VENTURA COUNTY WEEKEND : WEEKEND

GOTTA DANCE

The second annual California Western Dance Invitational and workshop will take place Friday through Sunday at the Elk’s Lodge, 11 S. Ash St., Ventura. It all gets under way with registration at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by a dance lesson at 7 p.m. and open dancing to deejay music until midnight. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, some of Southern California’s best instructors will teach workshops in line dancing and choreography and preliminary dance competitions will be held. A social dance at 8 p.m. will feature live entertainment. Events on Sunday will include finals competition for couples and dance teams from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets: event pass $35, $15 ages 13 to 17, includes dinner Friday, lunch and dinner Saturday. Competition fee per dance: $5 couples, $20 per team. For details or to register, call 643-8833.

SATURDAY FUNNY GUY

One of comedy’s respected elders, George Carlin, will take to the stage at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Auditorium for a venomous onslaught of thought-provoking commentary--delivered with a comedic flare that is sure to bring laughs.

An indefatigable trouper, Carlin is one of the few comedians to flourish through the self-righteous ‘60s and today remains a symbol of the era’s counterculture conscience. Now well into his 50s, his edge remains. Adamant and opinionated, you can count on vintage Carlin soapbox ranting and otherwise hilarious humor.

Show time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $32, $29.50, $24.50. The plaza is located at 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Tickets are available at the box office and Ticketmaster outlets. For more information, call 449-ARTS.

SUNDAYOJAI BENEFIT

A fund-raiser for the Ojai Film Society--the Shangri-La House Tour and English Tea--will offer participants a jaunt through the confines of some of the Ojai Valley’s most picturesque homes. The four abodes include an authentically detailed turn of the century Victorian house and the Italian Villa situated in a secluded orange grove. Held from 1 to 4 p.m., the tea will be served in the garden of a California farmhouse, which features an idyllic view of the Ojai Valley. Tickets--$25, $20 film society members--can be purchased at the Ojai Chamber of Commerce from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, until 4 p.m. Saturday and until noon on Sunday. Or, reserve tickets by calling the film society at 646-8946. Tickets, which include a map and home addresses, can be purchased the day of the event at the Italian Villa, 283 Carne Road, for $35. Information: 646-8126.

UP THE COAST * The “Four Seasons at the Old Mission” concert series will commence at 8:30 p.m. Sunday with a compendium of choral and opera works presented by the Santa Barbara Grand Opera Assn. and the Santa Barbara Oratorio chorale. The program--with a 50-piece orchestra and 100-voice choir--will include works by Gounod, Verdi, Puccini and others. Admission is free. Tickets to a food and wine reception, $30, includes preferred concert seating. The mission is at 2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara. Information: 682-4713.

* The second-annual Mental Health Arts Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Oak Park, 300 W. Alamar, Santa Barbara. Titled “Breaking the Barriers,” the festival aims to dispel stereotypes surrounding mental illness. On display will be an array of visual and performing arts by members of the mental health community throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties. Also, a zydeco band will perform at 1 p.m. and barbecue fare will be available for picnickers. Admission is free. Information: 681-5450.