Applications :: Simple Way To Import A Text File Format Into ICal?

I'm wondering if there is a simple way to import a text file format into iCal. I have a variety of operations that would become immensely easier to do if I could create a CSV file, for example, in Excel or Open Office and then just import that into iCal, rather than sit there and type each item individually.I have both event data and tasks that I need to do bulk imports for.

I've searched high and low and most of what I find involves importing CSV into other applications and then exporting it to VCal files before finally bringing the data into iCal.There has to be a simpler way.