July 16 — Mental Wellness Center to Host the 26th Annual Mental Health Arts Festival Saturday in De La Guerra Plaza

After a two-year hiatus of holding in-person festivities, the Mental Wellness Center (MWC) is bringing its Mental Health Arts Festival back to De La Guerra Plaza. As in the past, the festival will showcase the artwork of local artists in mediums including painting, drawing, jewelry, poetry, sculpture and arts and crafts. But what’s really special about the festival doesn’t end with the artwork.

“It’s an opportunity for artists to display their work and showcase their talent the community in a way that is positive, productive and meaningful for them,” explained Darcy Keep, MWC Board Members and Administrative Director of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine at Cottage Health. 

July 16 — U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley — You’re Invited! Passport Fair in Thousand Oaks

It’s the summer season, which makes it the perfect time to travel abroad with your family and friends! To do so, it is imperative that you keep your passport up to date.  

As your representative in Congress, I want to make sure that obtaining or renewing a passport is made as easy as possible. For that reason, I am hosting a Passport Fair on Saturday, July 16, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Grant R. Brimhall Library, located at 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.

Through July 17 — CLU Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival marks 25th anniversary

Twenty-five years after the first Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival was held, and following a two-year pandemic-caused hiatus, the event kicks off its joyous return to California Lutheran University’s Kingsmen Park with performances of one of the Bard’s most popular comedies.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company will perform “As You Like It” at 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through July 17 on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Warren C. Bowles, who has decades of experience in Shakespearean and contemporary theater throughout the country, presents the play as the festival’s first Black director. He has spent many years working with Mixed Blood Theatre Company in Minneapolis as a director, actor, playwright, stage manager and fight choreographer. Mixed Blood uses theater to disrupt injustices, advance equity, build community and inspire people to create ripple effects of social change.

July 20 — Self-Compassion and Care Topic of Next illuminate Speaker Series Presentation by Kristin Neff

Join Hospice of Santa Barbara at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 20 for their next illuminate Speaker Series Event, Kristin Neff: The Strength of Self-Compassion.

Kristin Neff is currently an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research and is the author of the bestselling book, Self-Compassion.

Through July 21 — Emerging Artist Collective ‘Straight outta the Kiln’ exhibit

34th Parallel is proud to present: Straight Outta the Kiln, a ceramic work exhibition. This is the collective’s introduction to the community and is intended to bring a new take and a breath of fresh air to art making and the local art scene.

Over 20 ceramic works by emerging artists Roxanne Casas, Carolina Danu, Connor Kelley, José Galván Martínez, Chris Taylor and Ericka Waskewics will be featured.

Various cities within Ventura County sit around the 34th parallel north, and its from these cities that the Artists of the 34th Parallel Collective are based out of.

July 22 — UCSB Arts & Lectures Hot Fun in the Summertime: Thelma & Louise

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Thelma & Louise, on Friday, July 22nd at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m. 

Housewife Thelma (Geena Davis) joins her friend Louise (Susan Sarandon), an independent waitress, on a short fishing trip. However, their trip becomes a flight from the law when Louise shoots and kills a man who assaults Thelma at a bar. Louise decides to flee to Mexico, and Thelma joins her. On the way, Thelma falls for sexy young thief J.D. (Brad Pitt) and the sympathetic Detective Slocumb (Harvey Keitel) tries to convince the two women to surrender before their fates are sealed. (Ridley Scott, 1991, R, 130 min.)

July 29 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, on Friday, July 29th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.

When drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow performers Adam (Guy Pearce) and Bernadette (Terence Stamp) to come along. In their colorful bus, named Priscilla, the three performers travel across the Australian desert performing for enthusiastic crowds and less-enthusiastic locals. But when the other two performers learn the truth about why Anthony took the job, it threatens their act and their friendship. (Stephan Elliott, 1994, R, 105 min.)

July 29 — SBCC to host Re-Enrollment Day

“Back to school” season will be here soon and Santa Barbara City College wants to help students get back to school no matter what their reasons have been for stopping.

On Friday, July 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., SBCC will host Re-Enrollment Day on the East Campus Student Services building patio, where returning students will receive one-on-one assistance for enrolling in the Fall 2022 semester. Staff from various student services departments will be on hand to provide information and guidance, including enrollment services, financial aid, academic counseling, the transcript evaluation office, the SBCC Promise program, the University Transfer Center and others.

Aug. 2 —Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) announces free webinar “Free Webinar- Business Resources for Veterans from the SBA’

Did you know that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has resources and programs for Veterans and the military community? If you are a transitioning or active-duty service member, National Guard or Reserve member, veteran of any era or military spouse, the SBA is here to help. Through training programs, contracting opportunities and access to capital, the SBA is here to help your business start, grow, expand or recover.

