Halloween Fun at Ventura Harbor Village

Ventura Harbor Village is brewing up spooky fall festivities this Halloween weekend. The seaside venue offers some enchanting entertainment. Bring the kids and pets in seasonal costumes for extra fun. There are many photo opportunities next to decorated with local pumpkins, skeletons, and scenic marina backdrops.

Here are some of the must see activities:

Seaside Skeleton Hunt:

Visitors are invited to roam the waterfront Village to locate over a dozen Skeltons during a Seaside Skelton Hunt on October 29 and 30, 2022. Take photos of all the skeletons you find and post to social media for a chance to win a Harbor Halloween prize pack filled with goodies from Village shops (use #SeasideSkeletons in the caption and tag @venturaharbor to enter). Look for the mermaid skeleton for bonus points!

HOWL-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest 2022:

Enter your furry four-legged friends in the 10th Annual Ventura Harbor Village HOWL-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest. Creative and cute costumed dogs have a chance to win prizes for best attire. The Instagram-worthy pet costume event is set for Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 11am to 12:30pm. Owners and their furry com-pet-itors are encouraged to arrive at 10:30am to check-in before the judging begins. The contest is open to canines only, and a maximum of 60 dogs can enter. There is no entry fee and online pre-registration is encouraged to secure your spot. A handful of spots will be available (first come first serve) the day of the event.

Owners are encouraged to get dressed up in theme too. Memorable dog/owner duos from previous years feature a farmer & a cow, bumble bee & bee trainer, and a fisherman & his first mate. This year, participants will vie for the top dog spot in costume categories that include Best in Show, Spookiest, Most Sea-Worthy, Most On-trend, and Most Creative.

Winners will receive a blue ribbon, a gift certificate to a Ventura Harbor Village shop or eatery, a pumpkin courtesy of Underwood Family farms, and a complimentary pup cream from Coastal Cone. The best in show “top dog” receives the coveted 2-foot-long rawhide bone.  All registered doggies who participate are treated to a doggy goody bag from this year’s sponsor Ventura Pet Barn as well!  A professional photographer will also be on site to snap photos of festivities.

Kids Seaside Trick or Treat 2022:

Bring a treat bag and stroll the Village with your children on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022 from 11 am to 1 pm for the Kids Seaside Trick or Treat. The Village has over a dozen treats stops handing out treats while supplies last.

There is a complimentary craft station, hosted by Lakeshore Learning, where each child can decorate mini pumpkins using colorful stickers and sparkles (300 pumpkins and décor donated by the kind folks at Underwood Family Farms). Bring the entire family for a spooky photo op with the Halloween Hearse (thanks to the Joseph P. Reardon funeral home) decked out to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in Ventura Harbor Village’s courtyard.

For a nominal fee, a face painter can add a bit of glitz and final costume touches, and a fortune teller can add some mystic.

Ventura Harbor Village shops and galleries have can help you decorate an outfit or home and yard. Check out Lost in Socks or Hats Unlimited. Plus, pick up Halloween-themed treats from Top This Chocolate and Sugar Lab Bake Shop.

Professional Pumpkin Carving:

Throughout Halloween weekend on October 29-30, 2022, a professional pumpkin carving takes place each day from 11am to 1pm. Local artist and professional pumpkin carver, Dawn Reily will be on a seaside Promenade Stage carving a massive pumpkin. Riley is also a contributing artist at the Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts. Her mixed media art is for sale and on display.

Escape Room Experiences:

Got tweens? The Ultimate Escape Rooms at Ventura Harbor Village offers thrilling, interactive experiences daily. Choose from three themed rooms where participants solve riddles & puzzles to escape in an hour or less if they can. Put your brain to the test and earn bragging rights with your buddies. Most rooms can accommodate 10 people max; reservations recommended.

How Sweet It Is:

Ventura Harbor Village has no shortage of seasonal sweet treats! Sink your teeth into an array of delectable desserts from Ventura Harbor Village’s top confectioners: Top This Chocolate, Coastal Cone, Sugar Lab Bake Shop, and Le Petit Café & Bakery.

Celebrate Seafood Month:

Cap off a great day of Halloween festivities by saluting the sea in celebration of National Seafood Month. Fresh seafood lunch or dinner at local restaurants and fish markets include Andria’s Seafood Market and Wild Local Seafood Co.

Toast to the Coast

The Conway family of Santa Barbara/Ventura County opened the new Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room in Ventura Harbor Village. This modern wine tasting room offers 15 different blends of small batch production of reds and whites. The friendly and knowledgeable tasting room hosts offer a selection of both Conway and Deep Sea wines to please all palates.

Enjoy wine by the glass ($13-18), by the bottle (average of $32) and as part of Tasting Flights (Signature Flight $18 and Reserve Wine Tasting Flight $24). The winery’s most popular picks include their top sellers:  Deep Sea “Seastar,” Rose of Pinot Noir, Deep Sea” Seaturtle” Chardonnay and the winery’s red blends.  A fan favorite is the Deep Sea, “The Duel,” that offers a blend of two different varietals:  50 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Malbec.  New vintages such as the CONWAY Cabernet Sauvignon and CONWAY Pinot Noir have been recently released.

There are several Wine Club Options with membership benefits that include 20% off ALL wines and merchandise, $9 wine-by- the-glass anytime, and one complimentary Signature Tasting Flight per month.

Along with tastings, Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room hosts fun and creative special events, such as Oceanic Flow Yoga Class ($25) followed by a glass of wine on the harbor side patio on the first Sunday of each month from 10-11 AM and Live Music on Sundays from 3 – 7 PM.  Seasonal events such as Pumpkin Carving on the patio and holiday wreath making will also be on the calendar of events. Plus, the wine tasting patio is dog-friendly.

Visitors are welcome to bring takeout from nearby restaurants while sipping on a glass of wine at the tasting room. Enjoy wine tasting with a chocolate flight created by Top This Chocolate or curated meat and cheese plate locally sourced in Ventura or delicious flatbread pizza.

Besides scenic views on the outdoor patio, this is an ideal spot for a birthday, wedding, and intimate gathering.  The shop offers “Deep Sea” themed merchandise, including hats, T-shirts, stickers, wine glasses, wine openers, wine chillers, and “Deep Sea” scented candles or purchase a bottle or case of wine to enjoy at home.

Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room is located on the waterfront at 1591 Spinnaker Dr. Ventura, California, 93001 in Ventura Harbor Village near the Village lawn.  Open daily at 11 AM with hours Sunday through Thursday until 8 pm and Friday and Saturday until 9 PM.

Ventura Harbor is 20 miles from Santa Barbara and is 60 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. It is accessible in just minutes from scenic US Highway 101/Highway1 and via the 126 from the 5 Freeway.  For additional visitor information, contact Ventura Harbor Village.