Head outdoors and check out a parade, catch a concert in a park or wander through gardens with ocean views. Here’s what to do in Ventura County this Labor Day weekend.
1. Head to the harbor
Bring picnic baskets, blankets or lawn chairs and start the weekend with a seaside concert at the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard.
“Concerts by the Sea” will have live music from 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 30 at Harbor View Park, off Harbor Boulevard near the Marine Emporium Landing, 3600 Harbor Blvd. The show will feature Psychedelic Summer.
More information: channelislandsharbor.org.
In this file photo, a mother and son look at a 1952 Ferguson TO-30 tractor that was on display at the seventh annual Labor Day Vintage Tractor Fair held in Santa Paula.
2. Catch a parade
Find a spot to watch the Santa Paula Labor Day Parade. The show will start rolling at 10 a.m. on Sept. 1 on Main Street.
This year’s theme is Honor the Labor Force. The parade — with marching bands, community groups and more.
More information: spcity.org/Calendar.aspx.
3. Check out tractors
Explore farming’s past, present and future at the Agriculture Museum’s 10th Annual Labor Day Tractor Fair.
The fair starts following the Santa Paula Parade at the museum, 926 Railroad Ave. The event will have live music, tours and interactive activities.
More information: venturamuseum.org/event/10th-annual-labor-day-tractor-fair.
4. Listen to a concert in a park
Bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnics but arrive early to find lawn seating for a summer concert in Thousand Oaks.
The Conejo Recreation and Park District’s summer concert runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 1 in Conejo Community Park, 1175 Hendrix Ave. On Labor Day, the show will feature the tribute band Skynyrd and Frynds. On-site parking is reserved for cars displaying disabled placards until the lot is full.
More information: crpd.org/events/summer-concerts-in-the-park.
5. Wander through hillside gardens
Walk a trail with bird’s-eye views of the local coastline at the Ventura Botanical Gardens on Labor Day.
The gardens off Poli Street will open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and won’t be charging an entrance fee on Sept. 1. Climb through the gardens and catch a glimpse of the Channel Islands while spotting California oaks, lemonade berry plants and olive saplings.
More information: venturabotanicalgardens.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Labor Day weekend: 5 free things to do in Ventura County