You can access the SBA’s Veteran resources through the Southern California Veteran’s Business Outreach Center! Join us on Tuesday, August 2 at 12:00pm to learn how to get started AND topics such as:

– Government Certifications
– Introduction to Government Contracting
– eCommerce 101 for Military Spouses

Aug. 4 — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Opportunity to Demonstrate your Underwater Optical Communications Technology

Demonstrate your underwater optical communications technology at FATHOMWERX Lab as part of ANTX Coastal Trident 2022!

The underwater optical communications demo day is intended to give industry and government a test tank to demonstrate and test their technology, in addition to meet Department of the Navy individuals who work in the optical communications space as part of the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) Coastal Trident.

Aug. 4 — MICOP celebrates Night in Oaxaca 2022

On Thursday, August 4th, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) will hold its eleventh annual Night in Oaxaca. Night in Oaxaca is a celebration of the indigenous migrant community of California’s Central Coast and MICOP’s largest and most-sought after fundraiser. After two years of virtual programming, we are proud to bring our supporters a hybrid experience, in-person at Olivas Adobe in Ventura and online.

This year we are gathering around the theme of “Fortaleciendo Nuestras Raíces” or “Strengthening our Roots.” Reflecting on the pandemic and our recent growth, Night in Oaxaca will celebrate our indigenous community’s resiliency and rooted connection to our organization. The evening welcomes a diverse crowd of supporters and leaders from across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. All proceeds fund MICOP’s work of supporting, organizing and empowering indigenous migrant communities of the Central Coast.

Aug. 4 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘Joan Miró in Time and Space’

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present its Arts Matters Lecture “Joan Miró in Time and Space” by Charles Palermo, Professor of Art History at The College of William and Mary at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

This lecture reviews works—paintings, objects, sculptures—by the great Catalan artist Joan Miró. Charles Palermo offers readings of works in the hope of showing how Miró implies movement and scale in his works. The result is fictional worlds with their own sense of time and place, which nevertheless stand right before us.

Aug. 5-7 — Director presents ‘Macbeth’ in new light

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival is closing its 2022 season with one of the most performed tragedies in theater history, but under the guiding hand of a veteran director seeing the play in a new way.

“I grew up with productions of `Macbeth’ that felt like the tale of a coldhearted murderer who reaps what he sows,” said director Brett Elliott. “This production will present the Scottish king and his lady differently. I see him as a decent man who talks himself into doing the unthinkable. Once he crosses that line, he regrets it instantly, but of course, it’s already too late.”

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, the professional theater company of California Lutheran University, will present “Macbeth” at 8 p.m. Aug. 5-7 in Kingsmen Park on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Aug. 5 — UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2022-2023 Single (non-series) tickets go on sale at 10 a.m.

Single (non-series) tickets for the 2022-2023 season of UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) go on sale Friday, August 5 at 10 AM. Series subscriptions with savings of up to 25% are available now; as are single tickets to the season opener, Charley Crockett, at the Arlington Theatre on Sunday, October 2.

A&L’s big 2022-2023 opening week continues on Thursday, October 6, at the Granada, where DakhaBrakha, the world music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine, will perform their electrifying blend of Ukrainian melodies and contemporary rhythms from around the world.

Aug. 10 — Compassionate Care of Carpinteria’s The Light Shines Ahead 4th Annual Luncheon

Compassionate Care of Carpinteria’s The Light Shines Ahead 4th Annual Luncheon will be held Wednesday, August 10, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Rincon Beach Club (3895 Santa Claus Lane, Carpinteria).

The event will feature event emcees, Win and Ed Van Wingerden, event chair, Marybeth Carty and special guest speaker, Virginia Benson Wigle. This event will raise critical funds to support people who are struggling with grief and illness in the community of Carpinteria.

Aug. 12 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Moonrise Kingdom

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Moonrise Kingdom, on Friday, August 12th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m. 

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing offshore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. The all-star cast features Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand among others, and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as Sam and Suzy, the boy and girl. (Wes Anderson, 2012, PG-13, 94 min.)

Aug. 13 — Nyeland Promise hosting a Bike Rodeo

The Nyeland Acres Bike Rodeo will take place this Saturday, August 13 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Nyeland Acres Community Center, giving children of all ages an opportunity to learn proper hand signalling and traffic safety skills to reduce riding accidents involving youth. At the event, the Oxnard Bike Hub will set up a series of stations which will provided participants an opportunity to learn correct riding skills and techniques. One of the stations includes a mechanical inspection for participants’ bikes and equipment. Children will receive free helmets, bikes, safety reflectors and other educational materials. Many residents are expected to attend the Bike Rodeo.

As part of the Bike Rodeo, children will be able to test their newly learned skills by going for a bike ride around Nyeland Acres escorted by Ventura County Sheriff and Oxnard Police Department. A Gold Coast Transit Bus will follow the bikers full of parents and community leaders. The bikers will make a quick stop at the big Santa on Ventura Blvd.

