We have much to celebrate at the Channel Islands Harbor and within our broader Ventura County coastal community. That’s because May 2025 marks the 60^th anniversary of the Channel Islands Harbor – Ventura County’s first recreational Harbor!

Before I get into what we have planned for May and beyond, I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in April’s Celebration of the Whales Festival. This event was a wonderful success, bringing together families, local artists, and ocean enthusiasts to honor the beauty and significance of our marine environment.

I’d like to thank all the organizations and businesses who made the event a success.

• The Channel Islands Maritime Museum and Channel Islands Boating Center for activating their courtyards with family-friendly activities.
• The Channel Islands Farmers Market for offering shopping and activating a kid’s zone.
• The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) for facilitating one of the most popular activities at the event – the community “paint a whale” mural project.
• Ventura Street Art & Painting for recruiting more than a dozen chalk artists to paint marine-related art along our “whale migration” walkway.
• Toppers Pizza Place for sponsoring the event and feeding many of our volunteers.

60^th Anniversary Activities

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to share that the Channel Islands Harbor will soon mark an incredible milestone — its 60th anniversary. Following Memorial Day, we will be celebrating six decades since the Harbor’s grand opening, which took place on Memorial Day in 1965.

To kick off the celebrations, the Harbor Department will provide a special presentation to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on May 20, 2025. This presentation will briefly highlight the rich history of the Channel Islands Harbor and share exciting details about the events planned for the 60th anniversary.

For a sneak peak, one of the events that is being brought back for the 60^th anniversary is Chowderfest, hosted by the Channel Islands Maritime Museum on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. I’m thrilled to see the return of this beloved community event and look forward to making lasting memories beside residents and visitors. Be sure to purchase your tickets early by visiting this link: https://www.cimmvc.org/event-details/chowderfest

Throughout the summer and beyond, we will be enhancing many of our existing events and introducing new activities designed to honor the Harbor’s legacy and engage the community. We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with residents, visitors, and all those who have supported the Harbor throughout the years.

Stay tuned for more announcements and join us as we celebrate 60 years of maritime heritage, community connection, and coastal beauty at the Channel Islands Harbor!

Michael Tripp, Director
Ventura County Harbor Department