The Month Ahead

If you like to plan ahead, this monthly feature will be your guide and calendar. Just snip it out of the paper and attach it to the fridge.

To contribute suggestions for next month’s calendar, send a letter by July 22 to the Month Ahead, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001.

For information, call 653-7570.

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Vietnam Memorial

July 1-5

A 240-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D. C., will be on exhibit at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. There will be an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. July 1, dedication at 11 a.m. July 3 and closing candlelight ceremony at 8 p.m. July 5. The wall will be available for viewing 24 hours a day. Free. Information: 495-0837.

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Music and Stars

Saturday, July 3

The Olivas Adobe will open its Music Under the Stars series with a concert by Little Jonny & the Giants at 7 p.m. at 4200 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. Slide guitarist and vocalist Jonny Lawton heads up the blues band. $10 general, $8 senior citizens and children for the concert; dinners are available for $10, desserts only for $3. Tickets: 658-4726; dinner reservations: 650-7559.

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Parades

Sunday, July 4

Many in the county will celebrate Independence Day with parades: The Channel Islands Beach parade from Harbor Landing to the Whale’s Tail restaurant will begin at 10 a.m. Information: 985-4852. Ventura’s Pushem-Pullem children’s parade on Main Street, from Cemetery Park to Fir Street, will begin at 10:30 a.m. Information: 658-4726.

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Fireworks

Sunday, July 4

Fourth of July fireworks shows will be held at Freedom Park in Camarillo, 5 p.m. on, free; Thousand Oaks (best viewing from The Oaks mall), 9 p.m., free; Ventura College, 5:30 p.m. on, $6 adults, $4 children 6-12; Channel Islands Harbor, 1 p.m. on, free; Fillmore High School, 7 p.m. on, free; Simi Valley High School, 3 p.m. on, $7 adults, $4 children in advance; $8 adults, $5 children at the gate, and Harding Park in Santa Paula, 9 p.m., free.

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Pops Concert

Sunday, July 4

Conductor Elmer Ramsey will lead the Conejo Pops Orchestra in an Independence Day concert at 5 p.m. at Conejo Community Park, Dover and Hendrix avenues, Thousand Oaks. The Sherwood Singers will also perform. Free. Information: 381-2747.

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Street Fair

Sunday, July 4

Five hundred artists and craftspeople will exhibit their work at the 24th annual Fourth of July Street Fair from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Main Street in downtown Ventura. There will be music, dancing, children’s activities and cannon drills. Free. Information: 654-7830.

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Chili and Cars

Sunday, July 4

The 13th annual Sespe Creek Chili Cook Off and Car Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Fillmore. More than 300 street rods and custom and classic vehicles will be shown and 50 chili cooks will prepare their specialties. There will be arts and crafts, a horseshoe tournament, music and children’s activities. Free. Information: 524-0551 or 525-9820.

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Flying Fourth

Sunday, July 4

Aerial exhibitions and an aircraft display will highlight the holiday celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Santa Paula Airport on Santa Maria Street. Festivities will also include a car show, salsa-making competition and children’s activities. Free. Information: 525-2266.

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Reagan Library Party

Sunday, July 4

The U. S. Air Force Band, 24th Michigan Volunteer Fifers and Drummers, and an exhibit of American flags will be among the highlights of the Fourth of July celebration at 10 a.m. at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. Free. Information: (800) 410-8354.

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Fourth on Fifth

Monday, July 5

Ojai will celebrate the holiday with a day of festivities July 5. Activities will begin on Ojai Avenue with a Lions Club breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m., a children’s Freedom Run at 9 a.m. and a parade from Country Club Drive to Sarzotti Park at 10 a.m. There will be food booths, contests and other family activities at the park at 11:30 a.m. A fireworks show and concert will begin with music at 5 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at Nordhoff High School; $4 advance, $6 at the gate general, $2 children. Information: 646-4295 or 646-2729.

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Ojai Band

Wednesday, July 7

The Ojai Band will open its summer series with a concert from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the Libbey Park bandstand on Ojai Avenue between Signal and Montgomery streets. The program will include patriotic marches, big band music and show tunes. Concerts will continue Wednesdays through Aug. 25. Free. Information: 646-4665.

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Preservation Jazz

Monday, July 12

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Black Lot Theatre, 1408 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. The seven-member New Orleans ensemble has toured the world for 25 years, performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Boston’s Symphony Hall. A cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception will precede the concert at 6 p.m. $75. Reservations: 497-4066.

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Camarillo Fiesta

July 16-18

The Camarillo Fiesta and Street Fair--featuring a carnival, chili cook-off, classic car show and plenty of live music--will be held in the Old Town section on Ventura Boulevard. The festival will run from 6 to 10 p.m. July 16, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 17 and noon to 7 p.m. July 18. Free admission; $10 for 24 carnival tickets by July 16. Information: 388-5396 or 482-0589.

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Obon Festival

Saturday, July 17

The Oxnard Buddhist Temple will hold the 44th annual Obon Festival from 12:30 to 9 p.m. at 250 South H St. The program will include dance, taiko drumming and martial arts demonstrations, as well as art displays and Japanese food. Free admission. Information: 483-5948.

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Wind Concert

Saturday, July 17

The Stanley Wind Ensemble, a group of 60 musicians from the Conejo and San Fernando valleys, will perform at 8 p.m. at the Moorpark High School Performing Arts Center, 4500 Tierra Rejada Road. Conductor Michael Stanley formed the group in 1990 when he was a senior at Thousand Oaks High School. $6. Tickets: (818) 841-7671.

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Playwrights Conference

July 23-25

The second annual Ojai Playwrights Conference will be held at Happy Valley School’s Zalk Theater and outdoor amphitheater, 8585 California 150, Upper Ojai. Staged readings will be presented at 8 p.m. July 23; noon, 3 and 8 p.m. July 24, and 4 and 7:30 p.m. July 25. $10 for each performance. Reservations: 640-0400.

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‘Pirates of Penzance’

July 23-Aug. 1

The Cabrillo Music Theatre will present the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta “The Pirates of Penzance” at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $17-$33. Tickets: 449-2787 or 583-8700.

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Moorpark Pops

Saturday, July 31

The Moorpark College Summer Performing Arts Festival will present a Summer Pops Orchestral Concert at 8 p.m. at the Main Stage theater on campus, 7075 Campus Road. $10 general, $8 students, $6 senior citizens and children. Reservations: 378-1485.

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Salsa Festival

July 31-Aug. 1

The sixth annual Oxnard Salsa Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1 at Plaza Park, 5th and C streets. There will be a salsa competition, salsa tasting, music, arts and crafts, and children’s activities. Free admission. Information: 247-0197.

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Compiled by LEO SMITH / Los Angeles Times