Mexican Cinema

“Fiestas Patrias--Mexican Film Festival” will continue through the weekend at Channel Islands Cinemas in Oxnard. Presented in part by Radio Unica and Inlakech Cultural Arts Center, the screenings will be accompanied by English subtitles. Discussions with the filmmakers and other special guests will be held before and after each show.

* “Fiestas Patrias--Mexican Film Festival.” Today: “Pancho Villa y Otras Historias.” Friday: “La Ciudad.” Saturday: “Julio y Su Angel.” Sunday: “La Otra Conquista.” All screenings begin at 7 p.m. Channel Islands Cinemas, Channel Islands Boulevard and Gonzales Road, Oxnard. $5 general; $2.50 seniors and ages 6 and under. 487-9075.

World Music

The Lake Casitas World Rhythms & Reggae Festival will be held Saturday at the lakeside recreation area near Ojai. The event is a benefit for Bookshacks for Jamaicans, an organization that builds reading rooms and provides books to Jamaican schools. Concert-goers can make book donations at the show. Headlining the festival will be Andrew Tosh, son of reggae legend Peter Tosh. Also on the bill: Fully Fullwood Band, Ras Shiloh, Rocky Dawuni, Sugar Black, the King’s Chamber Revue and the Cannons. There also will be food and arts and crafts.

* The Lake Casitas World Rhythms & Reggae Festival, Saturday, noon-10 p.m., California 150 and Santa Ana Road, near Ojai. General admission: advance, $24; at the gate, $27. Discounts for students and ages 65 and older; 12 and under free. Parking, $3. 962-9098.

German Fun It’s time to dust off your lederhosen--Oktoberfest is back. The Newbury Park Rotary Club’s 14th annual celebration of German food, drink and dance will return Sunday to Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks. The daylong event offers activities for families and children. Folks can browse the arts and crafts booths, snack on bratwurst and sauerkraut, and then polka to burn off the calories. Proceeds will benefit local charities.

* Oktoberfest, Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Conejo Creek Park North, California 23 and Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Free. 373-1405.

Jazz Concert

The Ventura College music department will sponsor a jazz concert Tuesday in the “Fireside Lounge” at the campus cafeteria. The trio Spirals--whose members have performed with Phil Woods, Ray Brown and Brad Mehldau, among other notables--makes a West Coast tour stop to perform its brand of straight-ahead jazz. Musicians: Jacob Sacks (piano), Eivind Opsvik (bass) and Don Peretz (drums).

* Spirals, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Ventura College cafeteria, 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura. $10. 654-0454.