FRIDAY: Ojai CelebrationOjai Day 1996, celebrating the...

FRIDAY: Ojai Celebration

Ojai Day 1996, celebrating the city’s 75th anniversary, will have a vast and varied soundtrack this year, including Ojai local Chris Hillman & the Laurel Canyon Ramblers in a Friday night gig at Libbey Park. Hillman, you may recall, is in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame as one of the founding members of those ‘60s-era folk-rock gods the Byrds. Since then, he has led the hugely successful country chart toppers the Desert Rose Band and continues to release solo albums.

The big wingding is essentially a street fair and begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with ever-affordable free admission. There are four venues for music, all within a two-block area. Selected musical highlights include Southern Cross (10 a.m.), Conscious Souls (12:30 p.m.), Rick Reeves & the Future Blues Band (3 p.m.), the Rincon Ramblers (3 p.m.) and the Rhythm Rangers (4 p.m.).

The Hillman gig Friday is a fund-raiser for the event, and ticket prices are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Call 646-1872 to purchase tickets for this 8 p.m. show.

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SATURDAY: Symphony Season Opener

The Conejo Symphony Orchestra will commence a new performance season under an appropriate title, “New Beginnings,” at the Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Led by conductor Howard Sonstegard, the orchestra includes many professional musicians displaced when the Conejo and Ventura County symphonies disbanded to form the New West Symphony.

The concert, starting at 8 p.m., will include: Rosini’s “Semiramide Overture,” Borodin’s “In the Steppes of Central Asia,” Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No. 5” and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 in D Major.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door. For more information, call 495-8774.

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WEEKEND: Fright Nights

It’s baaaack. The 22nd annual Factory of Terror--5,500 square feet of haunted house at Seaside Park presented by the Ventura Jaycees. You can have the wits scared out of you for a good cause as all proceeds are donated to various Ventura County high school student clubs and groups.

It works like this: Guinea pigs, er, visitors are guided through eight themed scare chambers that are staffed by students bedecked in all kinds of ghoulish makeup and garb. After about a 30-minute romp through the chambers, those willing to push on are left in a darkened maze to fend for themselves--and find their own way out. A note for the weak of heart: Emergency doors are provided at different parts of the house for a quick escape. The house offers Halloween entertainment for the entire family, with an emphasis on children and teens. Organizers suggest the house may be a bit too scary for children 8 and younger. Hours: 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; through Nov. 2. Seaside Park is at 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. Call 656-1260.

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UP THE COAST

Celebrating the craft of brewing beer, the third annual Pacific Coast Beerfest will be held Saturday at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara. From noon to 6 p.m., beer fans can sample fermented concoctions from more than 60 breweries nationwide, plus there will be food tastings, live music and more. Admission is $10, which includes three samples, a souvenir glass and program. Additional samples are $1. Admission for ages 12-20, $5; 6-12, $2; 5 and under, free; designated drivers, $5; The venue is located off the Ventura Freeway at Las Positas Road. Call 687-0766 or the Beerfest Hotline, (310) 207-6904.

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GLANCE AHEAD

The political satire group Capitol Steps will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks. The musical troupe members, based in Washington, D.C., are former congressional staffers and perform nationwide satirizing the very people who once employed them. Tickets: $17.50 and $27.50. The plaza is at 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd; 449-ARTS.