This annual event benefits the Humane Society of Ventura County and their new program, Pantry 4 Paws. Pantry 4 Paws is an exciting pilot program with pantries located throughout the county providing free pet food to those in need.

Stop by the Homes for Pets Fundraiser & Food Drive to meet adoptable pets, bid on silent auction items, learn about disaster preparedness and puppy training from local experts, have your dog bathed while making crafts with your kids, and, if you are able, dropping off dry dog food or cat food for Pantry 4 Paws.

There will also be food, face painting and local vendors!

Visit the Homes for Pets Project to learn more!

The Hearts for Heroes fundraiser benefiting Veteran Farmers of America takes place February 10 from 5:00 to 8:00pm at Topa Mountain Winery.

At the fundraiser, you can enjoy appetizers, taste local wines and purchase wines with 15% of the sales going to the Veteran Farmers of America.

You can learn more about Veteran Farmers of America, which focuses on connecting veterans to agriculture, on their website.

RSVP for the event by calling Julie Sardonia at (805) 797-5539 or by emailing [email protected].

Topa Mountain Winery is located at 821 West Ojai Avenue in Ojai.

If you have not yet had a chance to see Peter and the Starcatcher at the Ojai Art Center Theater, there is still time!

Peter and the Starcatcher, which is described as a grown-up prequel to Peter Pan, is playing through February 19 with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.

More information and a link to purchase tickets are available on the Ojai Art Center Theater website (www.ojaiact.org).

The Ojai Art Center Theater is located at 113 South Montgomery Street in Ojai.
 

Are you looking for some local fun this New Year's Eve?

If so, you might want to head to the Ojai Valley Woman's Club at 411 Ojai Avenue for a dance party sponsored by the Ojai Concert Series.

Here are the event details (from the hosts):

Join us for a New Years Dance Party, featuring the amazing CROWFOOT,​ the multi-talented band who is the featured band for the Ojai Mardi Gras's Fais-Do-Do​ (coming up on March 5-6 2017). The ​dancing starts at 8:00 and ​there will be plenty of fun and surprises until 12:30 AM​.​ The themed decorations will be provided by the Ojai Mardi Gras Wake-Up! Krewe and the suggested, but optional dress code is for "flapper"​, swinging 1920's attire, because we will be "Putting on the Ritz".

There will be a "No-Host" bar (please bring your ID and cash to buy drinks) and a ​hors d'oeuvre ​and dessert ​potluck​. Plus we will provide a Champagne toast at Midnight!!!  Guest who bring a potluck dish will have their name entered in a drawing at midnight when four people will win tickets (a $30 value) for next years Ojai Mardi Gras Masquerade Party on Saturday March 5th 2017​.

Tickets are only $25. Get them while they last at: Ojai Coffee Roasting Company, Serendipity Toys, Ojai Creates, Cardinali Brothers Music and Ojai Valley Feed. There are only 100 tickets in the stores at $25, after they are gone, you will have to pay an online service charge or the door price of $30. So getting them while you can and be a part of the swingingest New Years Dance Party in Ojai.

Advance, $25 tickets are also available on our website: www.ojaiconcertseries.com  For info call Shane Butler at: 805-665-8852

If you haven’t quite finished your Christmas shopping or love to hunt for unique finds, you will not want to miss these two pop-up holiday markets in Ojai on Saturday!
 
This Saturday (December 17) be sure to stop by Ojai Rancho Inn and Topa Mountain Winery to check out the pop-up shops offered at each. Since they are just down the street from each other and one is open longer, you should be able to stop by both locations to shop.
 
From 12:00pm to 7:00pm, head to the 6th Annual Deck the Halls event at Ojai Rancho Inn at 615 West Ojai Avenue (right next door to the Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe office). All of the rooms will be transformed into pop-up shops, plus there is live music to enjoy while you shop!
 
You can take a break from these festivities to check out the other holiday market at Topa Mountain Winery (821 West Ojai Avenue) from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Here you will find handcrafted gifts, the Deer Lodge food truck and The Salty Suites playing live while you shop. There is also a food drive happening at this gathering, so be sure to bring three cans of food to receive 10% off of a purchase from Topa Mountain Winery.

