Clouds Clear for Parade : Events: TV weatherman “Dr. George” Fischbeck will be grand marshal of the Simi Valley Days tradition, saving the day for planners.

The Simi Valley Days parade will have a grand marshal after all, organizers of the event said Thursday.

Television weatherman George Fischbeck, also known as “Dr. George,” has accepted the role, said festival chairman Andy Macek.

“I’m honored to have been asked,” said Fischbeck, of KABC-TV. “I’ve got a lot of friends out there, and I hope they will be watching.”

Fischbeck, 69, said he has served as grand marshal in parades before but cannot remember the cities they were in.

“I don’t recall them,” he said. “I’ve been in one or two out here in the last 19 years. It’s always nice to be asked.”

“We were very lucky to get him,” said Tom Brown, special events coordinator for the parade. “He was very enthusiastic to help us out. And he promised clear weather.”

Some festival officials had worried earlier this week that they might be without a grand marshal for the Sept. 22 parade.

Since they began their search for a grand marshal several weeks ago, festival officials were turned down by actress Sally Struthers, comedian Tim Conway, weatherman Fritz Coleman and a number of Los Angeles disc jockeys.

Actor Claude Akins and another television weatherman, Christopher Nance, were also among the candidates being considered.

Macek said many of the people who were asked about serving as grand marshal were unable to commit to the parade because of conflicting schedules.

Macek, who earlier in the week said “we’ll take anybody,” admitted that the comment had caused him some trouble with other festival officials.

“I took some heat for that statement,” Macek said. “But everything worked out.”

He said after reports were published about the organizers’ troubles in finding a grand marshal, KABC officials called and offered to help.

“It wound up perfect for us,” Macek said.

The parade, which will feature more than 170 entries, including high school marching bands and floats, will begin at 9 a.m. and run west along Los Angeles Avenue between Erringer and Sinaloa roads.

The Simi Valley Days festival kicks off Saturday with a chili cook-off at the Simi Valley Drive-In, a barn dance at Strathearn Historical Park and a horse show at the Simi Arroyo Equestrian Center.

The sixth annual event--which will also feature a carnival, a rodeo and a tractor-trailer pulling contest--runs through Sept. 23. A related golf tournament is scheduled Sept. 28 at Simi Hills Golf Course.

Most of the events will take place on a 70-acre plot at the corner of Madera Road and Los Angeles Avenue.