October is always an exciting time at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. The weather is changing, the calendar is full of activities, and there are plenty of reasons to get out on the water and enjoy the harbor.

We have several great events coming up this month, and I encourage our boating community to get involved.

October Events

On October 11^th, the Tri-County Mustang Club will bring its annual Ponies by the Sea Car Show to Channel Islands Harbor. This is always a great event for car enthusiasts, with Mustangs from every era on display at Harbor View Park.

The event is free for spectators and will include food trucks, live music, games and activities for all ages. The show also supports a great cause, with proceeds from vehicle registration fees benefiting Guide Dogs of America, which trains and provides guide and service dogs to people in need. Whether you’re a lifelong Mustang fan or just looking for something fun to do at the harbor, I encourage you to stop by.

Then, on October 24^th, the harbor will get into the Halloween spirit with the Pumpkin Paddle in the morning and the 5th Annual Parade of Frights in the afternoon and evening. The Parade of Frights has quickly become one of our favorite traditions, with dozens of decorated boats taking to the water for a floating Halloween celebration.

Boaters, I encourage you to participate and decorate your boats! You don’t have to go overboard with the decorations; a little creativity and Halloween spirit can go a long way. The Harbor Department is providing a little extra incentive this year: the Black Pearl Trophy will be awarded for the best-decorated boat and the first 30 boaters to register will also receive a commemorative Parade of Frights burgee to proudly display.

Whether your boat is spooky, silly or somewhere in between, the parade is a great way to enjoy the harbor and be part of the community.

There will also be plenty happening landside starting at 3 p.m., including Halloween activities, crafts, a Trunk or Treat with free candy, costumes and more. Then at 7 p.m., the decorated boats will take to the water for the main event. For those watching from shore, I encourage you to come early, find a good viewing location, and enjoy the festivities.

El Niño Preparation

While we’re enjoying everything October has to offer, the Harbor Department is also looking ahead to the winter season and preparing for the potential impacts of El Niño. We are closely monitoring conditions and taking proactive steps to prepare for possible storms, elevated tides and coastal changes.

One of our areas of focus is the inner Harbor, particularly Hobie Beach and Kiddie Beach, which have historically experienced impacts during king tides and storm events. We are monitoring these areas closely and evaluating what additional protection may be needed as we head into winter.

Our dredging contractor will begin staging equipment in October, with dredging planned for a November through February work window. We are also working with the contractor and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a temporary berm that will protect the exposed portion of the dredge pipe, as well as the adjacent lifeguard facility and parking lot at Silver Strand Beach.

In addition, we are conducting surveys of our beaches to document beach width, identify low spots and measure beach crest elevations. This information will help us determine whether additional temporary berms are needed. Following each storm, we’ll survey these areas again to monitor changes and adjust as necessary.

Preparing for winter weather is an important part of managing the harbor and nearby beaches. We can’t control the weather or ocean conditions, but we can monitor them carefully, plan and take steps to protect our facilities and the public areas our community enjoys.

For now, though, there is still plenty of fall to enjoy. I hope to see you out at the harbor this month. Whether you’re paddling during the Pumpkin Paddle, decorating your boat for the Parade of Frights or simply enjoying a beautiful October day, there’s no better time of the year to experience Channel Islands Harbor.

Michael Tripp, Director
Ventura County Harbor Department

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