Happy New Year! We certainly hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. According to Forbes Health, the #1 New Year's resolution people set is to improve their fitness. If that falls at the top of your list, then you might want to join the Ventura Seaside Marathon 2024 later this month.What: Ventura Seaside Marathon 2024Where: Emma Wood Group Campground (800 W Main St., Ventura)When: Sunday, January 28th, 7 amAdmission: $55 to $120Contact: Seaside Marathon (805) 258-3779 or via emailVentura Seaside Marathon 2024Fortunately, organizers of this popular running event wanted as many people to join as possible. So, whether you consider yourself a beginner or a well-seasoned athlete, they offer something for everyone. For example, not quite feeling up to the full 26.2 miles? Try the 13.1 mile half m... 01/02/2024

Can you believe it? In just one week, we celebrate Christmas Day. Where has this year gone?! For many people, this means spending time with your loved ones. But not everyone is that fortunate. They have to fight to find a warm place to stay. Even in sunny Southern California, the winter nights become chilly. The Ventura Foul Weather Shelter helps those less fortunate individuals and families stay out of the cold. But they need your assistance to help these people with a warm place to stay.Ventura Foul Weather Shelter Needs Your HelpThe City of Ventura activates this emergency center when the temperature drops or the weather turns particularly nasty with excess rain and wind. Last year, it opened up over 25 times in just 45 days. Not only does the shelter provide a warm place to stay thr... 12/18/2023

When you think of Southern California architecture, what springs to mind first? Italian villas? Spanish revival? Craftsman? In the historic community of Hobson Heights, you primarily see Spanish and Italian influences. Most homes also feature an incredible ocean and/or city view. But this time of year proves extra special thanks to the Hobson Heights Christmas Lights.What: Hobson Heights Christmas Lights 2023Where: Hobson Heights neighborhood of VenturaWhen: December 9th, 10th, 16th & 23rdAdmission: FREEHobson Heights Christmas Lights 2023For the next few weekends, Hobson Heights becomes even more beautiful thanks to the special Christmas displays throughout the neighborhood. For example, from 2 pm to 4:30 pm on Saturday, December 9th, bring the kiddos and the fur babies to Jay Ross Den... 12/04/2023

Thanksgiving Day takes place in just over two weeks from today. We have so much to be thankful for in our own lives. A warm bed. A roof over our heads. Food in our bellies. A loving family. But some people struggle with these every single day. Please consider helping others in need this holiday season by joining the Ventura Can-Tree 2023 event.What: Ventura Can-Tree 2023Where: Figueroa Plaza, Downtown VenturaWhen: November 30th to December 2ndContact: Food Share of Ventura (805-983-7100 or via email)Ventura Can-Tree 2023While giving food to those less fortunate than ourselves is soul-filling enough, why not add a little bit of fun and a splash of healthy competition into the mix? That's what Can-Tree offers. Food Share of Ventura puts together this fun competition to bring in food donat... 11/07/2023

This year, Halloween night falls on a Tuesday. But you do not have to wait until then to enjoy the holiday. In fact, several places around Ventura offer up some Halloween fun the weekend before. Try one of these family-friendly events for a scary good time.Halloween Fun in Ventura 2023Witches PaddleFirst up for the weekend? The Witches Paddle. Calling all witches and warlocks. Dress up in your witchy best, grab your board or kayak and head to the Ventura Harbor. Everyone gathers for a fun group photo at 3:30 pm on Friday, October 27th, at the Coastal Cone. Then, starting at 4 pm, paddle out around the harbor. If you want to join in but don't own a board or a kayak, Ventura Boat Rentals offers some for rent. Launch from either the Harbor Cove Beach, the public launch ramp in Ventura Harb... 10/16/2023

Most people know about Scotch whiskey and haggis. But did you know that eggnog originated from the Scottish Auld Man's Milk? And butterscotch candy made its way to our shores courtesy of Scottish immigrants. Even Southern Fried Chicken owes its beginnings to both the Scots and West African people settling in the south. In Scotland, one way to celebrate the culture is through sport. Stateside, we celebrate with them through the Seaside Highland Games & Scottish Festival 2023 right here in Ventura.What: Seaside Highland Games & Scottish Festival 2023Where: Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W Harbor Blvd)When: 9 am to 5 pm on October 14th & 15thAdmission: $5 to $40Seaside Highland Games & Scottish Festival 2023The festivities begin at 9 am on Saturday, October 14th, with a grand parade at hig... 10/02/2023

Hueneme Beach celebrated the end of summer in August. But summer officially ends on Saturday, September 23rd. So, it seems fitting that that is when the local Rotary Club hosts their annual Ventura Beachside Bash.What: Ventura Beachside Bash 2023Where: San Buenaventura Beach State Beach (901 San Pedro St)When: Saturday, September 23rd, from 11 am to 5 pmAdmission: $10-$150 per personVentura Beachside Bash 2023This bash offers something for everyone. First, for the car aficionado, a classic car show. Next, for the foodie, sizzling steak and finger-licking-good BBQ. And for the zythophile, a variety of beers on tap to choose from. Finally, for the music-lover, live entertainment all afternoon long.The Eight-O-Five Car Show features more than 200 classic hot rods, street rods, muscle cars,... 09/18/2023

