Summer of the Arts in Simi Town Center

Simi Valley Town Center announces a series of twice-weekly musical performances through the summer, culminating in the Vino Jazz Festival in September – a major fund-raiser hosted at the regional mall for the first time.

Starting Aug. 1 at Simi Valley Town Center, every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. will feature live performances by artists ranging from jazz to swing, Dixlieland to Latin. The music series is sponsored by Jefferson at Simi Valley, the soon to open apartment homes north of the mall.

The grand finale will be the Vino Jazz Festival, a major fund-raiser for the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, scheduled for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, in the Center Court of Simi Valley Town Center.

“It is very exciting to be able to spotlight the arts in our community, under a summer breeze, in twilight conditions,” said Vickie Sherman, director of marketing for Simi Valley Town Center. “Visitors each week can get a taste of what to expect at Vino Jazz, when all these diverse and talented performers will converge for a phenomenal showing of support for the arts in Simi Valley.”

Vino Jazz Festival organizers are excited to move the event to the regional mall, with its classy Mediterranean theme, and attraction for area youths. “Simi Valley Town Center, brand new, relates to a brand new music series, leading up to a brand new Vino Jazz festival this year,” said Ray Cruz, executive director of the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation.

The foundation contributes about $25,000 a year to the center and has built up an endowment of more than $200,000. Along with raising funds to support the center, the foundation aims to get youths more involved with the arts, a perfect fit considering the Vino Jazz Festival location this year, Cruz said.

The festival this year will feature a special program for the hearing impaired, which Simi Valley Town Center is supporting, he said.

Locally anticipated for more than 20 years, Simi Valley Town Center is a 600,000-square-foot open-air shopping, dining and entertainment regional center. Located north of Highway 118, between First Street and Erringer Road, the center features premier tenants such as Anthropologie, BombayKids, Brighton Collectibles, California Pizza Kitchen, Coach, Urban Outfitters, White House Black Market, Z Gallerie and more than 100 additional retailers and eateries. Regular hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Restaurant, holiday and department store hours may vary.