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Many of us from this group will attend this event. In the past, the Ventura Wine Walks have been a really incredible time!

The festival takes place along 4 blocks of Main St., between N. Fir St and S. Palm St.

{ TRAIN OPTIONS - travel via the train } Link to Amtrak
The train station is 8 – 15 min walk, depending on which end of the festival.
$18: 769 Pacific Surfliner - Simi Valley (SIM) 12:11p, Ventura (VEC) - 1:03p
$18: 794 Pacific Surfliner - Ventura (VEC) 7:50p, Simi Valley (SIM) - 8:48p
These times will be updated as the date nears, because the schedule often changes slightly.

I don't recommend buying tickets.
Instead, buy what you want to eat and/or drink as needed at various businesses, or bring your own (fastest and least expensive).

A typical event:
We start at Winchesters. People trickle in a different times. We coalesce and/or break off into smaller sub-groups, wandering through the festival at different times. There is never a time where we are all together.

There is no other particular location we stop at, because just about every few businesses are selling food and drink. Often, many of us will meet up around the center of the festival where there is usually an outdoor band about 7p. On the last walk, there was no band, so nothing is definite.

What follows, it mostly from the advertisement:

For those that still want to buy tickets ($?? - $??? with fee): (Link to purchase tickets coming soon)

Suggested check-in: Winchester's Saloon

The Social Event Of The Year is BACK! The Ventura Winter Wine Walk & Holiday Street Fair will once again return to beautiful Ventura on Saturday, December 6, 2025!

The Most Magical day in Ventura will kick off with the FREE Fiesta Street Fair from 12pm-8pm in Downtown Ventura from the Museum of Ventura County through the 600 block of Main Street with vendors and live entertainment. Shop artists, crafters, non-profit organizations, commercial and food vendors.

The street fair and entertainment is FREE and open to the public starting at Noon!

THE WINE WALK 4pm - 8pm
Ticket Purchasers: CHECK-IN TIME IS FROM 3pm-5: 45 pm.
You will not be allowed to participate if you arrive after 5:45 pm, No refunds will be issued.

Wine Sampling is from 4pm-7: 00 pm.
Holiday Street Fair is Noon-8pm.
Snow Fall at Main Stage will begin at 6:45 pm.
Music ends at 8 pm.

The Wine Walk will showcase Wineries and Breweries in your favorite Downtown businesses. Each guest will receive a tasting cup and a map of the participating tasting sites in Downtown Ventura.

Each tasting site will have a designated area set up for Wine Walk guests to sample the amazing wines or beers! Wine tasting will end at 7:00 pm.

As you stroll down Main Street you will be surrounded by a winter holiday ambiance of live entertainment, beautiful holiday lighting and snowfall from 6:45 pm-8 pm at the Main Stage. Space Is Very Limited this event Sells Out Every year...Get Your Tickets Today!

All guests MUST START at your designated check-in location before they can start the Wine Walk, if you purchased tickets.

There are many check-in points, and which one will depend on the ticket you buy. Regardless of where you check in, please get there early enough so that after checking in, you are able to make your way to:

4pm
Winchesters Grill and Saloon
632 E Main St.
Ventura, CA 93001

Photos from prior Winter Wine Walk 2022
Photos from prior Winter Wine Walk 2023
Photos from prior Winter Wine Walk 2024

Note: Parking can be tricky, and you may need to walk several blocks, maybe even further. I recommend adding 45 minutes for parking and walking to our meet point.

The event time is set for 3p, but we'll meet at 4p. That will give people time to check-in if they bought a ticket, because the check-in process can take 1/2 hr.

Note: This is a loosely coupled event.
Everybody will not be together at all times. Instead, we'll likely encounter members of our group during the event, especially at the start.

FAQ
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Easy Intermediate, 3 miles, 600' gain
Easier Option: 2.4 mi, 530' gain. (5 Washburn St, Simi Valley, CA 93065, or 89 La Paz Ct, Simi Valley, CA 93065 to save another 500' distance).

We'll meet in the parking lot at the northeast corner of Madera and Royal, just south of the Donut Delite, on the east side of the Clinicas office. We'll walk from there to the trailhead at 2 Washburn St. where it meets Los Amigos Ave.

The Hike
Easy end of the Intermediate Spectrum, due to the 1 mile continuous incline that can get exhausting. A fit beginner can easily complete it.

We cross Madera and continue through the neighborhood for about 1500', to the intersection of Washburn St. and Los Amigos Ave. Then we enter a path behind the houses and proceed for 250' to the entrance. So far, there will have been very little elevation gain.

For those that want a little easier option start at this address: 1366 Los Amigos Ave, Simi Valley, CA 93065. Join the group as we pass.

We'll enter a series of switchbacks (zig-zag trail) for 1.2 miles to a large cross at the top. This is a steady climb across the face of the hill, always in full view of the neighborhood below. Beginners may find this climb difficult to continue at a fast pace. There is nothing wrong with slowing down while faster hikers move ahead, or resting for a minute several times during this climb.

It may seem easy to get lost because there are many different cross-paths up the face of this hill, but they all lead to the same place. Generally, whenever there is a choice of "left or right", we take the easier and more worn path. If you happen to find yourself alone and take a wrong turn (aka steep cut), all paths lead up.

At the top by the cross or one of the nearby benches, we'll enjoy the gorgeous 360 degree views and share beverages and/or snacks.

Interesting Notes
Here are a couple plants you are sure to see on this hike:

Black Sage
Multiple brown buttons going up the top of the stalk, that may have white flowers. Green leaves. Purple or white flowers that are dark brown as they dry on the plant. Squish the leaves and smell.

A rare and sought after Black sage honey is also made from the honey of bees that pollinate the Black sage plant. Black sage is utilized in the culinary world as an aromatic and flavorful herb. It can be used in recipes wherever traditional sage is called for, however keep in mind that foraged Black sage has a much stronger flavor than that of traditional store bought sage.

Its flavor goes well with winter squashes, brown butter, poultry, venison, pears, cheese, potatoes and other herbs such as rosemary and thyme. Use fresh in a variety of different preparations or leaves. Can be dried and stored for future use as a dried herb. Black sage was used traditionally by Native Americans known as the Chumash people to form an herbal soak for the bath to be used in the treatment of bodily pain, specifically for the feet and lower legs.

Purple Sage
Grey-green leaves. Aromatic when crushed. Purple flowers. Aka, Tobacco Sage, with mild hallucinogenic properties when smoked. Can be used as a spice or made into a tea. Tea has medicinal affects: Antiviral, gargle for sore throats, reduce hay fever symptoms and other drying actions.

Distance: 3 miles (round trip)
Elevation Gain: 700'
Difficulty: Easy Intermediate
Duration: 3 1/2 hours
Pace: 2.0 mph
Dogs: Yes.
Restrooms: Yes - at nearby places of business
Drinking Fountains: Yes - at nearby places of business
Parking: Free
Trail: Mostly single-track, excellent condition
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK.

What to Bring
1-2 liters of water.
Snacks and/or beverages to share
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK.
Flashlight or headlamp.

Directions
For those doing the regular route:
1424 Madera Rd, Simi Valley, CA 93065

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