Labor Day marks the unofficial end to summer. (It officially ends on September 22nd.) With summer waning and fall about to start, it only means one thing. The Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival 2023 is almost here!What: Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival 2023Where: Ventura Harbor Village (1583 Spinnaker Ave)When: September 9th & 10th, 10 am to 5 pmAdmission: FREEContact: Ventura Art Festival EmailVentura Art & Street Painting Festival 2023Next weekend, the streets (and sidewalks) of Ventura Harbor Village fill up with wonderful pieces of art. Dozens of local artists showcase their talents on canvas, in print, through pottery, and sidewalk chalk. That's right. In the hands of a magnificent artist, a plaything of our youth becomes a tool to create masterpieces. You positively must... 09/04/2023

If you went to Camarillo's Heritage Days last weekend, consider it a warm up to the big event...the Ventura County Fair! This year's county fair takes place from August 2nd to August 13th. And it just might be the biggest county fair yet!What: Ventura County Fair 2023Where: Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W Harbor Blvd)When: August 2nd to 13th, 2023 Admission: $10 to $15 per dayContact: Ventura County Fairgrounds (805) 648-3376Ventura County Fair 2023First of all, you cannot beat this line-up of talent! Collective Soul, Ashanti, Trace Adkins, 38 Special, Tesla, and the one and only, legendary singer Patti Labelle. What's even better is that each concert is absolutely free of charge with your admission to the fair. The rodeo costs an extra $5 per person and takes place on the fairgrounds ... 07/17/2023

Can you believe it? We are already halfway through 2023! In just a couple of weeks, we celebrate our nation's 247th birthday. If you need something to do to while away the hours before nightfall, may we make a suggestion? Go to the Ventura 4th of July Street Fair!What: Ventura 4th of July Street Fair 2023Where: Main Street and Cemetery Memorial Park (between Hemlock & Aliso)When: Tuesday, July 4th, from 10 am to 4 pmAdmission: FREEContact: City of Ventura (805) 654-7800Ventura 4th of July Street Fair 2023This year's theme is "Celebration by the Sea". The day kicks off with the always popular Push-em/Pull-em Parade at 10 am along Main Street. They open the parade up to anyone interested in participating. All you need to do is show up with a bicycle, tricycle, unicycle, wagon, stroller, o... 06/19/2023

When the Pacific Ocean sits right in your own backyard, you tend to focus on maintaining its health and beauty. But we all should focus on keeping our oceans clean every day. After all, water covers more than 70% of the entire planet. Even so, man has actually explored more of outer space than we have our own oceans. To bring more awareness to the role that our oceans play in our everyday lives, the City invites you to celebrate World Oceans Day Ventura 2023 day with them.What: World Oceans Day Ventura 2023Where: Harbor Cove Beach (1878-1998 Spinnaker Dr)When: Saturday, June 10th from 11 am to 5 pmAdmission: FREE to spectatorsWorld Oceans Day Ventura 2023The day's festivities start off with a fun Hokuloa Outrigger Challenge. What is that? Six-man teams compete inside huge canoes with at... 06/05/2023

April showers bring May flowers. But they also bring strawberries...lots of strawberries. Whether you enjoy them in a jam, on a biscuit, in a pie, or by themselves, you might want to make plans to visit the California Strawberry Festival 2023 this month.What: California Strawberry Festival 2023Where: Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W Harbor Blvd)When: May 20th & 21stCost: $8 to $15Contact: CSF Corporate Office via emailCalifornia Strawberry Festival 2023Organizers created a jam-packed schedule (see what we did there) for all festival goers this year. Between the berry contest, Berry Babies Fashion Parade, strawberry tart toss, art contest, and live entertainment all weekend long on the Jest in Time Family Fun Stage, no one becomes bored here. Plus, there are dozens of carnival rides, roc... 05/01/2023

We hope everyone enjoyed their Easter holiday. Now that Easter is over, it's time to focus on our planet. April 22nd is officially Earth Day. But Ventura Harbor Village wants to celebrate early. After all, every day should be Earth Day, right? If you wish to make a difference and help our make our planet a little cleaner, come out to Ventura Earth Day Community Clean Up 2023 this Friday.What: Ventura Earth Day Community Clean Up 2023Where: Ventura Harbor VillageWhen: Friday, April 21st, 3 pm to 4:30 pmContact: Ventura Harbor Village (805) 477-0470Ventura Earth Day Community Clean Up 2023To think globally, we must act locally. That means taking care of our community as much as possible. You can help your child become more eco-friendly by teaching them to be mindful of their surroundings.... 04/17/2023