Now through October 31, you can stop by the Boccali Ranch Pumpkin Patch for hayrides, a children’s hay maze, haunted hay rides and pumpkins!
 
The pumpkin patch is open 10:00am to 7:00pm Sunday through Monday and 10:00am to 9:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays through Halloween.
 
Admission is free and children can enjoy a free hay maze in between hunting for the perfect pumpkin to take home.
 
Hayrides are offered on Saturdays and Sundays between 11:00am and 5:00pm, and haunted hay rides are available for $10.00 per person from 7:00 to 9:00pm on October 21, 22, 28 and 29!
 
The Boccali Ranch Pumpkin Patch is located at 3277 East Ojai Avenue and offers much more than pumpkins, including gourds, squash, Indian corn and other seasonal produce.
 
If you are looking for a fun place in Ojai to find the perfect Halloween pumpkin or take an autumn hay ride, this is the spot!
 
To learn more, visit the Bocalli Ranch website.

The Topa Topa Mountain Folk Fest takes place Saturday, October 1st at Libbey Bowl in downtown Ojai. Gates open at 11:00am for this day-long festival featuring folk, American, country and roots music, so you have plenty of time to enjoy coffee or breakfast downtown before heading to the festival.
 
This first annual folk fest benefits the Turning Point Foundation, which offers services to adults with mental illness.
 
Here are just a few of the bands playing at the festival:

• The White Buffalo
• Grizfolk
• Jaime Wyatt and the Bang Bangs
• Bryan Titus Trio
• Dear Lemon Trees
  

 
For more information, or to buy tickets, head over to the festival website.
 
If you are interested in helping out at the event, volunteer information is also available on the website.

 
Date: October 1, 2016

Time: Gates open at 11:00

Location: Libbey Bowl (Libbey Park in downtown Ojai)

Admission: $14.95 for lawn seating (sold out) or $20 - $75 for reserved seating (plus $6 facility fee)

Bowlful of Blues is back at Libbey Bowl!

On Saturday, September 17 from 3:00 to 9:00pm downtown Ojai will be filled with blues fans for the return of Bowlful of Blues after an 11-year hiatus.

There will be musicians (of course!), a bar, food vendors and more -- all taking place in the heart of Ojai at Libbey Park.

Here's what you need to know:

Date: Saturday, September 17
Time: 3:00 to 9:00pm
Doors Open: 2:00pm (with local musicians playing acoustic blues)
Tickets: $40 in advance or $45 at the door for general admission
               $15 for children between the ages of seven and 15 (six and under - free)
               $100 for the VIP Package    

(The VIP Package includes preferred seating, reserved parking, private bathroom, snacks and beverages backstage, premium bar and artist access.)

Visit the festival website for a schedule, artist list, vendor list and more.

This year's Tomato Festival & Wine Tasting will take place from 4:30 to 8:30pm on Saturday, September 17 at Boccali's Ojai.
 
There will be an all-you-can eat buffet celebrating the summer harvest, a farm fresh produce stand, live music from Blue Latitude, door prizes and wine tasting.
 
Here are the details:
 
Date: Saturday, September 17
Time: 4:30 to 8:30pm
Location: Boccali's -- 3277 East Ojai Avenue
 
Tickets are on sale now at both Boccali's locations, or you can visit their website to print out a form to order your tickets by mail.
 
Wine tasting tickets will sold separately at the door for $10.

Whether you are a local, a part-time resident or a visitor to the valley, one thing you must do while in Ojai is visit the Ojai Certified Farmers' Market.

This outdoor market takes place every Sunday from 9:00am to 1:00pm at 300 East Matilija Street. That is right behind the Arcade shopping center in the downtown village area and is within walking or biking distance from most of the hotels and homes in Ojai.

Check out this list to see some of the seasonal produce you can find at the farmers' market.

And check out this list to see some of the farmers and small business owners who bring their local produce and wares to the market.

Hope to see you there!