A public concert kicks off the Festival on Friday, July 15 at 6 pm. It’s the Festival Brass Quintet in a fun, lively program, playing in the mini-park at California and Santa Clara. Why? “It’s important to give back and to engage the community in the Festival as much as possible,” said Executive Director Susan Scott. "The Festival Brass are great musicians. They love playing for a Ventura crowd, and it’s a happy, joyful concert: a wonderful way to start the Festival.”