VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE TO CELEBRATE A SPOOK-TACULAR LINE-UP OF BEDAZZLING HALLOWEEN EVENTS
A HOWL-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest, Seaside Trick or Treat, and a Witches Paddle are Sure Bets for Fall Fun
Courtesy photo.
VENTURA — Witches, warlocks and skeletons…Oh my! Halloween festivities return to Ventura Harbor Village, and this year’s line-up of events will definitely not disappoint. The spook-tacular seaside destination invites visitors from near and far to stop in for a spell as it hosts free community events for costumed kids, pets and parents who wish to kick off the spooky season in style.
Festively decorated with vibrant pumpkins, bales of hay, cornstalks and a myriad of photo ops and scenic marina backdrops, Ventura Harbor is pulling out all the stops for Halloween weekend, made possible by community partner, Underwood
Family Farms. Find the full lineup of fall fun: venturaharborvillage.com/events/ Plus, here’s a closer look at what’s brewing up by the beach in Ventura Harbor Village 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 30 and 31! 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). In addition, a select few small golden skeleton heads will be hidden in Ventura Harbor Village on Halloween weekend! Keep your eyes peeled for one and keep the festive prizes secured inside.
HOWL-o-ween Dog Costume Contest:
Get your furry four-legged friends and their creative costumes ready! The 9th Annual Ventura Harbor Village HOWL-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest is back. The Instagram-worthy pet costume event, set for Saturday, October 30 from Noon to 2PM, is a crowd favorite.
A fashionable line up dogs dressed in thematic costumes have a chance to win prizes for the best attire. Owners and their furry com-pet-itors are encouraged to arrive at noon on October 30th to check-in at Ventura Harbor Village before the judging begins. The contest is open to canines only, and a maximum of 75 dogs can enter. There is no entry fee and online pre-registration is encouraged to secure your spot: venturaharborvillage.com/howl2021/
Owners are encouraged to get dressed up in theme too. Memorable dog/owner duos from previous years include: 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, Cutest/Prettiest, Most Creative, and Most Sea-worthy.
Winners will receive a blue ribbon, a $30 gift certificate to a Ventura Harbor Village restaurant, a pumpkin courtesy of Underwood Family farms, and a complimentary pup cone from Coastal Cone. All registered doggies who participate are treated to a doggy goody bag from Ventura Pet Barn as well! A professional photographer will also be on site to snap photos of costumed pooches and their owners.
Kids Trick or Treat:
The fang-tastic series of seaside events continue for a Kids Trick or Treat on October 31, 2021 from noon to 2PM in Ventura Harbor Village. Families decked to the 9’s navigate through the Village with over 20 treat stops at participating Harbor boutiques and restaurants. Trick or treaters are encouraged to bring their own treat bags. Treats are available while supplies last.
Kids get creative at a complimentary craft station 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 in Ventura Harbor’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? Harbor shops and galleries have you covered. Check out Ventura Harbor Village’s Ventura Pottery Gallery, Lost in Socks, Hats Unlimited, and festive face masks at Ventura Swimwear.
Community Witches Paddle:
Be spooked, bedazzled and bewildered at Ventura Harbor Village as fab-boo-lously dressed witches and warlocks take to the sea at the 3rd Annual Witches Paddle, a community-organized event on October 29 from 3 to 4:30 PM at Ventura Harbor’s Dock C. Grab your witch hat, stripped socks, and a cape, and jump on a paddle board or kayak before taking a flight around the Ventura Harbor. For paddle and kayak rentals, visit Ventura Boat Rentals: venturaboatrentals.com
Professional Pumpkin Carving:
Throughout Halloween weekend on October 30-31, 2021, kids and adults can meander throughout Ventura Harbor Village and catch a glimpse of professional pumpkin carving each day from Noon – 2PM. 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 five themed rooms where participants solve riddles, puzzles, and more to try 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 maximum; reservations are 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. For some good old-fashioned fun, give kids the chance to indulge in arcade games while enjoying delicious candy apples at Village Carousel & Arcade.
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. Visit venturaharborvillage.com/seafood-month-2021/ for the “Top 6 Ways to Celebrate,” and get hooked on the national-recognized holiday. Enjoy some succulent seafood lunch or dinner at local restaurants or by visiting top notch fish markets, including Andria’s Seafood Market and Wild local Seafood.
About Ventura Harbor Village — Situated along the picturesque California Central Coast, endowed with breathtaking views, Ventura County’s Ventura Harbor is bordered by the City of Ventura on three sides and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Ventura Harbor Village and Ventura Harbor boast 16 unique shops, 18 dockside restaurants and fish markets, two waterfront hotels, beaches, green spaces, water sports, boating, public launch ramp, fuel dock, markets, waterfront hotels, and cruising options (dive and fishing boats, harbor tours, kayaks, electric and pedal boat rentals) and a beautiful walking Promenade, which make this all part of an affordable, multigenerational vacation destination.
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 www.VenturaHarborVillage.com. Ventura Harbor Village is located at 1583 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura.