Buttered up!
Residents get their claws on succulent shellfish and super sounds at Kiwanis' 13th annual Lobster Festival
Photos by Iris Smoot

LOBSTERFEST FUN- Left, Wes Miller of Simi Valley serves up a huge, tasty invertebrate during the 13th annual Lobster Festival in Simi Valley on Saturday. The festival, presented by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Susana, is the annual kickoff event for Simi Valley Days, which runs from Sept. 14 through Sept.18. Below, Andree Spenard and Ann Jones, both of Simi Valley, can't stop laughing as they attempt to pick apart a lobster dinner. "I don't think that's the right way," Jones said to her friend. "I don't remember how to do this!" laughed Spenard, as they looked desperately around the table for help. UNDER THE SEA- (clockwise from above) In a fit of silliness, Robert Loop of Simi Valley wraps a lobster around the face of Wes Miller. Dressed for the occasion, Holly Tignac, 6, of Simi Valley decorates a hat with stickers and colorful crayon designs in the Kids Korner. Candace Gray of Thousand Oaks holds 10-month-old Jordan, who is fascinated by a huge inflatable lobster hanging overhead. Mikey Mo, on guitar, and Michael John, of Michael John and the Bottom Line, wear their "bayou" hats and play songs from their new album, "Good Thing."