In February 2023, home sales in Ventura County fell by 52% from the previous February. The median days a home spent on the market before going under contract increased by 66%. That may sound a bit harsh if you are thinking about selling your Ventura County home. However, the good news is that buyers are still out there looking for homes. You just need to make sure to get yours market-ready before you list. So, in an effort to help you with this, we've put together a pre-list checklist to prepare your home for sale.Pre-List Checklist: What to Do Before You ListFind a Realtor®First and foremost, find yourself a good REALTOR® (or a real estate team) to help you navigate the local market. Look for someone who specializes in the areas you want to live. Ask them about their best sales and wor... 04/03/2023

March is Mermaid Month 2023 at Ventura Harbor Village. As always, several fun events are planned throughout the month to honor these lovely ladies of the sea. Which one do you look forward to?What: Mermaid Month 2023Where: Ventura Harbor VillageWhen: All March LongContact: Ventura Harbor Village (805) 477-0470Mermaid Month 2023 at Ventura Harbor VillageMiscellaneous Mermaid Fun Throughout the MonthSeveral shops at the village offer up fun mermaid-themed merchandise. Barefoot Boutique and Casa de Regalos both have cute T-shirts and jewelry. Complete your outfit with ocean-themed footies at Lost in Socks. Find sea glass and cards at Harbor Village Gallery and Treasure Cove. Clean like a mermaid queen with handmade bath bombs and bar soap at Lemon & Lei. Want some mermaid-inspired artwork ... 03/06/2023

Buying a Ventura home involves many components. You need to save up for your down payment and closing costs. Then, do you choose a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage? As of the writing of this post, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage sit at an average interest rate of 6.32%. One of the aspects lenders consider when deciding whether to approve you for a loan or not is affordability. One of the biggest factors of affordability is your income-to-debt ratio. You need to show two years of steady income to qualify for a mortgage loan. But it might surprise you about what lenders consider "qualifying income".What is Considered Qualifying Income?Wage Paid by an EmployerDuh! Of course, any income an employer pays you is considered income by a lender. You can prove this with your W-2s, paycheck stub... 02/20/2023

Are you an ultramarathoner or someone just starting out? The Ventura Seaside Marathon 2023 offers something for all levels of experience and more. Running provides an outlet for exercise with a reasonable cost to perform. No gym membership needed. Just a pair of shoes and a desire to hit the road.What: Ventura Seaside Marathon 2023Where: Emma Wood Group Campground (800 W Main St, Ventura)When: Sunday, February 12th, 7 amAdmission: $55 to $140 (free for spectators)Ventura Seaside Marathon 2023Not a huge runner? That's OK. The marathon portion of the day is only one of the four different "races' you can sign up for. Try a half marathon (13.1 miles). Or sign up for either the 5K (3.1 miles) or 10K (6.2 miles) run. For the 5K and 10K courses, feel free to walk, saunter, or skip if you prefe... 02/06/2023

The rising costs of basic living expenses has everyone looking to save a buck wherever they can. When it comes to selling your home, you can save money by staging it yourself, repairing some things yourself before you list, or doing some landscaping projects on your own. But for the actual selling process, hire a pro to handle the work.Why DIY is Not the Best Way to Go When Selling Your HomeSellers pay the agent commissions in a real estate transaction. Typically, that costs about 6% of the sale price. For a $750,000 Ventura home, that ends up costing the seller $45,000. This fee gets split between the buyer's agent's brokerage and the seller's.What a REALTOR® Does for YouA REALTOR® conducts every open house and private showing for you. They manage calls from buyers and buyers' represen... 01/16/2023

We hope everyone had a great time celebrating the holidays. We certainly did. Our gray skies seem rather appropriate for this time of year. Why? Well, they match the gray whales migrating through our Pacific Ocean waters right now. In fact, if you want to see these majestic creatures up close, schedule yourself on a winter whale watching cruise at Ventura Harbor.What: Winter Whale WatchingWhere: Ventura HarborWhen: Now through April 15, 2023Cost: $29 to $42Contact: Island Packers Cruises (805) 642-1393Winter Whale Watching CruisesAccording to the Oceanic Society, gray whales migrate from Baja, California northward between January and March. Oftentimes, you see calves alongside their mamas on these trips. In fact, just yesterday (January 2nd), on the Island Packers most recent trip, gues... 01/03/2023

If you plan on financing your Ventura County home purchase, you have a few different choices to make in regards to financing. Conventional? FHA? VA (for the veterans and current military)? Then, there's fixed-rate mortgage vs adjustable. Each one offers its own set of pros and cons. So, how do you decide between the two?Mortgages: Fixed-Rate vs Adjustable-RateFixed-Rate Mortgage (FRM)Fixed-rate mortgage loans (FRM) does exactly what it says. It offers one set interest rate for the life of the loan. However, your property taxes and homeowner's insurance premiums may change. Therefore, your total monthly payment could change from year-to-year. However, your principal and interest payments remains the same. When interest rates hit their lowest point over the past few years, buyers wanted t... 12/19/2022