5 Things To Do On Memorial Day Weekend: All Near Prospector Ranch!
Photo edited by Natalia Radcliffe. Saloon picture taken by Natalia Radcliffe. American Flag picture by Kaboompics.com on Pexels.
~ Natalia Radcliffe ~ Summer is fast approaching, which means Memorial Day weekend is once again coming up. It’s a time to remember those who have lost their lives while serving our country, and a time to spend a three-day weekend enjoying the last bits of spring before summer hits full force.
For those who are living in the Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, and Ventura areas, or for those of you who are staying in one of our three Airbnbs here at Prospector Ranch, we have some ideas for you on activities/events to do during your Memorial Day weekend. The first three are services honoring fallen military personnel, and the last two are more geared toward welcoming in summer.
1. The 34th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Pierce Brothers Westlake Village
Taking place at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, this free event is on Memorial Day, and features music, a band, and a flyover. Music starts at 10:30 am, with the program beginning at 11:00 am. Keep in mind there is limited parking at the actual park, but you can find extra parking at the nearby Costco if you are not having luck at the park.
2. Memorial Day Service at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park
Taking place at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home, Memorial Park & Crematory in Camarillo, this event is also free and occurs on Memorial Day. The ceremony begins at 11 am, and features live patriotic music, guest speakers, various displays and food including complimentary hot dogs and ice cream.
3. Moorpark Field of Valor Event
Taking place at Tierra Rejada Park park in Moorpark, this event is also free to attend, and occurs on Memorial Day. There is flag viewing from 10 am to 4 pm, where attendees can honor and view the names of the many men and women who have given their lives to serving our country. 1pm marks the opening ceremony, and includes a flag salute, singing of the national anthem, listening to a keynote speaker, and experiencing bagpipe music, among other things. 4pm marks the closing ceremony, where everyone will stand in a moment of silence to honor the fallen, before a performance of “Taps” (in the military, it’s usually a bugle call that signals the end of a day, an is often used at memorial ceremonies and funerals) will mark the end of the event. All the proceeds from the event via sponsorships go to various non-profit organizations dedicated to serving veterans and military families. For more information, you can visit their website.
4. Conejo Recreation & Park District Summer Concerts in the Park: Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey Tribute)
Memorial Day kicks off the free Conejo Recreation and Park District Summer Concerts, located at Conejo Community Park in Thousand Oaks. Each concert starts at 5pm, and goes until 7pm. If you have any furry family members, the park asks that you leave them at home. We recommend you get there early to get a good parking spot (as on-site parking is limited) and a good seat! Various food trucks will be there for you to enjoy snacks and drinks while enjoying some good music. The Journey Cover band Don’t Stop Believing will kick off the event on Memorial Day. In honor of the holiday, there will also be a live bugle performance of “Taps” performed by Jonathon Dane and the National Anthem, performed by the Westlake Music Academy. For more information about this lineup and others in the series, you can visit Conejo Recreation and Park District’s website.
5. Butterflies Alive! Exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Opening on Memorial Day Weekend on May 24, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History opens its butterflies exhibit to the public, at the Spague Butterfly Pavilion at the museum. Guests can wander through the peaceful garden while being surrounded by over 1,000 live butterflies of over two dozen tropical species from Costa Rica flying through the air. In addition, guests can also peek into the emergence chamber at the Santa Barbara Gallery, where you might see an adult butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Tickets for the event are an additional $3 on top of normal museum admission, which ranges from $14 to $19. For more information, you can check out their website.
We hope your Memorial Day weekend is a happy one, as we celebrate those who have given everything to this country, and run headfirst into summer.
American Flag on in background picture by Kaboompics.com on Pexels.
