Updated October 8, 2026. Ventura County’s first real weekend of this stretch starts tomorrow. The Seaside Highland Games take the fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday, with a harbor dinner the night before and a stack of free events around them. Ticket prices move, so this page only prints a price when the organizer has posted one, and it skips anything that isn’t a 2026 listing.
Friday, October 9 — harbor kickoff
Whisky tasting and A Scottish Evening — Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort, 1050 Schooner Drive. The tasting runs 5–6:30 p.m. and the dinner 6:30–9:30 p.m. It’s the night-before companion to the Highland Games. Tickets and the current prices are on seasidehighlandgames.org.
Saturday and Sunday, October 10–11 — Games weekend
22nd Seaside Highland Games — Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Clan tents, athletics, pipes, and sheepdogs on the waterfront. Same site for tickets.
Touch-a-Truck — Saturday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Hueneme Beach, Port Hueneme. Fifth year, and free.
Kayak poker run — Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to noon, from Channel Islands Harbor to the Anacapa Yacht Club. Second year.
One County, One Book with Lisa See — Saturday, 2–4 p.m., Museum of Ventura County. Free.
Harvest Day pub crawl — Saturday, 6–9 p.m., starting at Happy Place Eatery in downtown Ventura. First year, under the month’s Harvest Days.
Ponies by the Sea car show — Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Harbor View Park at Channel Islands Harbor. Free to watch.
Victorian Halloween at Olivas Adobe — Sunday, noon–4 p.m., Ventura.
Tea & Trumpets — Sunday, 3–5 p.m., Pierpont Inn. Part of the Ventura Music Festival.
Midweek
Turnstile with Pennywise and Die Spitz — Wednesday October 14, 7 p.m., doors 5:30 p.m., Ventura County Fairgrounds.
October 16–18
Tuna Invitational — October 16–18 at Channel Islands Harbor. The public piece is the weigh-in Sunday October 18 at 3 p.m. The fishing itself is for slip holders and guests.
Panteón Fest — Saturday October 17, 1–9 p.m., Heritage Square, downtown Oxnard. Fourth year.
Harvest Hootenanny — Saturday October 17, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., California and Main, downtown Ventura. Free.
Buenaventura Art Center & Gallery grand opening — Saturday October 17, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Ventura Harbor Village.
Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter — Saturday October 17, 7 p.m., Mission Park, Ventura. That’s the time on the Ventura Music Festival site. Some other listings say 5 p.m.
Filipino American Fiesta — Sunday October 18, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Museum of Ventura County. Second year, and free.