Star-Spangled Fun

There will be no shortage of Fourth of July festivities in Ventura County. The following is a list of fireworks and entertainment events:

* Ventura will hold its 15th Annual July 4th Celebration, featuring the “Dawn’s Early Light” fireworks display on the beach next to the pier at Harbor Boulevard and California Street at 5 a.m. At 4 a.m., the Ventura Kiwanis will offer a $4 pancake breakfast next to the parking structure at the pier for early arrivals.

“Our Planet Earth” is the theme of a youth parade commencing at 10:30 a.m. at Cemetery Park, Hemlock and Main streets. It features floats made from wagons, wheelbarrows and other non-motorized vehicles.

An eight-block street fair on Main Street from Fir Street to Ventura Avenue will be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ten entertainment areas will provide fair-goers with a variety of music and dance bands, ranging from Dixieland to country and big band sounds to pop. Also featured will be 400 artisans from around the state displaying arts and crafts.

Plaza Park--at Chestnut Street and Thompson Boulevard--will also be the site for an arts and crafts fair, featuring the works of 100 artisans.

For information, call 654-7830.

* The Conejo Recreation and Park District is sponsoring the following:

A 9 p.m. fireworks show that will be launched from a hill north of The Oaks Mall, 222 W. Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks. For best viewing, it is advised to park at the mall. For information, call 499-4355.

The Borchard Community Center, 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park, will host a pancake breakfast 8 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Enjoy live entertainment and door prizes. A play area is available for children. Admission is $3; senior citizens and children under 5 $1. Call 498-3124.

Family games and entertainment will be featured at the Conejo Community Center, Dover and Hendrix avenues, Thousand Oaks. A senior citizen home-run derby will be held 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; $2 registration starts at 8:30 a.m. The entire family can enjoy various games from 1 to 2:30 p.m. A patriotic concert will be performed by the Conejo Concert Band from 3 to 5 p.m. Call 495-2163.

More family games from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Triunfo Canyon Park, 980 Aranmoor Ave., Thousand Oaks. Enjoy crafts, easel painting, volleyball, softball and more. A patriotic concert will be performed by the Leroy Andrews Dixieland Jazz Band, 3 to 5 p.m. Call 492-2461.

* The second annual “Concert in the Sky” fireworks and entertainment event will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at Moorpark Memorial High School, 4500 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark. The event features food and exhibit booths, continuous stage entertainment and, of course, fireworks. Stage entertainment includes La Clave Azul, a Latino group, 6 p.m.; singer/dancer Kevin-Anthony, 7:15 to 8 p.m.; and headline act Papa Doo Run Run, 8 to 9 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. A supervised activity area will be available for children ages 3 to 10 for periods up to half an hour. Admission is $6; $4 for children ages 4 to 12, and kids under 3 admitted free.

* The “4th of July Spectacular, A Carnival of Family Fun” will be presented in part by the Camarillo Pageant Assn. at Freedom Park, Pleasant Valley and Freedom Park Drive, Camarillo. Commencing at 1 p.m., festivities include food vendors, a celebrity softball game at 3 p.m., Dixieland jazz, blue grass music and magicians. Kiddie Karnival for ages 5 to 12 will have rides and game booths, and a teen dance will start at 6:30 p.m. A fireworks display is set to go off at 9 p.m. Admission is $5; senior citizens and ages 5 to 17, $3. Kids under 5 admitted free.

* The Ventura County Symphony, under the direction of Frank Salazar, will perform its annual Fourth of July Holiday Concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. The concerts will be held in the Festivals Bowl at Libby Park, corner of Ojai Avenue and Signal Street. Entitled “Message of Freedom,” the concerts will include works by Tchaikovsky, Bartok, Dvorak and Brahms. Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy” will also be performed by accompanying pianist Mona Golabek. Tickets are $15. Call 643-8646.

* The Albinger Museum will present “An Old Time Fourth of July” from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy period costumes, lemonade and historic political speeches. Admission is free. The museum is located at 113 E. Main St., Ventura. Call 648-5823.