Are Bonsai Bar workshops 21+?

Maybe—many venues are family-friendly and allow underage attendees with a parent or guardian, but check the taproom’s specific Under 21 policy before booking.

Can two people share one tree/ticket?

No. Events are ticketed per person and each attendee must have their own ticket and tree due to limited seating and materials.

What is included with a ticket?

You get to keep a tree you pick, a ceramic bonsai pot, two hours of instruction, and access to tools to borrow; ongoing support is offered through the Tree-iage follow-up program.

Are drinks included with admission?

No—drinks are not included. Arrive early to order from the brewery’s menu; payment is separate from the workshop ticket.

What is the cancellation/refund policy?

Refunds aren’t provided unless the class is canceled by Bonsai Bar due to low enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances; otherwise classes proceed as scheduled.

Do I need prior experience to attend?

No—Bonsai Bar is designed for beginners and families, with instructors teaching basic pruning, potting and care during the two-hour class.

Tiny Trees and Taproom Nights at Ventura Coast Brewing Company | Workshop | Brewery

At Ventura Coast Brewing Company on 76 S Oak St in downtown Ventura, Bonsai Bar turns a craft-beer taproom into a hands-on miniature-garden studio. In a lively two-hour workshop hosted inside the brewery’s communal room, you pick a tiny tree, a ceramic pot, and the instructor walks you through pruning, potting and basic maintenance so you leave with a finished bonsai and the confidence to care for it at home. The scene is intimate and tactile: long wooden tables strewn with soil bins, shears and chopsticks, a lineup of glazed pots, and rows of young trunks waiting for a final trim. The room carries the soft hop-sweet scent of local porters and pale ales, and light from street-facing windows keeps the plants happy. In this coastal Mediterranean climate, Ventura’s maritime breezes and native coastal-sage vegetation influence the species choices you’ll see - easy-to-manage ficus and hardy junipers are common - giving these tiny trees regional character. What makes Bonsai Bar at Ventura Coast Brewing Company special is the collision of two local crafts: beer and botanical sculpting. Ventura Coast Brewing Company was created to promote the craft beer culture in Ventura County, and that experimental spirit extends to hosting hands-on community events that welcome beginners. Trainers focus on practical techniques, and every ticket includes a tree, a ceramic pot, tools to borrow and the group-based Tree-iage follow-up support to help your bonsai thrive after you leave. Plan to arrive fifteen minutes early to check in, grab a drink and claim a good seat. Workshops are ticketed per person—no sharing—so buy seats for everyone who will handle a tree. Most venues host mixed-age crowds, but check the Under 21 policy with the taproom if you’re bringing kids. Drinks are not included with admission. The Bonsai Bar organizers do not offer refunds except when events are canceled for insufficient numbers or other unforeseen reasons; classes that run will proceed as scheduled. Even if you came to Ventura for outdoor pursuits - surfing, hiking the nearby coastal bluffs or a boat trip to Channel Islands - the Bonsai Bar evening is an easy, restorative indoor detour that sharpens observational skills useful outdoors: pruning, patience and attentive care. It’s an ideal activity for couples, families and anyone who wants to learn a small, satisfying craft in a convivial local setting. At the end of the session instructors label your pot with basic watering notes and offer a quick demonstration of wiring and root pruning for beginners. Guests often trade tips across the table while sampling seasonal beers; the shared energy makes the class an excellent choice for a date night, a birthday. Buy a spare pot or extra soil mix from the team if you plan on continuing the hobby at home.