Weekend Storm Cancels or Delays Some Holiday Events

The arrival of El Nino has forced cancellation of Fillmore’s annual Winter Festival today for the first time since the event began 17 years ago, and the weekend storm may cancel or postpone other holiday events throughout Ventura County.

The Fillmore festival will not be rescheduled because it would conflict with Camarillo’s and Piru’s Christmas parades the following weekend.

Camarillo’s 13th annual Holiday Lighting and the Camarillo Hospice’s Tree of Life program that was to be held Friday also will not be rescheduled. This is only the second time in 13 years that event has been canceled.

Following is a list of events and phone numbers you may want to check before venturing out this wet weekend.

Today:

* Ventura’s 21st Annual Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights will not be canceled unless dangerous weather conditions develop in the harbor. The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Call 642-8618 after noon for an update.

* Oxnard’s Downtown Christmas Parade has been canceled and rescheduled for Dec. 14. It will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. along C Street, from 9th Street to 3rd Street.

Sunday:

* Ventura’s Holiday Street Festival will be canceled if heavy rains persist. Call 654-7830 or 654-7831 in the morning for an update.

* Moorpark’s 1997 Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Moorpark Community Center at 2 p.m. will go on rain or shine because it is an indoor event. For more information, call 531-9100.

* The Ventura County Dump Truck Assn. Truck Run to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation has been rescheduled for Dec. 14. At least 20 trucks will make the 40-mile run from Simi Valley to Ventura. The event will begin at 10 a.m. at the K-Mart parking lot at Madera and Los Angeles streets, and end about noon at the OST Truck and Crane yard at 2951 N. Ventura Ave.

* The Metrolink Holiday Toy Express, a train that will collect toys for needy children, has been delayed due to rain. The train, which had been scheduled to travel into Ventura County on Sunday, will arrive Dec. 21.