Aug. 13 — Santa Paula Art Museum presents Painting Demo, Figure Drawings, Art Auction and More

Meet artist Kay Zetlmaier inside the Museum and watch as she demonstrates her abstract, oil painting process, including her use of cold wax medium. The demonstration coincides with Zetlmaier’s current solo exhibition, Geomorphic: The Living Earth, on view now through September 11, 2022, at SPAM. Reservations are not required.

Aug. 14 — Wildling Museum invites community to visit for second annual free Summer Family Day

The Wildling Museum is pleased to announce its second annual free Summer Family Day on Sunday, August 14, 2022, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visitors are invited to bring the whole family and enjoy free museum admission during event hours, a fairy visit and eco glitter tattoos by Parties and Paint by Kate from 1 – 3 p.m., art activities for all ages, and more.

“We are thrilled to open our doors for our second annual Summer Family Day at the Wildling Museum,” said Executive Director Stacey Otte-Demangate. “We feel it is important to invite the community to visit with art and activities that all ages can enjoy.”

Aug. 17 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum Speaker Series Presents Charles Vinick

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) is pleased to announce that Charles Vinick, the Executive Director of The Whale Sanctuary Project, will be its featured speaker in August. Mr. Vinick will speak about the Project and its work to establish a coastal sanctuary where cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can live in an environment that maximizes well-being and autonomy and is as close as possible to their natural habitat.

A member of the Whale Sanctuary Project Board of Directors since 2016, Mr. Vinick brings a unique blend of leadership and experience to the Project. For 25 years, he worked closely with Jean-Michel and Jacques Cousteau (during his lifetime), helping the ocean explorers establish, grow and sustain multiple initiatives. Mr. Vinick shepherded the growth of the Cousteau Society and, from 1993 through 2003 and served as Executive Vice President of the Jean-Michel Cousteau Institute and Ocean Futures Society. During that time, he was privileged to serve as director of the highly-publicized Keiko Project, a pioneering effort that marshaled public and media support to reintroduce to the wild the captive orca made famous through the Free Willy films.

Aug. 18 — Visit Santa Barbara Museum of Art for free Third Thursday celebrating the newly-installed iconic portrait bust by artist Awol Erizku, Nefertiti – Miles Davis (Gold)

Visit SBMA for Third Thursday celebrating the newly-installed iconic portrait bust by artist Awol Erizku, Nefertiti – Miles Davis (Gold), now on view over the Visitor Services desk at the State Street entrance and featuring the following free activities and offerings:

Free Museum admission, 5 – 8 pm
Music by DJ Darla Bea on the Front Terrace, 5 – 7:30 pm
Complimentary docent Ten Talks for Going Global: Abstract Art at Mid-Century at 6 and 6:30 pm
Teaching Artist-led art activities in the Family Resource Center, 5 – 7 pm
Free raffle entry for a chance to win a gift bag of artful treasures from the Museum Store

Aug. 18 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Abstraction after Psychology with Suzanne Hudson

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present art historian and critic Suzanne Hudson explores Abstraction after Psychology from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18 at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Suzanne Hudson discusses mid-century abstraction in relation to psychology and projective testing and examines the ways that the use of images in clinical settings conditioned audience encounters with art.

Aug. 19 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, on Friday, August 19th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m. 

Four teenagers in detention discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of. When they decide to play, they are immediately sucked into the jungle world of Jumanji in the bodies of their avatars (Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan). They’ll have to complete the adventure of their lives filled with fun, thrills and danger or be stuck in the game forever! (Jake Casdan, 2017, PG-13, 119 min.

Aug. 20 — Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum to celebrate National Honey Bee Day

“Bee” sure to buzz on over to your AG Museum to celebrate National Honeybee Day! from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at The Agriculture Museum, 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula.

During our normal 11am-5pm hours visitors can stop by our observation hive to welcome our new bee colony to the neighborhood. Afterwards you may choose to browse a mini-boutique of bee-themed merchandise from local Ventura County vendors, check out our newly installed ‘Save the Pollinators’ art exhibit by C.R.E.W.’s Green Valley project, and explore our beautiful bee-friendly gardens. Enjoy a free plant giveaway from our Master Gardeners.

Aug. 20 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) will be hosting two new volunteer orientations in August

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) will be hosting a new volunteer orientation in August. Orientations will take place at the museum at 3900 Bluefin Circle in Oxnard on Saturday, August 20, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm.

These orientations will share the history of the Museum, its collections, and the many ways in which volunteers can help to support the Maritime Museum. CIMM has volunteer opportunities in several areas including Museum tours, education, events, the CIMM Building Brigade, and visitor services.

The Museum asks for attendees to please RSVP to office@cimmvc.org or call CIMM at 805.984.6260 if they would like to attend either orientation.

Aug. 20 — Military & Veteran Job Fair / Exp on in Camarillo

The Ventura County Human Services Agency’s Veteran Services Office invites job seekers with military experience and employers to the Military and Veteran Job Fair and Expo on Saturday, August 20, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ventura County Office of Education, 5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo. This event is FREE for active-duty military, U.S. Veterans, military spouses, transitioning military, and members of the Guard and Reserve.