The Month Ahead

If you like to plan ahead, this monthly feature will be your guide and calendar. Just snip it out of the paper and attach it to the fridge.

To contribute suggestions for next month’s calendar, send a letter by Oct. 21 to the Month Ahead, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001.

For information, call 653-7570.

Ghost Story

Oct. 1-Nov. 7

The Santa Paula Theater Center will present Henry James’ classic ghost story “The Turn of the Screw� at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays at 125 S. 7th St. $15 general, $12 senior citizens and students, $8 children 12 and younger. The show is not recommended for a young audience. Tickets: 525-4645.

Rose Show

Oct. 2-3

The Ventura County Rose Society will present its seventh annual rose show, “Las Rosas del Camino Real,� from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 2 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Ventura County Museum of History & Art, 100 E. Main St., Ventura. There will be rose displays and lectures by rose growers and others. $3 general, free for museum members. Information: 483-0828.

Time Magazine Art

Oct. 2-Nov. 14

The nationally touring exhibit “Faces of Time: Seventy-Five Years of Time Magazine Cover Portraits� will be on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. Sculptures, paintings, photos and other art commissioned by Time will be shown. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. $5 general, $3 senior citizens, free for children 15 and younger. Information: (800) 410-8354.

Japanese Culture

Sunday, Oct. 3

The Japanese-American Citizens League will present “Celebrating Our Heritage,� a festival of Japanese cultural arts, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St. The program will include Japanese music, dance and drumming performances, as well as tea ceremony, ikebana and origami demonstrations. $5 general; $3 senior citizens, children and students, or $10 per family of four. Information: 655-5559.

Bridal Show

Sunday, Oct. 3

More than 60 exhibitors will participate in the annual Bridal Premiere from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. Bridal fashion shows will be presented at 12:30 and 3 p.m. $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Information: 376-3515.

Aging Issues

Tuesday, Oct. 5

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging will present “The Aging Body and Mind: Special Issues for Older Adults,� a series of videos on issues affecting middle-age and older adults, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ventura County Government Center Administration Building, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Free. Information: 641-4420.

African Dance

Wednesday, Oct. 6

Les Ballets Africans, a Guinean ensemble of more than 40 dancers and musicians, will perform at 8 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The group will present a series of short dances that represent traditional and modern Africa. $21.50 to $36.50. Tickets: 583-8700.

Animal Fair

Saturday, Oct. 9

St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church will hold an animal fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 280 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, the 4-H Club of Ventura County and other animal groups will have demonstrations and displays. A blessing of animals will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Free. Information: 526-5141.

Multicultural Fest

Saturday, Oct. 9

The fourth annual Oxnard Multicultural Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. The program will include music, dance and food. Free admission. Information: 385-7947.

Equestrian Contest

Oct. 9-10

The Foxfield Jumping Derby, a competition featuring top jumping horses and riders, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 9 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Foxfield Riding School, 1250 E. Potrero Road, Westlake Village. $3 adults, $2 children. Information: 495-5515.

Studio Artists

Oct. 9-10

Thirty Ojai artists will open their studios and show their works during the 16th annual Ojai Studio Artists Tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10. Tours will begin at a group art show at the Ojai Center for the Arts, 113 S. Montgomery St. A reception and art auction at the center will conclude the program Saturday. $15 in advance, $20 at the door covers both days. Tickets: 646-8126.

Dance Concerts

Saturday, Oct. 16

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center will present “Heart & Sole: A Celebration of Dance� at 2:30 and 8 p.m. at 3050 Los Angeles Ave. The choreographers’ showcase will feature jazz, ballet, tap and modern dance routines. $10-$18. Reservations: 581-9940.

Renaissance Faire

Oct. 16-17

Lake Casitas will become a 16th century English village during the ninth annual Ojai Renaissance Faire and Shakespeare Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, off Highway 150 outside Ojai. There will be dancing, music, crafts and food. Shakespearean theater groups will also perform. $8 general, $5 children 5-12, free for children under 5. Information:649-2233.

Jewish Craft Fair

Sunday, Oct. 17

Temple Etz Chaim will hold the inaugural Conejo Valley Jewish Craft Fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1080 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Forty vendors will display their ceramics, woodwork, jewelry and other crafts. Free admission. Information: 497-6891.

Arthur Miller Play

Oct. 22-30

The Moorpark College Performing Arts Center will present the Arthur Miller drama “The Crucible� at the Main Stage theater on campus, 7075 Campus Road. Show times are 8 p.m. Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30, and 1:30 p.m. Oct. 24, 27 and 28. $10 general, $8 students, $6 senior citizens and children for evening shows; $5 general for matinees. 378-1485.

Haunted House

Oct. 22-31

The Ventura Boys & Girls Club will operate a haunted house from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23 and 29 to 31 at Ventura Harbor Village, off Spinnaker Drive. The house is designed for children 12 and younger, accompanied by an adult. $3 children. Information: 644-0169.

100 Years of Music

Saturday, Oct. 23

The Los Robles Master Chorale will open its 22nd season with “Musical Mosaic: Celebrating the Century in Song� at 3 and 7 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The concerts will feature 20th-century musical forms, including jazz, ragtime, classical, and rock and roll. $18 general, $14 senior citizens, $10 children and students. Tickets: 497-0386.

Creepy Tales

Saturday, Oct. 30

Storyteller Diane Ferlatte will present “Haunted Bayous,� a series of ghost stories for adults, at 8 p.m. at the Church of Religious Science, 101 S. Laurel St., Ventura. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets: 650-9688.

Compiled by LEO SMITH / Los Angeles Times