Moorpark is a quaint little Ventura County town removed from busy traffic routes whose streets and buildings have been used in many films (Spielberg’s 2022 The Fabelmans, That’s Amor 2022, The Little Things 2021…)
There are 2 Ventura County landmarks in Moorpark. The 49 Pepper Trees that line High Street in Moorpark and the Methodist Church that was built in 1894. Consider painting these to enter in our May 2026 county landmark show at the Gov't Center Atrium Gallery.
In addition, our group has been invited to have an exhibit of for-sale paintings on May 9, 2026 at the "Moorpark Apricot Festival & Art Fair." Our display will be inside a building next to the High Street Arts Center, and we plan to share the space with Ventura County Museum of Art. (Moorpark scenes and apricot paintings preferred.)
Downtown Moorpark Paint Out
Nov 30, 1 - 5pm. Sunset @ 4:46
Along High Street, from Walnut Street to Magnolia Avenue, Moorpark.
Meet at Lucky Fools Pub, 75 E High St
• Weather forecast around 60 degrees and mostly sunny
• Restroom locations: Our artist member, Thomas Nelson, has his art studio on the corner of Moorpark Ave & High Street, and will have his studio open that afternoon and he has generously offered the use of his restroom. The Moorpark library is a block away. There are various restaurants on High Street ranging from a bakery, sandwiches, Lucky Fools Pub and the upscale restaurant, M on High.
• Moorpark just finished a $3 mil sidewalk and landscaping renovation, putting in wide brick sidewalks and there are a lot of shady places to set up and paint.
• Parking can be on the street, the post office and the metro station parking lot. (Scroll to see my map and legend in the above photos.)
Hope to see you there!
-- Mary Zangerle
VC LMK 55 Methodist Church, Former (aka Baptist, Epworth and/or Somis Churches)
Location: 702 Walnut Street, Moorpark
A group of retired Methodist ministers established the colony of Epworth and in 1894 constructed a small church in what is now called the Fairview District. The church was moved in 1907 to the corner of Charles and Walnut Streets in Moorpark. It was joined in 1930 by the Methodist Church of Somis, which was constructed in 1892 on the site now occupied by Somis Elementary School (Landmark No. 133). The combined church buildings became the Moorpark First Baptist Southern Church in 1950-51 after a new Methodist Church was built. The church celebrated its 100th anniversary January 12, 1992. Norma Gunter's book, "The Moorpark Story" says, "The social life of the town revolved around the church to a large extent; there were recitals, dramatizations...and other cultural events. It was not uncommon to go to church to see a movie, for Moorpark did not have a theater for many years. In the early days, the church was interested in saving people from fire, both earthly and eternal. Evangelistic services took care of one aspect--and the church bell took care of the other. Two ropes of unequal length were attached to the church bell. The long one was pulled to call people to worship; the short one was used to inform the townspeople of a fire. The shorter the rope, the faster the bell would ring. When the men in town heard the church bell ring rapidly, they all hastened to the fire truck house in Tanner's Garage."
High Street Pepper Trees:
VCLMK 72 Pepper Trees along High Street
Location: Along High Street, from Walnut Street to Magnolia Avenue, Moorpark
Designated October 1981. These are the remaining California pepper trees from more than forty planted by John Nubee and John Barrett in 1904.
Also check out other Arts events in Moorpark, Fine Arts events in Moorpark, Entertainment events in Moorpark.
