Santa Cruises Streets at Holiday Artwalk in Ventura

Santa Claus traded in Rudolph for a red convertible on Friday for Ventura’s Holiday Artwalk, a self-led tour of art galleries in the city’s downtown.

At least 3,000 people were expected to fill the city’s streets, shops, galleries and eateries for the annual event, which was scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m., said Sonia Tower, director of Ventura’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

Councilwoman Rosa Lee Measures waited at City Hall with her husband and 5-year-old grandson for a ride from Santa, who was cruising the downtown circuit. She remarked that it was mitten weather, even though the only snow was painted on glass storefronts or strewn in window displays.

The art walk is the fourth such event organized by the city. Besides Santa, the celebration featured a brass band, a belly dancer, a juggler, carolers and minstrels.

Aside from allowing people to gift-shop and admire artwork in a scattering of galleries, the art walk “creates a greater awareness of the beauty of our downtown,” Measures said.

One gallery new to the event this year was at Turning Point Foundation on Thompson Boulevard. The foundation, which offers services to people with mental illness, exhibited works created during an 11-month city-funded project in which local artists, using art as therapy, worked with foundation clients.

Clyde Reynolds, executive director of the center, said much of the artwork was done in preparation for the annual holiday art show at Camarillo State Hospital next weekend.

This year’s event also gave business people a chance to show their artistry with a Window Wonderland contest. City officials were to announce the contest winner at a reception Friday.

Many people paused to smile at Georgia Olivas-Madrid’s fanciful display window. Olivas-Madrid, owner of the Ladies & Gentlemen resale boutique on Main Street, festooned a red Mexican wedding dress with her collection of Christmas ornaments and posted three illuminated choristers in front.

Katie Crawford, manager of Phantom Bookshop on Main, said it took two weeks to create her store’s nostalgic display, which included an old-fashioned sleigh and horse, and a Christmas tree with a curtain of silver tinsel as a backdrop.

Tower said the next art walk, planned for March, will include a “java jump” that focuses on coffeehouse crawling.