Ventura Street Festival to Fill 7 Blocks

Scottish dancers, mariachi rhythms, Thai spices and the aroma of German sausage will fill seven blocks of Main Street on Sunday for Ventura’s Holiday Street Festival.

The annual event always falls on the first weekend of December. But because Thanksgiving came late this year, it follows on the heels of turkey day.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., holiday events will be held throughout the downtown and adjoining side streets and city parks.

An arts and crafts show will fill the grassy lawn of Plaza Park. Local caterers and restaurants will hawk their Mexican, Thai, Hawaiian and German specialty dishes. And the Bible Fellowship Church Choir, Channel Island Clippers Chorus and St. John’s Lutheran Choir will perform holiday hymns from their stage on the steps of the San Buenaventura Mission, or a second stage erected at Palm and Main streets.

Scottish dancers, cloggers, Ballet Folklorica, a big band, a swing band and mariachis also will perform.

Santa Claus will make a special appearance on Main Street at 11 a.m.

Three other downtown parks will feature activities for children. In Mission Park there will be bouncing rides, a rope bridge and a Laser Tag game. In the mini-park between Oak and Palm streets there will be face-painting, and children can make tree ornaments.

At the corner of California and Santa Clara streets, young people can try their hand at sidewalk street chalk art.

The fair is free. Parking is available in the downtown lots, in the parking structure at the end of California Street for $5 and at the fairgrounds for $1.