Art, automobiles and bananas will take center stage at four free Ventura County events planned for this weekend.
ArtWalk Ventura is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 26 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27 on Main Street in downtown, portions of Ventura Avenue and elsewhere in the city.
The annual Port of Hueneme Banana Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 26.
The Cops N’ Cruisers Car Show is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 27 at Simi Valley City Hall and the public library.
The annual Central Coast British Car Club Show is set for 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Harbor View Park at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard.
ArtWalk Ventura brings crowds
More than 300 artists and 10,000 attendees are expected at this year’s free, two-day ArtWalk Ventura.
“We’re really excited
about the quality of the artists who are exhibiting this year,” said Marie Lakin, co-chair of the event. “If you’re an art collector, this is heaven for you.”
Locations include the Vita Art Center at 28 W. Main St.; Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave., Unit 101; Art City Studios, 175 Dubbers St.; Cinemark Century Ventura Downtown 10, 555 E. Main St. and The Welcome Room, 419 E. Main St.
Artists will exhibit work at the Vita Art Center, Bell Arts Factory and Art City Studios. An independent film festival will be shown at the theater, and comedians will perform at The Welcome Room, Lakin said.
Other highlights include community painting in front of Mission Basilica San Buenaventura.
For more information and a map, visit artwalkventura.org.
Going bananas at the Port of Hueneme
The banana festival returns Sept. 26 with banana beer, a car show, a pie-eating contest and live bands at the Port of Hueneme, 105 E. Port Hueneme Road.
About 14,000 people are expected to attend, said Zach Baliva, spokesperson for the Port of Hueneme. The pie-eating contest is scheduled for 3:35 p.m. and is open to anyone who registers.
Ventura Coast Brewing Co. will return with banana beer and hard blueberry seltzer, and the festival’s classic car show is expected to feature more than 130 vehicles, Baliva said.
Headliner Twisted Gypsy, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, is scheduled to perform at 2 p.m.
New this year is a silent disco, where people wear headphones and choose a musical playlist, he said.
For more information, visit bananaportfest.com.
Cruisin' in Simi Valley
The annual Cops N’ Cruisers car show, which benefits the Simi Valley Police Explorer Program, features hot rods, four-wheel drive vehicles and classic cars at Simi Valley City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road.
Founded in 2009, the events now offers more than classic cars. Live music, a K-9 demonstration, food vendors and a Dunk a Cop attraction with Simi Valley police officers are planned for Sept. 27, according to the event website. Country artist Justin Honsinger is the featured performer.
For more information, visit www.copsncruisers.com.
British car invasion in Oxnard
About 130 vehicles are expected at the annual Central Coast British Car Club Show on Sept. 27 at Harbor View Park at 3850 Harbor Blvd.
The event, which celebrates 100 years of Route 66, will also offer live music and food and beverage vendors, including Cousins Maine Lobster, Connies Hot Dogs and Mental Frosting coffee roasters.
Participants in the British car show serve as judges. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m.
For more information, visit: centralcoastbritishcarclub.com.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Check out these free Ventura County events with art, bananas and cars
