Ventura's two main gathering places don't put their big Halloween events on the same night. Ventura Harbor Village has the daytime hours on Saturday, October 24, and all of Friday, October 30. Downtown has the evenings, Thursday the 29th, and the weekend of Halloween and Día de los Muertos. If you follow the handoff, you can catch most of the week.
Here is how the nine days line up, using the calendars posted by Ventura Harbor Village and Downtown Ventura.
| Day | Where | What | Listed hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 24 | Harbor | HOWL-O-WEEN Dog Costume Contest | Noon–2 p.m. |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Downtown | 3rd Bloodsuckers Ball, Majestic Ventura Theater | 8–11:59 p.m. |
| Sun, Oct 25 | Downtown | Goosepimples improv, NAMBA Arts | 6–8 p.m. |
| Thu, Oct 29 | Downtown | Costume Contest + Trick-or-Treat | 4–7 p.m. |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Harbor | Night market, trick-or-treat, paddle, Thriller | 3–8 p.m. |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Downtown | Halloween Night Market, Día kickoff | 2–9 p.m. |
| Sun, Nov 1 | Downtown | Día de los Muertos Festival | See below |
Saturday the 24th splits at sundown
The week opens at the water. The HOWL-O-WEEN Dog Costume Contest runs from noon to 2 p.m. on the Ventura Harbor Village Main Lawn, and check-in starts at 11:30 a.m. The contest is capped at 75 dogs. Online registration opened Friday, October 16, and the Village says a few same-day spots may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are five prize categories: Best in Show, Spookiest, Most Sea-Worthy, Most On-Trend and Most Creative. The schedule puts the winners and the costumed-pup parade at about 1:30 p.m. Ventura Pet Barn is the main sponsor, and the Village also thanks Coastal Cone and Howie's Natural Dog Treats.
The Vanise Terry Band plays the Promenade Stage from 1 to 4 p.m. the same afternoon, so you can stay after the parade.
Once the afternoon ends at the harbor, downtown takes over for the evening. NAMBA Performance Arts Space has "I Suck: A Vampire Comedy" from 7 to 8 p.m., and the 3rd Bloodsuckers Ball runs from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. at the Majestic Ventura Theater. On Sunday, NAMBA Arts at 47 S. Oak Street has Goosepimples, an improvised Halloween comedy show, from 6 to 8 p.m. All three are indoor, ticketed-venue events for adults. The family-scale events start the following Thursday.
Thursday the 29th belongs to Main Street
Downtown's trick-or-treat comes two days before Halloween, on a weeknight. The Costume Contest + Trick-or-Treat is listed for Thursday, October 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. throughout downtown. It's free and includes trick-or-treating at participating businesses, a costume contest and family activities. The Ventura Downtown Lions Club also announces the Scarecrow Stroll winner.
The downtown calendar also lists a Downtown Spooktacular at California & Main that evening from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Its event page describes the same free, all-ages costume contest with prizes and trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses. If you're aiming for the contest itself, plan on the later window at California & Main. For trick-or-treating along the storefronts, arrive closer to 4.
Holding this on Thursday leaves Friday open, and the Harbor fills it.
Friday the 30th is the harbor's whole evening
The night before Halloween, Ventura Harbor Village runs four events on one schedule. They overlap on purpose, so one visit covers all of them.
- Witches & Warlocks Paddle. Paddlers gather by the Ventura Harbor sign for a group photo at 3:30 p.m. and set out at 4. The paddle lasts about an hour to an hour and a half. This is the 8th annual paddle, and the Village credits local founders Christie Moorehouse and Susan Stuart.
- Witches Night Market. Just Another Market brings more than 30 vendors to the Main Lawn at 1583 Spinnaker Drive from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is free and it's open to all ages.
- Seaside Trick or Treat. From 4 to 6 p.m., kids in costume can go from shop to shop through the Village. Treats last while supplies last, so bring a bag.
- Thriller Zombie Dance. FitZone Ventura sponsors and coordinates a performance on the Main Lawn from 5:45 to 6 p.m. Anyone in costume can join in.
