A Parade That Wouldn’t Die : Pony Express Days Roll as Agoura Hills Rallies to Save Annual Event

Residents of Agoura Hills proved Saturday that they could keep their town’s annual parade alive as an estimated 3,000 people turned out for the Pony Express Days Parade, which for the first time was organized and partially paid for by private citizens and businesses.

“We pulled it off. It went just fine,” parade committee member Diane Venable said.

The parade, which drew 47 entries, began at about 10 a.m. and ended at about noon with an award ceremony at Agoura High School.

For 37 years, the parade had been paid for by the Agoura-Las Virgenes Chamber of Commerce, but the chamber this year could not afford the $2,500 insurance premium, Venable said.

Residents persuaded the City Council to foot the insurance bill, and a homeowners group, a supermarket and other businesses agreed to share the other expenses, such as for trophies, promotion and permits.

The parade began at Kanan Road and Fountainhead Street and followed a one-mile route to the high school. There were more than 600 participants, including about 425 children.

The grand prize was awarded to Morrison Ranch Estates Homeowners Assn. for its entry titled “The Sons and Daughters of Liberty,” a 25-foot-long float featuring miniature log cabins, covered wagons and 25 children dressed as American historical figures, committee member Christy Collver said.

Sheriff’s deputies reported no incidents other than a few traffic snarls along the parade route.

“We knew the people wanted the parade to stay, and everyone chipped in to make sure it did,” Venable said. “Next year’s another matter entirely. We’re going to have to start raising money soon.”