Festival Is Criticized as Too Commercial : Celebrations: Some say Moorpark’s Country Days has lost its small-town flavor. But Port Hueneme Harbor Days is a success.

It was the biggest party in Moorpark, but Wes Ferson saw no reason to celebrate.

He sat in his Jeep parked on High Street and watched the throng of people make its way Saturday to the town’s annual festival, Moorpark Country Days.

Shaking his head, he said: “Whatever happened to the country in Moorpark Country Days?

“It’s gotten so big and so commercial. They’ve taken an old country fair and found a way to line their pocketbooks.”

Ferson was not the only one upset with the expansion of the annual party.

Until this year, resident Eugene Gallick said, the festival was a one-day event that brought old friends together.

A few thousand people would show up to watch the parade and buy wares from the merchants who had set up booths along the sidewalks of High Street, he said.

But all that changed.

The small-town festival was stretched into a three-day gala complete with rides, parade and concession stands--an event that could someday rival Thousand Oaks’ Conejo Valley Days, critics complained.

The festival was free before; now it costs $2 to get in. The only admission-free event this year was the parade.

Maybe it’s progress, Gallick said, but he’d like to see it go back to the way it was.

Gallick walked the street selling T-shirts--at $15 a shot--that said: “Who took the country out of Moorpark Country Days?”

“They say we have to change,” Gallick said. “Still, we want to keep some traditions.”

Event organizer Carol Hunt, executive director of the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce, said officials did not intend to do away with the small-town atmosphere of the festival.

The parade still had entries from all the local schools. Children, wearing costumes, walked hand in hand. Marching bands played lively tunes.

But Hunt said the Chamber wanted to give residents something more to do. The carnival, she said, was just the ticket.

To cover the cost of the new, improved festival, an admission charge was added.

“As you can imagine, the cost for the carnival exceeds $35,000,” Hunt said. “We needed to charge admission to make it possible.”

Besides, Hunt said, “we feel the residents are entitled to the best possible community event we can provide.”

Between 15,000 and 20,000 people are expected to attend the festivities, which will conclude this afternoon. The event is being held at the old Community High School at the west end of High Street.

Francisco Tejeda, a resident of Moorpark for 10 years, decided not to take his seven children to the carnival. He said he could not afford to get in to the event.

“I feel bad and sad,” Tejeda said. “Every year, we have come to the Country Days. But this year we can’t.”

Mike Mayfield, a resident of 26 years, and his family also boycotted the festival.

“It changes the whole town,” Mayfield said. “It’s just not like the good old days. It was fine the way it was.”

But inside the festival gates, resident Roy Jasso and his children said they were pleased with the progress.

“It’s more interesting and fun for the children,” Jasso said. “It’s a good investment in our community.”

His daughter, Shanna, 12, said: “I like it. It’s better.”

Jasso added: “Other carnivals are so far away. It’s nice to have something local.”

Meanwhile, across the county in Port Hueneme, coast residents were attending a less controversial festival: Port Hueneme Harbor Days.

An estimated 10,000 people showed up for the event, which included a morning parade, an arts and crafts fair and entertainment by local dance groups and musicians.

But the highlight of the event, according to 11-year-old Lee Joyce, was the treasure hunt on the beach.

Lee of Port Hueneme said he spent most of the day using a metal detector to find the hidden treasures beneath the sand.

His booty included eight quarters, a half-dollar, a handful of tokens for free food, sunglasses and other trinkets.

“I’ve got a bunch of things,” Lee said. “It was fun.”

The Port Hueneme festival will continue today on the beach at the end of Ventura Road with more treasure hunting, kite and fishing contests and a “Little Miss” pageant.