The paddle takes the most planning. You have to RSVP in advance. You can bring your own board or kayak, or rent from Ventura Boat Rentals, and the Village advises arriving early because rentals are limited. If you bring your own gear, you can launch from the courtesy area at "C" Dock in the Village, from Harbor Cove Beach or from the public launch ramp. Everyone has to wear a life vest and paddle with a buddy.
Seaside Trick or Treat goes through the Village's own merchants. The listed stops are Andria's Seafood Restaurant & Market, Barefoot Boutique, Baja Bay Surf N Taco, Boba by the Sea, Brophy Bros., On The Alley, Casa De Regalos, Deep Sea Wine, Frenchies Modern Nail Care, Hats Unlimited, Island Packers, Lost in Socks, Rowan Boutique, Margarita Villa Mexican Restaurant, Mermaid Gallery, The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood, Treasure Cove, Ventura Pottery Gallery and Ventura Swimwear. Free extras include DJ Bennett, Scarolers, magic, a skeleton search, pumpkin carving, crafts and a Halloween hearse with a Día de los Muertos display. Face painting, slime making and the tropical-bird encounters cost extra.
Parking for Friday
Harbor parking costs $1 an hour or $10 for an all-day pass. There are two free options. The Dolphin Lot at Safe Harbor Ventura Isle is about a five-minute walk away, and some designated spots on Spinnaker Drive are free on a first-come basis. With the paddle gathering at 3:30 and trick-or-treating starting at 4, those free spaces will likely go first. Paying $10 for the day can make sense if you plan to stay through the Thriller dance and the end of the market at 8.
Saturday and Sunday move back downtown
On Halloween, downtown has events from afternoon into night. Halloween on Main runs all day throughout downtown, with costumes, shopping, dining and seasonal activities. From 2 to 9 p.m., the Halloween Night Market and Día de los Muertos kickoff takes over California & Main with an artisan market and a trunk-or-treat built around classic cars and lowriders. Downtown Social Club lists the night market as free.
Sunday, November 1, is the biggest event of the week. Social Club Ventura describes its downtown Día de los Muertos festival as spanning seven city blocks, with more than 200 lowriders, four stages, live mariachi, cultural dance, markets, altars, crafts, beer gardens and face painting. The official festival site has signup links for community ofrendas and artisan-market vendors, plus the Catrina contest.
Check the hours before you go, because the listings don't agree. The Downtown Ventura calendar shows the festival on Sunday, November 1, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Social Club Ventura listing treats it as one free event running October 31 through November 1, from 2 to 6 p.m. If you want time with the altars before the crowds arrive, check with Social Club Ventura closer to the date to confirm when things start on Sunday.
Two new stops on the way
Each district has added something since summer, and both are near this week's events. At the harbor, the Buenaventura Art Center & Gallery set its grand opening for October 17 in Suite 101B. It's a short walk from the Main Lawn on Friday. Downtown, Tifa Chocolate & Gelato at 523 E. Main St. soft-opened in May and held its grand opening on August 15, according to the Ventura County Star. It's a stop on Main Street between the Saturday market and Sunday's festival.
The relay keeps going through December
The calendars after Halloween show the same back-and-forth. The Ventura Potter's Guild Bowl of Thanks & Pottery Market comes to the harbor November 7 and 8, with locally made ceramics and food tastings from Village restaurants. The Majestic Ventura Theater has Nekrogoblikon on November 14 and Fred Armisen on November 17. On December 5, the Winter Wine Walk comes with a free holiday street fair along Main Street from noon to 8 p.m. Winter Wonderland is back at the harbor on December 13 from noon to 4 p.m. The 50th Annual Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks runs December 18 and 19, with festivities starting at 4 p.m. and the parade at 6:30 p.m. both nights.
If a Friday at the harbor or a Sunday on Main Street has you thinking about which part of Ventura fits the way you spend your weekends, Wade Koch is glad to talk it through. Let's Connect: Schedule a Free Consultation.
