Simi Valley Days gets rockin'
Parade will begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers BANDS BATTLE- Vocalist Sean Ferguson of Lompoc sings with his band, The Remote Control, during the Battle of the Bands on the opening night of Simi Valley Days on Wednesday. This year's annual celebration of Simi includes a first-ever music festival, the "largest portable roller coaster on the West Coast" and the Simi Valley History Day.

Simi Valley Days are here again. The annual community celebration taking place this weekend is marking its 23rd year with a handful of new features and a comeback of oldiebutgoodie traditions.

This year's theme, "It's great to be a kid!", brings to the fiveday carnival the "largest portable roller coaster on the West Coast," a children's ride area and the event's first-ever music festival, said Zane Widdes, president of the Simi Valley Days Foundation.

"It will be the biggest year ever," Widdes said. "This year we've had a commitment on manpower that we've never seen before."

Carnival attendees can expect to visit their favorite sights, including the ongoing family entertainment on the fairgrounds stage, carnival games, food booths, rides and a crafts and merchants' tent that is "bursting at the seams."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers SHE SHOOTS- Anticipation is high as Megan Berman, 15, far right, of Simi Valley shoots for the hoop at a carnival game on the opening night of Simi Valley Days on Wednesday.

"It's amazing the (number) of crafts and merchants people coming out to participate in our event," Widdes said. "We've had so much community participation- it shows how strong we are."

Another new feature of this year's celebration is Simi Valley History Day. The event committee is working in conjunction with the Strathearn Historical Society to host tours of Strathearn Park at 137 Strathearn Place on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $5 entry fee includes performances, demonstrations, tours and other special attractions at the park.

The Simi Valley Days Music Festival, which will run this evening through Sunday on the baseball diamonds at Rancho Simi Park at 1765 Royal Ave., was also added this year.

Los Angeles alternative rock band Fishbone will be headlining the festival on Saturday night. Also playing during the festival are the VooDoo Glow Skulls, Mad Caddies and local band The Scuffs. The festival will feature 25 mainstream and local bands.

General admission to the music festival is $15 for the concert stage and $10 for 10 bands in the dance tent on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the show or ahead of time through Ticketmaster. Music festivities start at 5 p.m. on Friday and at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

This year's Simi Valley Days parade will start at 9 a.m. Saturday on the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Erringer Road and end at the carnival grounds. The parade lineup includes the Simi Valley Pioneer Marching Band, the Royal Highland Brigade, the Grace Brethren Elementary drill team, and various floats and equestrian clubs.

The carnival grounds, at Los Angeles Avenue and Madera Road, will be the site for oldfashioned picnics on Saturday and Sunday, complete with threelegged sack races and a pieeating contest, Widdes said.

The ever-popular Kow Chip Bingo will be back at the carnival at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Carnival hours this weekend are 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under, and $3 for seniors. Children 3 and under are admitted for free.

For more information on Simi Valley Days, call (805) 581-4280 or visit www.simivalleydays.com.