There’s a great deal of positive momentum across Channel Islands Harbor. April was an especially active and rewarding month, marked by community celebration, visible progress on key infrastructure projects, and continued investment in the Harbor’s future.

Celebration of the Whales Festival

One of the highlights of April was the 27th Annual Celebration of the Whales Festival. This long-standing tradition, which kicks off our event season, brought the community together to honor the migration of the Pacific gray whale while offering a day filled with educational exhibits, interactive activities, and waterfront fun.

It was great to see families, visitors, and local partners come out to enjoy the Harbor and connect with the marine environment in a meaningful way. Events like this continue to reinforce the Harbor’s role as both a recreational destination and a place for learning and stewardship.

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 at Harbor View Park.
• The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) for facilitating one of the most popular activities at the event, offering families the opportunity to “weave” and paint whales.
• 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.

Infrastructure Projects

We also achieved an important milestone in our ongoing infrastructure improvements. Phase I of the Harbor Boulevard parking lot project is now complete. These upgrades are part of a broader effort to modernize aging facilities, improve accessibility, and enhance the overall visitor experience while keeping parking free and available to the public. These parking lots serve as a key component for upcoming community gatherings, including car shows and our popular summer concert series, helping us better accommodate large-scale events at the Harbor. We appreciate everyone’s patience during construction and look forward to continuing this work in the months ahead.

In addition, we’re seeing continued progress with one of our lessees, Suntex Marinas. Suntex’s Bahia Yacht Marina replacement and expansion project will be completed this month and provides upgraded slips and amenities for boaters. At the same time, work has begun on the Peninsula Yacht Anchorage replacement project, marking another significant step forward in revitalizing Harbor infrastructure and supporting the boating community.

Together, these efforts reflect a shared commitment to maintaining Channel Islands Harbor as a vibrant, accessible, and well-maintained destination for boaters, residents and visitors. Thank you for your continued support as we work to enhance and preserve this special place.

Michale Tripp, Director
Ventura County Harbor Department

Editor’s Note: this message was published on April 30, 2026.