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 Dec. 21 to the Month Ahead, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001.

For information, call 653-7570.

Cowboy Christmas Concert

Wednesday, Dec. 1

Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Concert is at 8 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Murphey will play guitar backed by his Rio Grande Band and sing many of the songs from his best-selling “Cowboy Christmas: Cowboy Songs 2.” Tickets, $21.50 to $36.50, are available at the box office or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets or information: 449-2787.

Harbor Parade

Dec. 3-4

Ventura Harbor Village presents the 1999 Parade of Lights, with the theme “I’m Dreaming of a Bright Christmas,” in Ventura Harbor, 1583 Spinnaker Drive. A pre-parade festival will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The parade will start at 7 p.m. Spinnaker Drive closes at 6 p.m., so arrive early. Admission and parking are free. Information: 644-0169.

Children’s Choir

Dec. 3, 5

Los Robles Children’s Choir will present “Gloria! A Christmas Jubilee” at the Moorpark College Performing Arts Center, 7075 Campus Road. The choir will be joined by a brass ensemble and be directed by Donna Young. Shows are 8 p.m. Dec. 3 and 3 p.m. Dec. 5. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and $10 for students or children. Information: 497-0386.

Scottish Country Dancing

Saturday, Dec. 4

Ventura College Community Services presents a day of Scottish country dancing beginning at 9 a.m. at the Ventura College dance studio, Room C102, 4667 Telegraph Road. There will be a class for new dancers and one for dancers with at least one year of experience. The fee of $26 includes workshops, lunch, dance and a party afterward. Information: 644-4238 or (818) 222-4584.

Oxnard Parade

Saturday, Dec. 4

The downtown Oxnard Holiday Parade, themed “Hometown Holidays: the Cartoon Parade of the Century,” will start at 10 a.m. at 9th and C streets and end at Plaza Park on B Street. Information: 385-7545.

Art Show

Dec. 4-29

The California Watercolor Society will hold a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 5 for its annual Membership Show at the Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St. The show will run from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays Dec. 4 to 29. Information: 376-0034.

Award-Winning Singer

Sunday, Dec. 5

Performances to Grow On presents singer Charlotte Diamond in concert at 3 p.m. at the Laurel Theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Diamond’s debut album won the Juno Award, Parents’ Choice Classic Award and American Library Assn. Award. Tickets, at $8 for children and $10 for adults, are available at the Adventures for Kids bookstore in Ventura or by calling 650-9688.

Youth Drama Troupe

Dec. 7, 11, 12

The Gypsies in a Trunk Youth Troupe will perform “The Magical Toy Shoppe” to benefit Toys for Tots. The Camarillo performance is at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St. The Ventura performance is at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Barranca Vista Cultural Center, 7050 Ralston St. The Simi Valley performance is at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Sycamore Drive Center, 1692 Sycamore Drive. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for youths. Bring a gift valued at $5 or more for $1 off admission. Information: 522-0449.

Christmas Musical

Dec. 9-12, 13

Camarillo Community Church presents the Christmas musical “Come Celebrate Christmas” at 1322 Las Posas Road. The show, featuring a blend of music, drama, dancing and pageantry, will be at 7 p.m. every night as well as 4 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10. Tickets are $7.50. Tickets or information: 482-2657.

Dance and Drama

Dec. 9-10, 12, 16-18

Bible Fellowship Church presents the dance / drama “Seasons of Change” at 6950 Ralston St., Ventura. All shows start at 7 p.m. except 3 p.m. Dec. 12. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children under 12 and senior citizens over 62. Information: 650-7766.

Freeway Philharmonic

Dec. 10

The Freeway Philharmonic will play at 8 p.m. at the Laurel Theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. The concert will feature a variety of jazz, pop and rock along with the group’s style of instrumental music. Tickets, which are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, are available at the Ojai Coffee Roasting Company and Adventures for Kids. Information or tickets by phone: 650-9688.

Holiday Home Tour

Dec. 12

The Moorpark Women’s Fortnightly Club is sponsoring its 15th annual Holiday Home Tour from 3 to 8 p.m. This year, there will be six homes decorated especially for Christmas. The cost is $12 per person. The proceeds will benefit the Moorpark community through various service projects. Information: 529-5093 or 523-1890.

Japanese Mochitsuki

Dec. 12, 18

The Oxnard Buddhist Temple and Oxnard Kendo Dojo will co-host a traditional Japanese Mochitsuki event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 250 South H St. The event will consist of making sweet rice cakes using a mallet and mortar, an event performed in ancient Japan as a personal and reflective act. Free. Information: 483-5948 or 982-1372.

Evening of Dance

Dec. 15

The Moorpark College Performing Arts Department presents an Evening of Dance at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage of the Performing Arts Center, 7075 Campus Road. The evening will feature selections of ballet, ballroom, jazz, modern and tap dance directed by Daniel Berney. Tickets are $5. Reservations or information: 378-1485.

Bus Tour

Dec. 18

An Angels and Architecture Bus Tour starting at 1 p.m. at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St., will focus on Ventura’s historic houses of worship. It will feature a variety of art including stained glass, murals and needlepoint. The tour costs $8. Information or registration: 658-4726.

Ventura Master Chorale

Dec. 17, 19

The Ventura Master Chorale conducted by Burns Taft will perform “From Silence to Celebration” at San Buenaventura Mission, 211 E. Main St., Ventura. The program will include Brahms’ Mass, “O Magnum Mysterium” by Lauridsen, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” and “Silent Night.” Times are 8 p.m. Dec. 17 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Tickets are $18 for priority seating and $15 for general seating. Information: 653-7282.

Millennium Dance

Dec. 31

The Goebel Senior Center will host a New Year’s Eve Millennium Dance 2000 from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. The dance will be for adults ages 50 or older with music by the Windsors. Refreshments will be served. Free photos will be taken. Tickets are available for reserved table seating. Information: 381-2744.

New Year’s Masquerade

Dec. 31

The McDonald Media Group is sponsoring the Millennium Masquerade, which will begin at 7 p.m. and continue until at least 1 a.m. at Seaside Park, Harbor Boulevard and Figueroa Street, Ventura. Entertainment will include music by three bands and a major fireworks display will be set off at midnight. There will be an all-night buffet and champagne toast. Until Dec. 15, tickets will be $115 per person, $110 per person for a table of four or $99 per person for a table of 10. After that, tickets are $125 per person. Masks will be provided at the door. Information: 652-1200.

Compiled by

ALEX FIELD / Los Angeles Times