Cowboy Poetry Fest

Conejo Valley Players Theatre, Inc. hosts seventh annual Conejo Cowboy Poetry and Western Music Festival at 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow at 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Pre-shows from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m., receptions with performers 10 p.m. each night. $25. (805) 495-3715

Youth Dance Party

Oak Park Community Center, 1000 N. Kanan Road, Oak Park will host a dance party for youth ages 11 to 14 (with school ID) from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Host DJ Rich will play popular tunes. $7. (805) 584-4400

Historic Submarine

Ventura County Maritime Museum, 2731 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard (at Channel Islands Harbor) will display a full-size, fully operational replica of the Confederate submarine CSS H.L. Hunley, the first submersible to sink a warship, from 3 to 5 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Ventura County-based Washington Artillery Civil War Reenactors will offer displays and lectures and docents will also provide background information. $3. (805) 984-6260

SAT., MAY 14

Summer Camp Info

Agoura Hills Recreation Center hosts an Ice Cream Social and Camp Meet ’N’ Greet event for kids and parents from 2 to 4 p.m. at 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Agoura Hills. Learn about their summer camp options, meet staff and instructors. With games, face painting and ice cream sundae-making for kids. (818) 597-7361

Bike Safety Rodeo

Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks presents a Bike Safety Rodeo to teach kids 5 to 12 years old how to safely operate a bicycle, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Sears parking lot, 145 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Music, bike experts, bike raffle, agility courses, safety check. (805) 492-7136

NPHS Rummage Sale

Newbury Park High School Band and Colorguard will host a rummage sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the school campus, 456 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park. Proceeds benefit the band program. (805) 498-9564

Church Fundraiser

Unity Center Church will host its annual yard sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 931 E. Avenida de las Flores, Thousand Oaks, featuring clothing, housewares, furniture, books and more. Proceeds will benefit the church. (805) 496-6901

Pipe Organ Primer

Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks: At 9:45 a.m. the Ventura County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will sponsor "Pedals, Pipes and Pizza," a program to introduce children and young people to the operation of a large pipe organ. Participants will have a chance to play the instrument. Pizza lunch to follow. (805) 497-1959 Len

Malibu Garden Tour

Malibu Garden Club hosts eighth annual Garden Tour, a walking tour of six gardens in the Serra Retreat neighborhood, across the road from Surfrider Beach in mid-Malibu, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Malibu Public Library. No children or pets permitted on this tour. $25. (310) 455-1558

Gems, Minerals, Jewels

Conejo Gem & Mineral Club presents its 31st annual Pageant of a Thousand Gems, with the theme "Gems and Minerals of California," from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow at Borchard Park Community Center, 190 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park. Exhibits, demonstrations, youth activities, silent auction, door prizes, plant sale, snack bar. Free admission. (805) 498-4220

Rattler

Avoidance

Dog trainer Patrick Callaghan teaches a Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Clinic for Dogs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow at Mountains Restoration Trust, 23075 Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas. Call for fee and reservation info: (818) 591-1701, ext. 189

Leonis Adobe Event

Leonis Adobe Museum, 23537 Calabasas Road, Old Town Calabasas, hosts a membership drive event from 4 to 6 p.m. featuring a wine and cheese reception, silent auction and live entertainment and museum tours. Also, author Ernest Marquez will discuss his book "Santa Monica Beach, A Collector’s Pictorial History." Free. (818) 222-6511

Swing and Ballroom

Goebel Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks: cha-cha lesson at 7 p.m. with Trish Connery, open dancing following the lesson with swing, country, ballroom and Latin. $10. (818) 865-1257

SUN., MAY 15

‘Pirates of Penzance’

The Oaks Chamber Singers featuring lyric coloratura soprano Bonnie Bowden will present "an excursion into musical satire and hyperbole" when they perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta "The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty" at 7:30 p.m. in the Scherr Forum Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. $17 to $20. (805) 449-2787

Fiddle Contest & More

The 45th annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Paramount Ranch on Cornell Road in Agoura. Family-oriented event is staged on outdoor film sets and mountain locations and features instrumental and singing contests, dancing, all genres of folk music, bluegrass, cowboy and children’s tunes, kids’ crafts activities, folk art booths, park service exhibits and much more. $5 to $10. (818) 382-4819

Kids’ Classical Concert

Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra presents "First Classic Concert for Children and their Parents" at 2 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 32111 Watergate Road, Westlake Village featuring a program that will introduce youngsters to classical music and offer audience participation opportunities. Free. (805) 523-8045

‘A Taste of the Town’

"A Taste of the Town" is the annual fundraiser for Ventura County’s Support for the Kids organization from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gardens of the World, 2001 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Nine area restaurants will provide food samplings; also silent auction items and live auction items. Proceeds benefit underprivileged and foster kids. $75. (805) 373-6661

Cub Scouts

& Cars

Cub Scout Pack No. 3663 presents its eighth annual Cubs & Cars event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Simi Valley High School, 5400 Cochran St., Simi Valley featuring food, raffle, entertainment, Kids’ Corner, trophies. (805) 304-1437

Chorale’s

Garden Tour

From noon to 4 p.m. the Los Robles Master Chorale hosts its annual Garden Tour featuring six gardens from Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and Moorpark, and Maravilla Gardens in Camarillo, a nursery and tour sponsor, offering door prizes and discount coupons. Self-guided tour with refreshments, door prizes and musical entertainment by the chorale. $10. (805) 492-2917

