VENTURA : Participants Sought for Holiday Festival

Applications are available for nonprofit groups, merchants and artisans who want to display or sell their products at Ventura’s Holiday Street Festival.

The annual eight-block festival will feature food booths, bake sales and information tables set up by about 50 local nonprofit groups, said Kathy Stoutz, assistant special events coordinator for the city.

“This is a primary fund-raiser for them,” Stoutz said of the nonprofit groups. The festival, scheduled for Dec. 6 in downtown Ventura, usually attracts about 50,000 visitors, she said.

Downtown merchants will also hold sidewalk sales, and more than 500 artisans from throughout the state are expected to sell handmade jewelry, quilts, clothing, toys and holiday decorations.

Merchants, artisans and nonprofit groups must apply and pay a fee to participate, Stoutz said. Fees vary depending on where the booths are and what will be sold or displayed, she said.

Applications can be picked up at 586 Poli St. and must be returned by Nov. 2. There is no deadline for arts and crafts booths, which fill up by demand. For more information, call 654-7830.