Plan Ahead

* Music Festival--The Ventura Chamber Music Festival, under the direction of Burns Taft and Gregory B. Smith, will return May 3-13 to various downtown venues. The theme for this year’s annual event is “Transcendent Bach.” Besides a healthy dose of that composer, there will also be music by Debussy, Dvorak, Piazzola, Ravel, Villa-Lobos and others. Featured performers will include guitar virtuoso Pepe Romero; the Empire Brass Quintet; Grammy-winning conductor Vance George; South American classical and jazz guitarist Romero Lubambo, appearing with Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista; flutist Paula Robison; and the Rossetti String Quartet. For information and tickets, call 648-3146. Internet: https://www.vcmfa.org.

* Telling Tales--Ojai will host the Village of Tales Storytelling Festival, May 4-6. The second annual event will offer concerts, workshops, student programs and open-mike performances. Featured performers will be Bill Harley, Judith Black, Izzi Tooinsky, David Novak and the Healing Force. More than 25 events will take place at four downtown locations. For details, call 646-8907.

* Roses--Gaals’ Little Acre in Santa Paula will host its annual “For the Love of Roses” garden tour and sale May 5-6. More than 300 rose varieties will be featured, as well as English country-style gardens, organically grown fruits and vegetables, and guest speakers. Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. both days. The site is 11617 Telegraph Road. $10. 647-9311.