Today is the 150th birthday of the city of Ventura. The city, then called San Buenaventura, was incorporated in 1866. That's more than 80 years after Father Junipero Serra founded California’s ninth mission there. The city’s century and a half anniversary calls for celebration today.
A Family Fair and Picnic will take place to commemorate the milestone at downtown Ventura’s historic Plaza Park from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The festivities include carnival games, races, an all-Mayors’ pie-eating contest, a scavenger hunt through downtown, musical performances, an old-fashion barbecue and more.
Then, the party continues in the evening with a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Benefit Concert at Mission Park. Proceeds will support art and music programs for the Ventura Unified School District. That gets underway at 6:30 pm.