WOWSIE!!!! What an event! This is our second year attending this event and it was even BETTER than…read moreI remembered from last year!
The Ventura Harbor area fills with locals and visitors to the area to see the boats complete 2 laps around A DESIGNATED AREA OF THE HARBOR - NOT THE ENTIRE HARBOR (important to do an online search beforehand if you want to know the boat route and seat according to a view of the boat parade)! Then a glorious 8 FULL MINUTES firework display on the beach tops off the night. Before, during and for a short time after the fireworks end, a carnival is in operation with rides and food.
Last year we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and it was an easy walk to Ventura Harbor Village, where the bulk of the action takes place. There are also many places to dine in this area and, I believe, the restaurants along here offer special, reservations in advance, seating for this event, since their patios view the harbor. This year we were 2.1 miles away, staying at Harbortown Point Resort(separate review), but still walked the level, pedestrian friendly route to the hub of festivities and - even better IMO - to the beach where the fireworks get launched. I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy and LOVE LOVE LOVE the burst, brightness and body reverberating blasts of fireworks, so we stand on the sand to be as close as safely allowed to view these beauties.
While I don't participate in the carnival rides and foods found in abundance, many people do. Families towing wagons of kids in PJs arrive early to stake out places along the pedestrian walkway from Harbortown Point to Channel Islands Visitor Center to watch and wave to the boaters before the parade boats make their way to the channel entrance to watch the fireworks.
The key here is MANY PEOPLE! It is a VERY festive and light-hearted event, with many families and family friendly activities and food. You can arrive early, meaning well before sunset, to stake a place and stay, but most of the crowd seems to leave at the same time, meaning stop and go traffic from the harbor out the Spinnaker Drive, with nary a flow until you hit E Harbor Blvd. The city graciously provides free shuttle service to and from multiple locations at the harbor, but I think the best suggestion I can give is to aim for the event free parking near the Channel Islands Visitor Center(which happens to be the furthest point of the stop-and-go traffic jam), but then plan on staying for about an hour after fireworks end, to walk along the harbor, see the "snow" blowing over the beautiful decorations, enjoy a churro, or funnel cake, look and the docked boats with lights, take some photos and let the traffic lighten. Honestly, we've walked this event 2 years in a row now and are surprised how many people we hear say, 'C'mon! Let's get going before the traffic!' and then sit in their cars, waiting in traffic. There's more than a 50% reduction in pedestrians along the harbor as soon as the fireworks end. So if you're there because you like the sights and sounds of the season, and maybe want some unhealthy goodies to sweeten your experience, just plan on staying later than others.
Better yet, wanna participate??? Beautifully lit swan paddle boats are available to rent during the parade and also, you can buy a ticket aboard a harbor cruise boat and see the parade UP COSE!
Bathrooms are open at Ventura Harbor Village, and at the building where Island Packers is located. Some of the restaurants are also very kind to allow bystanders to use their facilities.
I am a big fan of this event and plan on returning many more years, but always staying local and within walking distance. Cheers! "CC"