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 Oct. 20 to the Month Ahead, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001.

For information, call 653-7570.

Pumpkin Harvest

Oct. 1-31

Faulkner Farm’s 26th annual Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. throughout October at the Hansen Agricultural Learning Center, 14292 E. Telegraph Road, Santa Paula. The farm features scenic hay rides, sunflower maze, farm animals, live music on the weekends, antique tractors, farm store and acres of pumpkins. Admission and parking are free. School tours are available. Information: 525-2226.

Classic Cars

Sunday, Oct. 1

The 15th annual Westlake Village Auto Show 2000 begins at 10 a.m. off Townsgate Road in the Westlake Plaza Center parking lot next to the Hyatt Hotel. The placement of cars begins at 7 a.m. There will be food, entertainment, people’s choice awards and the In-N-Out cookout trailer. Admission is $3 or $5 for two people. All proceeds benefit local charities. Information: 370-0035 or (818) 707-1230.

Treasured Dramatist

Tuesday, Oct. 3

Focus on the Masters Tuesday Talk Series presents “An Evening With Charlotte Bronstein” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Laurel Theatre, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Bronstein spent her career acting, writing and directing and earned the title of Ojai Citizen of the Year and the J. C. Penney Golden Rule Award for outstanding volunteer service. Bronstein, who has also been named an Ojai Living Treasure, will share her innovative teaching techniques used to guide students through writing, casting, staging and performing. Information: 649-9366.

Canvas and Oil

Wednesday, Oct. 4

The Westlake Village Art Guild presents a dinner and demonstration meeting with Siam Caglayan, president of the Plein Air Painters Assn., beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Caglayan, a landscape painter who teaches at Irvine Valley College, will demonstrate in oils. Dinner will begin at 6:45 p.m. and the demonstration at 8 p.m. Cost for both is $24. Reservations are required for dinner, but not for the demonstration. Reservations or information: 373-2123.

Are Men From Mars?

Thursday, Oct. 5

Cal Lutheran University will hold the 15th annual Harold Stoner Clark Lecture Series with Paul Davies, a world famous cosmologist, speaking at 10 a.m. at 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. Davies will speak on the topic “Did Life Come From Mars?” Davies is the author of more than 20 books concerning the search for extraterrestrial life and the origin of life. He won the 1991 ABC Eureka Prize and 1995 Templeton Prize for progress in religion. Admission is free. Information: 493-3151.

Dancers Perform

Oct. 6-8

Marla Bingham Contemporary Ballet presents “Firebird, A Native American Vision” at 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The show features four dances choreographed by Marla Bingham and Larrio Ekson. Tickets are $24.50 to $31.50. Information: 449-2787.

Culinary Art

Saturday, Oct. 7

The Big Chili Cook-Off runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Lake Casitas, 11311 Santa Ana Road. Twenty contenders will compete for the best chili grand prizes, along with taking part in three red hot chili eating contests. Local bands Raging Arb and the Redheads, the Zydeco Zippers and Maxx will perform. In addition to the chili festival booths, more than 20 vendors will be in attendance. Admission is $7 general and free for kids under 10. Information: 646-4170.

Pier Event

Saturday, Oct. 7

The seventh annual Pier Under the Stars to benefit the Ventura Pier runs from 5 to 8 p.m. along the oceanfront promenade off Harbor Boulevard in Ventura. The evening will feature food from local restaurants, wines from California wineries, dancing and a silent auction. Admission is $30. Cost includes a commemorative wine glass. Information: 654-7731.

Harbor Days

Oct. 7-8

The 46th annual Port Hueneme Harbor Days parade runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Hueneme Beach on Surfside Drive. The parade will feature marching bands, equestrians, dancers, vintage cars, floats and novelty entries. The two-day event features arts and crafts, foods, live entertainment, kite demonstration, treasure hunting, car show, fishing derby, games and pony rides. Admission and parking are free. Information: 986-1291 or 312-4045.

Festival of Japan

Sunday, Oct. 8

The Ventura County Japanese American Citizens League hosts its 10th annual Japanese Cultural Festival from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St. The festival features musical artists including the Koshin Drum Group and Taisho Koto Music Group. There will also be Japanese dance, traditional flower arranging, bonsai, brush painting, storytelling, crafts and a tea ceremony demonstration. Food will be available. Admission is $5, $3 for children. Information: 655-5721.

Writers Meet

Tuesday, Oct. 10

The Ventura County Writers Club presents Nina Weiner, editor and director of publicity and marketing for Really Great Books, at 7:30 p.m. at Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Weiner has edited various books, including “Popcorn: Hollywood Stories” by best-selling author Julia Cameron. Free. Information: 579-9414.

Ghost Walk

Oct. 13-15, 20-21, 27-29

The Santa Paula Theater Center’s seventh annual Ghost Walk 2000 runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Thelma B. Bedell School, 1305 Laurel St., Santa Paula. The guided tour begins and ends at the school and leaves every 15 minutes. The tour is a mile long and runs through the historic Fern Oaks neighborhood. Bring a flashlight. Cost is $8, $4 for students older than 7. Refreshments will be sold by local youth groups. Information: 525-3073.

Heart Walk

Saturday, Oct. 14

The American Heart Assn. presents its Heart Walk at 9 a.m. at the Westlake Village Inn, 31943 Agoura Road. The walk raises funds for the association’s research and education programs. Cardiovascular disease is America’s No. 1-ranked killer. Information: 445-7050.

Historic Glass

Oct. 19, 26

The Stagecoach Inn Museum presents a four-week series on Depression era glass that begins at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 19 at 51 S. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park. This weekly series will help define Depression era glass for collectors and others. Admission is $8 for a single class and $25 for the entire series. Information: 498-9441.

The Great Pumpkin

Oct. 21, 22

The Open Classroom Program at Blanche Reynolds School presents its annual Pumpkin Moon Faire from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the McGrath Pumpkin Patch, 5156 McGrath St., Ventura. The event features hay rides, food, haunted house, jolly jumper, face painting, crafts, live music, prize drawings, storytelling and pumpkins. In case of rain, the event will take place Oct. 28 and 29. Admission is free. Information: 701-2662 or 647-8799.

Greek Tragedy

Oct. 26-28

Cal Lutheran University’s Mainstage Theater presents “Antigone” at 8 p.m. at 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. The play is a modern adaptation of Sophocles’ tragedy about a young woman’s struggle against an oppressive society. The play was adapted by Jean Anouilh and directed by Michael J. Arndt. Tickets are $8 or free with a CLU school identification. Information: 493-3415.

Musical Journey

Friday, Oct. 27

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza presents the Conejo Pops Orchestra performing “Memories for You” at 7 p.m. in the Scherr Forum Theater, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The program will include light classics, inspirational songs and American popular songs. Marimba player Bonnie Boss will perform, along with singer Jim Evans. There will be renditions of Big Band songs by Nancy Osborne and Harry Young. Information: 449-2700.

Pumpkin Run / Walk

Sunday, Oct. 29

The 22nd annual Great Pumpkin Run begins at 8 a.m., with registration at 7 a.m., at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. Choose between the 5K Devil’s Dash, 10K Goblin’s Gallop and 1-Mile Run / Walk Trick or Treat Trot. Refreshments will be served for all runners. Pick up an application at the chamber office, 600 Hampshire Road, Suite 200, Westlake Village. Information: 370-0035.

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Compiled by ALEX FIELD / Los Angeles Times