With weather that is the envy of a majority of the United States, Ventura Harbor, California, is a year round destination for thousands of travelers. Ventura Harbor is a vibrant oceanside community that features many activities on and off the water. You’ll find things to do for just about any taste, from the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club to watching sea life at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Right in the heart of the coastal community lies the Ventura Harbor Village. In the village, there is ample opportunity to partake in a wide range of land based and water-centric activities for all ages. If you're feeling adventurous, there are sailing lessons, kayak rentals, and tour cruises that highlight the area's most scenic destinations. For land lovers the village has many boutique shops, art galleries, live entertainment venues, and some of the best seafood restaurants you’ll find in California. Enhancing the already lively and vibrant Ventura Harbor Village is the annual Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks.
Thousands of people from the surrounding area and all over California make their way to Ventura Harbor Village to celebrate the season in a fun and welcoming environment. For almost 40 years, the celebration has brought holiday cheer to all ages and celebrated the great community of Ventura Harbor. There are many activities to participate in during the festival including carnival rides and games, meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a loaded holiday marketplace. The actual parade is a sight to behold with the village covered in lights as the bright and festive floats make their way through the parade route. To finish each day, the festival has a large fireworks show that will dazzle and amaze. When it comes to family friendly holiday celebrations, the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks rises above the rest. We interviewed Jennifer Talt-Lundin, the Marketing Manager of Ventura Harbor Village, about this fun and entertaining family event.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
JTL: The 39th Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks, held December 18th & 19th, celebrates the holiday spirit and the boating community with the theme “Surf, Sand & Santa, Celebrating 150 Years of Ventura.” With over 30 boats decorated in spectacular light displays, the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights gives recognition to the City of Ventura’s 150th Anniversary this year. A nightly carnival and fireworks display ignites the excitement of the holidays seaside at Ventura Harbor. On Friday, December 18th, younger guests can come early to take pictures from 2-4:00 pm with a frosty Snowman holiday character, visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus from 5-8:00 pm, and play in the Village Arcade & Carousel. On Saturday, from 1-5:00 pm, a Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace offers plenty of holiday shopping, dining, and family fun. This event features Santa & Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, faux snowfall every 15 minutes, carnival rides, Victorian Carolers and more!
RAL: What makes the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks unique?
JTL: The Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights has boaters from the harbor, Ventura Keys, and other locations, who come to participate. Santa flies overhead on Saturday night with Aspen Helicopter to greet the crowd. The event is two nights long with a firework display both evenings. The Ventura Harbor boats really put on a wonderful show, some spending thousands of dollars on lights and hand crafted decorations to go with the parade theme. Live reindeer at the Saturday Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace make this event truly one-of-a-kind. The Ventura Harbor also offers nightly California Sleigh Rides throughout December with Ventura Boat Rentals to view the lights on the boats and in the luxury homes in the Ventura Keys canals. Island Packers offers Caroling Cruises on a large catamaran on select weeknights in December to view the lights and have some seasonal fun.
RAL: Take me through the activities of a typical day at the event?
JTL: For the Parade of Lights, there are carnival rides and games on the Ventura Harbor Village Main Lawn, and guests can get fun 3-D prism glasses to view the lights on the water and the fireworks. On Friday, December 18th, younger guests can come early to take pictures (2-4:00 pm) with a frosty snowman holiday character and play in the Village Arcade & Carousel and free visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus (5-8:00 pm). The Winter Wonderland and Holiday Marketplace on Saturday boasts holiday cheer and shopping with faux snowfall every 15 minutes, holiday characters, kid’s crafts, Santa & Mrs. Claus, Victorian carolers, and live reindeer.
RAL: What is the overall environment of the festival like?
JTL: The Ventura Harbor offers a spectacular seaside setting along the Channel Islands Coast, with views of the Channel Islands National Park on one side and the mountains to the other. The Ventura Harbor is decorated for the holiday season with seaside themed décor and a lit Christmas Tree on a floating dock in Ventura Harbor Village. You’ll find over 35 boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and entertainment options, all in proximity of the holiday festivities.
RAL: What can visitors expect to find for local lodging?
JTL: Ventura Harbor offers two seaside hotels, the Four Points by Sheraton and the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, just across from the Parade of Lights and in view of the nightly fireworks. The Pierpont Inn, an historic Ventura inn, is just a short drive from Ventura Harbor and offers a complimentary Ventura Downtown Harbor Trolley that can pick guests up by request at the Pierpont Inn and coastal hotels to arrive in style to the event. In addition, a little further away from the festivities, there is the Ventura Beach Marriott and the Victorian Rose Bed & Breakfast.
RAL: What does the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks mean to the community?
JTL: Now in its 39th year, the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks is a favorite of the Ventura local community and surrounding towns. This year gives attention to the City of Ventura’s 150th Anniversary with the theme: “Surf, Sand & Santa- Celebrating 150 Years of Ventura”.
RAL: Does it drive business to the local economy?
JTL: Yes, the Parade of Lights is a driver of holiday revenue for boat charters, hotel overnights, dining, and holiday shopping. It also keeps the Ventura Harbor in the forefront of our guest’s minds to return during the holiday break and year-round to showcase our California harbor side lifestyle to family and friends.
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
JTL: Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks, along with Winter Wonderland and Holiday Marketplace, create lasting memories with family and friends and allow people to rejoice in the fun and wonderment of the season.
For more information on the Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks please visit their website.