Crowd Savors Sun and Fun at 5th Seafest

Deluged with cars, their drivers searching for nearby parking, Ventura Harbor Village teemed with life Sunday as the district’s shopping hub hosted its fifth annual Seafest celebration.

The festival offered everything from massages for mothers to pony rides for kids. Leashed dogs and parents pushing strollers jockeyed for sidewalk room as hundreds of area residents relished the 67-degree temperature.

Music from three stages and the scents from several cafes wafted through the air, giving the crowd of retirees, young parents and children, as well as a few teens, a chance to savor the day.

“It’s nice to get out of the Valley heat,” said Charles White, 62, of North Hills, who said he comes to Ventura Harbor once a month to unwind. “I don’t relax at home, because I end up working in the yard.”

Besides, he said, visitors can take their grandchildren--he has four--to the harbor area and still feel safe. There is almost always something fun going on, he added, and the crowds offer a little excitement.

On a nearby stage, a dance troupe in grass skirts swayed to heavy Tahitian drumbeats as the crowd sat enthralled. The dancers motioned for children to join them and tried to teach them the steps, with moderate success.

About a football field away, in a courtyard outside Harbor Hatters, Lorie Graves of Ventura, leaned atop a store railing as she listened to a tropical band. Graves, 30, frequents the harbor, but said she picked Seafest for a practical reason.

She wanted to meet a blind date in a public place with entertainment as a backup.

“I thought it would be safer,” she said, laughing. “You know, there’s live music, a lot of people watching.”

Merchants were also giddy about the festival kickoff. Although Sonia Williams spent the day working at Rebecca Psychic, she said she had no complaints. Williams, 36, as did most retailers, said her business benefited from the increased foot traffic.

She would normally entertain 10 to 15 people, she said, but would probably give 20 to 25 readings during the festival.

“This means an awful lot,” she said. “It means more business and there are a lot of people from out of the area.”

Scott Peltcher, 47, of Ventura was a lucky exception to the large crowd of folks whose toughest chore was finding a place to park. He lives on a boat that docks in the harbor most nights.

He walked up from home to see what all the commotion was about and said he was enjoying an afternoon of free entertainment.

“It’s fun when they have stuff,” he said. “I go to all the car shows, dog shows.”

Although animals also entertained on Sunday, it was the swarms of children who offered the most joyous noise. Giggles erupted from all directions as kids played in the petting zoo and took turns on a pony ride.

Simi Valley mom Hazel Kell, 33, said she was attending her second Seafest, along with Brady, her 2 1/2-year-old son. As he petted a trough full of baby ducks, Kell said she couldn’t resist the opportunity for a moment’s peace.

“It’s great for the kids, they’re safe here, and I get a little quiet,” she said. “It’s cooler here, it’s a relaxed atmosphere, and it’s nice to just get out of the house.”