Ventura Film Festival, Ventura, California, Beach and Moon at Sunset, October 27, 2005

Ventura is a city that is redefining itself, having in the past been mostly a community where strong families thrive in a small town atmosphere in the shadows of one of the largest cities in the world and where the Ventura vs. Buena high school football game is the highlight of the year.  Ventura is becoming more. Ventura now has a thriving young population attending the 4 local high schools as well as California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), Brooks Institute (Brooks Film Institute), and a beautiful and blooming historical downtown district and some of the best surfing in the world frequented by many top surfing professionals including 3 time world champion Tom Curren and now the Ventura Film Festival.  Ventura has transformed itself from a place that only the locals knew about and tried to keep hidden to a city who has been able to remain one of the last small beach towns, where everyone knows everyone, but at the same time is a name that is known around the world.

Many films including Swordfish, Little Miss Sunshine, Chinatown, Erin Brockovich, The Aviator, and The Rock were partly filmed in Ventura.

Ventura has some of the best surfing in Southern California, especially Surfer’s Point at Ventura County Fairgrounds. Downtown Ventura is home to the Mission San Buenaventura, museums, galleries, dining, and shopping. Primary areas of activity include California Street and Main Street between Ventura Avenue and Fir Street. Located in downtown is the historic Ortega Adobe, home to the Ortega family, now famous for their chile products. Numerous thrift stores contrast with high-end shops and restaurants. Downtown Ventura is also home to the Ventura’s ornate city hall building with its signature statue of Junipero Serra. Downtown now features numerous restaurants, winebars and the Internationally acclaimed Rubicon Theatre Company. For shopping and nightlife, downtown is the place to go.

Downtown Ventura also hosts the Majestic Ventura Theater, a beautiful early century theatre, which is situated about two blocks away from city hall. It serves as a venue for concerts. The theater has seen many bands such as The Doors, Van Halen, X, Paramore, She Wants Revenge, Pennywise, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Fugazi, Incubus, Tom Petty, They Might Be Giants, and Modest Mouse, as well as local artists such as Bruce Kimmell, Gregory Hillman and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Father Junípero Serra founded Mission San Buenaventura in 1782, forming the basis of what would become the city. The mission was named for St. Bonaventure, a Thirteenth Century Franciscan saint and a Doctor of the Church. On July 6, 1841, Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado granted the 4,694 acre Rancho San Miguel to Felipe Lorenzana and Raimundo Olivas, whose Olivas Adobe on the banks of the Santa Clara River was the most magnificent hacienda south of Monterey.

One of the most recognizable land marks in Ventura is a site known as two trees. These are two lone trees that stand on a hill and can be seen from most of Ventura.

In Plaza Park (Chestnut and Santa Clara Streets, downtown) one of the nations largest Morton Bay Fig Trees is marked with an historic plaque. Across the street is the main post office which houses WPA murals on its interior walls.

The Ventura Harbor is home to fishing industry, seafood restaurants and a shopping village at Ventura Harbor Village; it is famous for shops such as The Glass Touch and restaurants such as Milano’s and World Famous Hicees BBQ. Home to two of Ventura Counties favorite blues bands, the legendary Blue Stew and the offspring of that group, Baby Sister. The Channel Islands National Park Headquarters is also located in this harbor, and boats to the Channel Islands depart from there daily.

Ventura is located about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles on the California coast.

Ventura hosts two college campuses, the Brooks Institute of Photography and Ventura College. Ventura College is a community college, part of the Ventura County Community College District.