Antiques Faire

Stagecoach Inn Museum, 51 S. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park, hosts its third annual Antiques Faire from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Antiques and collectibles market, tours of museum and grounds, lectures on collectibles, free cookies and lemonade. Admission $5; $5 per item for evaluations of antiques. (805) 498-9441

Van Nuys Air Fest

Van Nuys Airport’s Rockin’ Air Fest from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. features displays of world-famous aircraft including one featured in "The Aviator," flyover by vintage and modern planes, and live bands including Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries performing music of the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. Airport bus tours, special exhibits, refreshments. (866) 869-3976

Free Rubbish Drop-off

Residents of Simi Valley may dispose of residential rubbish for free at Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center, 2801 Madera Road, Simi Valley from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. For specifics, call (805) 579-7267

MON., MAY 16

A Look at

Picture Quilts

Conejo Valley Quilters host guest speaker Cynthia England discussing "Pictorial Quilts." Social at 6:30 p.m., meeting 7 p.m. in Baxter Auditorium, One Baxter Way, Westlake Village (off Lakeview Canyon Road). New quilters and guests welcome. (805) 529-4882

TUES., MAY 17

Senior Fair

The New Jewish Community Center at Milken hosts "How to Protect Yourself Against Fraud and Abuse," a Senior Action Fair, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills. Complimentary breakfast and lunch. Free but reservations required. (310) 394-9871, ext. 261

WED., MAY 18

Reserve Today

Reservations are required by today for Bella Vita Italian-American Social Club dinner on Fri., May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Julie Billiart Parish Hall, 2475 Borchard Road, Newbury Park. After dinner Carol Freeman will speak about the new Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital. $9. For reservations call Sara at (805) 446-9225

RSVP Is Due

RSVP is due by today for an Open House at American Legion Hall, 5320 Fallbrook Ave., Woodland Hills on Sat., May 21 at 2 p.m. sponsored by West Valley Republican Club. Claude Parrish of State Board of Equalization will speak. Free. (818) 591-1071

WLV Women’s Club

Westlake Women’s Club, Evening Section, meets 7 p.m. Women in Conejo Valley invited to attend. Group supports Manna, Ventura County Search & Rescue Team and other community service and philanthropic projects. For location call Gwen (805) 496-7954

Looking at Lavender

Susan McRae, owner of California Lavender Co. and founder of Ojai Lavender Festival (on Sat., June 4) will discuss growing lavender and all the myriad uses of this versatile and beautiful plant during the 7 p.m. meeting of Organic Garden and Herb Society in meeting room of Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road. (805) 498-1623

‘Odd Couple’ at AHS

Agoura High School’s performing arts department presents Neil Simon’s comedy "The Odd Couple" in both the male and female versions on alternate nights beginning with male version tonight and concluding on Sat., May 21, at the school, 28545 Driver Ave., Agoura Hills. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $7. (818) 889-8622

THURS., MAY 19

Chamber Mixer

Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts a networking mixer at 5:30 p.m. at Cisco’s Restaurant, 1712 Avenida de Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks featuring food and door prizes. (818) 889-3150

SAT., MAY 21

A Habitat Fundraiser

Habitat for Humanity hosts annual Family Fun Day fundraiser beginning 9:30 a.m. with 5K, 10K run, walk, glide and 25-mile bike ride at Rancho Simi Community Park, corner of Royal Avenue and Erringer Road, Simi Valley. At 11 a.m. it’s a carnival with fun and food booths. At 6:30 p.m. there will be a fundraising dinner and silent auction at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake Village. $35. (805) 485-6065

Barbershop Harmony

Rincon Beach Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society presents its spring show, "Rock! Pop! And Barbershop!" at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Newbury Park High School Performing Arts Center, 456 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park. Joined by Pacific Sound Mens A Capella Chorus and featuring the Alley Cats, a premier doo wop quartet and O C times championship barbershop quartet. $15-$35. (800) 353-1632

Agoura Art Show

Artists Elaine Cohen and Sheila Fein will be donating a percentage of sales from their artwork to Jonsson Cancer Research Center UCLA from their art show, "Real & Imagined . . . Two Artists" from 2 to 6 p.m. today and from 1 to 5 p.m. tomorrow at 2317 Sierra Creek Road, Agoura (between Kanan Road and Mulholland Highway). RSVP to (818) 879-6120

Family Carnival

Maple School, 3501 Kimber Drive, Newbury Park, hosts Family Days Carnival with games, rides, silent auction, barbecue. Call Wynter at (805) 231-2870 for event time

Clean Up the Arroyo

Volunteers will help with third annual Arroyo Clean-Up Day from 9 a.m. to noon at Tapo Canyon Road (at the Arroyo), south of Royal Avenue, Simi Valley, removing trash and debris. Described as "fairly strenuous physical activity" and volunteers should be prepared with protective clothing and bring digging tools. (805) 583-6756

Plants and Butterflies

National Park Service activities today include a Native Plant Fair from 8 a.m. to noon in the main parking lot at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park, featuring more than 30 species of native plants and trees for sale, plus educational displays and tours of the ethno-botanic garden; and at 2 p.m. at park service headquarters, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, butterfly expert Fred Heath will reveal the secret lives of this beautiful and graceful creature in a free lecture. (805) 370-2301