The sixth annual Thousand Oaks Arts Festival will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun., Sept. 26 and 27 at Mary and Richard Carpenter Plaza Park in front of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. and The Lakes shopping center at 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

The Civic Arts Plaza is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. In celebration, this year the festival is expanding onto the lawn at The Lakes.

The festival is a juried art show featuring more than 60 local artists displaying and selling their work. Showcased artwork will include paintings, digital art, sculpture and jewelry. Artists from California Lutheran University will give art demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Many of the children’s handson exhibits will be at The Lakes and in the Courtyard of the Oaks at the Civic Arts Plaza. The New West Symphony will present its “zoo” of instruments for children to play.

ArtTrek will supervise the creating of take-home art projects for children. La Petite Party will provide face painting and opportunities for having pictures taken with storybook characters. Many Mansions will have the Paint a Bowl fundraiser for children of all ages.

California Pizza Kitchen will provide pizza boxes and decorations so youths can create their own take-home art.

Various bands will perform at The Lakes, and a variety of performers, including dancers, singers and bands, will entertain on the main stage in the Plaza Park.

The festival kicks off with the Kids and the Arts Fun Run on Saturday with dayofrace registration for $30 at 6:30 a.m. at The Lakes. The run features both a 5K starting at 8 a.m. and a 10K at 8:45 a.m. which will benefit the Alliance for the Arts’ Kids and the Arts School Outreach Program.

Preregistration, which is $25 and includes a T-shirt, is available at www.allianceforthearts.org.

The course begins in front of The Lakes shopping center besides the Civic Arts Plaza. Runners will proceed east on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, north on Duesenberg Drive, west on Hillcrest, south on Erbes, east on Thousand Oaks Boulevard and end in front of Gardens of the World across the street from the Civic Arts Plaza. The 5K runners will do one loop and 10K runners two loops.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place, male and female in 13 age divisions. The race features chip timing with results available online.

For details or race registration, visit the website www. allianceforthearts.org or call (805) 449-2590.

The festival is free and open to the public with free parking at the Civic Arts Plaza parking structure. For more information, visit www.toartsfestival.com.