VENTURA : Merchants Hold 1st Children’s Celebration

Five-year-old Daniel Rick of Calabasas sat transfixed Sunday as David Steinheart, also known as Captain Magic, performed one magic trick after another at Ventura Harbor.

First there was the bucket of water that filled up by itself as Steinheart uttered the magic words: “Ooga booga.” Then Steinheart juggled and displayed a trick box that hides oversized dice.

He closed with a crowd favorite: three steel rings that interlock, then separate with the wave of a hand.

“Perfect,” Daniel declared, moments after the show.

Steinheart was one of many attractions Sunday at Ventura Harbor Village, where the merchants association held its first Children’s Celebration, planned as a yearly event. Face-painting, a petting zoo, pony rides, music and entertainment greeted thousands of visitors who flocked to the harbor for the festival, shopping, dining or to escape searing inland heat.

“We brought him so he could ride the ponies and see the magic show,” said Anjanette Copas of Ventura, referring to her son Devin, age 3. “We went into the petting zoo, watched them fly kites and now he’s going to ride Tony the Pony.”

Copas’ friend Dayna Justice, also of Ventura, said she was a little disappointed, however, with the celebration. “We were kind of bummed because we thought there would be more things to do,” she said. “But Devin’s having fun, and that’s what counts. He’s just mesmerized by Tony’s tail.”

Judie Amendola, harbor association marketing director, said merchants want to create a fun environment for the family.

“A lot of our customers have kids, so we try and have a variety of activities for the children. (Saturday) we were just packed because we had the Power Rangers,” she said, referring to look-alikes of the popular children’s television characters.