Connecting people with the Channel Islands Harbor through community events is one of my favorite priorities. Harbor events promote a sense of pride and unity and serve as the foundation for building a resilient and vibrant community.

There was no shortage of pride and unity at the Harbor at the 2^nd Annual Parade of Frights. Hundreds of families came in their favorite Halloween outfits and visited a variety of different landside activities offered at the Harbor. I would like to thank the Chanel Islands Maritime Museum, Channel Islands Farmers Market, and the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation for bringing the Harbor alive with activities and give kudos to the boating community who put on a great show with the nighttime parade.

We’ve received a lot of great feedback about the event and hope to improve it even more next year. If you have suggestions or ideas, please send them to CIHarborVisitors@ventura.org

Looking forward, there’s plenty of important community events in December that I’m especially looking forward to including: the 4^th Annual Channel Islands Harbor Food & Toy Drive; the 57^th Annual Parade of Lights, which includes a variety of landside activities; and Santa to the Sea, a marathon whose finish line ends at the Channel Islands Harbor.

Food & Toy Drive, Parade of Lights to Be Held on Same Day!

In the past, these two events have been held on the first and second Saturday of December. This year, we plan to combine the two, which will make for one blockbuster day on Saturday, December 9^th! In addition, the Channel Islands Maritime Museum will be hosting activities and participants in the Santa to the Sea marathon will pick up their race packets as well. Here is the info for the events:

• 4^th Annual Channel Islands Harbor Food & Toy Drive
  • Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Date: Saturday, December 9
  • Place: Harbor View Park parking lot
• Parade of Lights Holiday Market Place
  • Time: Noon to 7 p.m.
  • Date: Saturday, December 9
  • Place: Harbor View Park
• Santa to the Sea Packet Pick Up
  • Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Date: Saturday, December 9
  • Place: Marine Emporium Landing (3600 Harbor Blvd. Oxnard, CA 93035)
• Santa’s Village at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum
  • Time: (TBA) to 7 p.m.
  • Date: Saturday, December 9
  • Place: Channel Islands Maritime Museum
• 57^th Annual Parade of Lights
  • Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Date: Saturday, December 9
  • Place: Harbor waters

One of the main reasons we are combining the events on Saturday, December 9th is to increase awareness and participation for the 4^th Annual Food & Toy Drive. In previous years, the food and toy drive was held at Fisherman’s Wharf.  This year, the food and toy drive will move to the parking lot at Harbor View Park off Harbor Boulevard, which will also be the location of the Parade of Lights Holiday Market Place.

We hope the extra foot traffic from the market and the Santa to the Sea Packet Pick Up will increase awareness of the food and toy drive and prompt an increase in donations, and we anticipate the food and toy drive will increase awareness of the Parade of Lights Holiday Market. It should be a win for all events!

Thank you for your continued support and engagement in making the Channel Islands Harbor a vibrant and welcoming place. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events and working together to make our harbor an even better place to live and visit.

Michael Tripp, Director
Ventura County Harbor Department

Editor’s Note: this message was posted on November 6, 2023.