MOORPARK : City’s History to Be Celebrated on Oct. 6

Moorpark, one of the fastest growing cities in the state, will attempt to bring back its historic small-town atmosphere Oct. 6 with its annual Moorpark County Days celebration, sponsored by the local chamber of commerce.

What began 10 years ago as a very small parade has blossomed into an all-day event. Chamber President Linda Plaks views the celebration as a way for community members to come together to celebrate the history of Moorpark, a town named after a type of apricot.

“It’s a unifying, harmonious day, where everyone comes to the historic area of the city,” Plaks said, referring to the downtown area. “It’s a day to enjoy the past and the present and meet one’s neighbors.”

The parade’s grand marshals will be Everett and Madaline Braun, who have been active in Moorpark community organizations for many years. Everett Braun served as superintendent and principal of the former high school district from 1956 to 1976, and Madaline Braun was a teacher in the district.

The day’s events will begin with a flag-raising ceremony at 7 a.m. at the Moorpark War Memorial, which is at Moorpark and Los Angeles avenues.

A pancake breakfast will be served from 7 to 10 a.m. at Chaparral Middle School on Poindexter Avenue. The Senior Citizens Center on Moorpark Avenue will be open at 7 a.m. for coffee and rolls.

The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m., rolling east from Poindexter Avenue to High Street. The street fair, with 80 food and merchandise booths along High Street, will be open until 6 p.m. After the parade, the day’s events will include a bed race, carnival rides, a chili contest and a whisker contest. There will be entertainment staged on the street by local dance and karate studios and a gunfight by the California Gun Fighters.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a horseshoe tournament at the Moose Lodge on Los Angeles Avenue. United Methodist Church members will sponsor an ice cream social at the church on Third and Flory streets from noon to 4 p.m., while the Moorpark Boys and Girls Club will host a barbecue from noon to 9 p.m. on High Street.

The highlight of the day’s events will be a street dance from 7 p.m. to midnight on High Street. Special entertainment will be provided by Raymond Michael, a well-known Elvis impressionist who lives in Moorpark.

Moorpark High School will be the site of a 5K-, 10K- and 1-mile run/walk, beginning at 8 a.m. Oct. 7.