Weekend happenings around Camarillo
Santa arrives tonight in Old Town

Old Town businesses and restaurants will kick off the holiday season from 5 to 9 p.m. today, Fri., Dec. 1 on Ventura Boulevard.

Santa will arrive on a fire truck at the intersection of Arneill Road and Ventura Boulevard near the clock tower to help Mayor Mike Morgan light the Christmas tree at 6 p.m.

Pictures with Santa Claus will be available from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Camarillo Camera, 1780 E. Ventura Blvd.

There will be two horseandcarriages giving rides along Ventura Boulevard. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.

'Spitfire Grill' auditions

The Camarillo Community Theatre will host auditions for the musical, "The Spitfire Grill" on Sun. and Mon., Dec. 3 and 4 at the theater, 330 Skyway Drive, Camarillo, inside the airport.

Auditions are by appointment. Prepare an up-tempo song and a ballad; bring sheet music in the proper key. An accompanist will be provided; no CDs or tapes are allowed. Bring a headshot and a resume.

Call producer Janis Johnson for an appointment, (805) 487-8812. All roles are open.

In the play, a young girl gets paroled to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at the Spitfire Grill. Soon a sense of hope overtakes the town. Although all of the characters start off broken in some way, by the end of the play everyone is reconnected through the power of community.

Free presentations of 'The Messiah'

The California State University at Channel Islands Choir, under the of KuanFen Liu, will perform Handel's "The Messiah" this holiday season in two free programs.

Each concert will feature a soloist and chamber orchestra.

The first concert will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 9 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2304 Antonio Road in Camarillo.

The second will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 10 at First United Methodist Church, 1338 Santa Clara Street in Ventura.

The performances are open to the public. Free parking is available at each venue. Monetary donations will be accepted.

For more information, call Liu at (805) 643-8430.

Holiday boutique

The Camarillo Women's Club will host a Christmas boutique and ornament exchange at 11 a.m. Thurs., Dec. 7 at the Sterling Hills Golf Club.

Christmas music will be provided by the Ventura Choraliers. Nonmembers are welcome.

For reservations, call (805) 488-3478.