where the public will have an opportunity to learn about the storied history of this canoe and the environmental and cultural mission of this voyage. 

Oct. 24 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Self-Portrait En La Cherry: In Conversation with Artist Narsiso Martinez’

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present “Self-Portrait En La Cherry: In Conversation with Artist Narsiso Martinez” at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

In conjunction with the exhibition Inside/Outside, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art is pleased to welcome back Narsiso Martinez for a public presentation. Martinez takes the produce boxes from grocery stores and paints portraits of the agricultural laborers many of whom are undocumented and subjected to terrible working conditions. These poignant images bring to the fore all the unseen labor that supports agribusiness and come from his experience as a worker in the fields up and down the West Coast.

Oct. 25 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents ‘Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends’

SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Turn it Out with Tiler Peck & Friends on Wednesday, October 25 at 8:00 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. Award-winning New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck embraces the role of director for Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends, turning up the heat with an innovative, handpicked repertoire by some of today’s most exciting choreographers. The virtuosic program includes Thousandth Orange, set to live music composed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw; an electric pas de deux choreographed by Alonzo King; a collaboration with tap star and Santa Barbara favorite Michelle Dorrance; and a dynamic finale reflecting Peck’s creative partnership with choreographer William Forsythe, set to music by James Blake. 

Oct. 25 — The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard to hold annual Trick or Treat event

OXNARD — On Wednesday, October 25th The Collection at RiverPark invites princesses, pirates and pumpkins of all ages to collect fang-tastic treats at The Collection at RiverPark’s annual trick-or-treat event.

Reservations are required to ensure our merchants can prepare for all superheroes and goblins.

Be sure to bring your Trick-or-Treat bag to collect all your fun treats!

Registration is now open on Eventbrite 

Oct. 26 — Plática with Manuel Unzueta at Santa Barbara City College

SANTA BARBARA — A Plática with Maestro Manuel Unzueta hosted by ¡Raíces: First Year and Beyond! will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at Santa Barbara City College.

Internationally acclaimed artist Manuel Unzueta will discuss his career as a muralist, educator, and community activist by highlighting the “Metamorphosis of Reality” mural he painted on Santa Barbara City College’s East Campus Center building in 1976 with SBCC students.