NEWS

Camarillo Parade, Santa to the Sea canceled because of Thomas Fire

Staff reports
The Parade of Lights at Channel Islands Harbor will go on as planned Saturday night, organizers say.

Another weekend event is being canceled because of the Thomas Fire: the Camarillo Christmas Parade and Santa's Village, put on by the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District.

The Saturday parade joins several other events that have been canceled or postponed, including Sunday's Santa to the Sea half marathon in Oxnard, Sunday's Chopperfest at the Ventura County Fairgrounds and the Saturday and Sunday swap meet at Ventura College. Sunday's sold-out Holiday Candlelight Tour at the Olivas Adobe was canceled late Friday.

However, organizers for the Channel Islands Harbor Parade of Lights, scheduled for Saturday, issued a news release late Thursday to announce that their event will go on as scheduled.

Camarillo officials said they wrestled with the decision on whether to cancel the annual Christmas Parade.

"This decision did not come easily," Mary Otten, general manager of the park district, stated in a news release issued Friday morning. "However, due to a significant number of vendors and parade participants canceling their participation, fire impacts to air quality, a continued and extended red flag warning until 8 p.m. Sunday, the unpredictability of surrounding fire conditions in Santa Paula and Fillmore, and the closure of all public schools in the community this week, the district decided that these factors significantly weighed against holding this year's event." 

Santa to the Sea was canceled late Thursday. One of the goals of the popular run is to collect toys that are distributed shortly before Christmas, and organizers set up a plan to be able to carry that out. Runners can pick up their shirts, runner bags and medals from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and drop off toys at that time. In addition, the area near the Santa statue alongside the 101 Freeway near Rice Avenue will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for photos and toy drop-off.

Runners who paid for this year's event will get 20 percent off next year's run. Santa to the Sea will give $5,000 each to United Way of Ventura County, Red Cross of Central California and Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center. 

Here is the latest news on cancellations caused by the Thomas Fire:

  • This weekend's performances of "The Nutcracker" by the Ventura County Ballet at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center have been rescheduled for Dec. 15, 16 and 17.
  • Chopperfest, set to take place Sunday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, has been rescheduled for Feb. 4. 
  • Ventura's first Holidays at the Plaza, scheduled to begin with a tree-decorating event Thursday in the city's Plaza Park downtown, has been postponed. Organizers were planning to open Plaza Park from Monday through Dec. 14 so sponsors could decorate the 150 trees that would be set up by that point. However, those plans are contingent on the quality of the air and on wind conditions, and organizers urged those involved to check their email on Sunday for updates. The first movie screenings — “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and ’The Polar Express” — have been tentatively rescheduled to 6 p.m. Dec. 14.
  • The opening reception for "In High Style: The Photography of Neal Barr" at the Museum of Ventura County has been postponed until the start of the year. The exhibit will remain at the museum through April 8.

  • The Ventura College Foundation’s Weekend Marketplace will be closed Saturday and Sunday. The college and the foundation have launched a victim relief drive. Cash contributions can be made on mobile devices by texting VCFIRE to 41444. Online giving is at www.VCgiving.org.

  • George Christie's book-signing and presentation in Ojai on Saturday, a fundraiser for the Ojai Music Festival's BRAVO education and musical programs. has been canceled.