Hot and Festive : Celebrations: Conejo Valley Days and the California Beach Party offer music, entertainment, food and silliness.

Mother Nature turned on the heat Saturday, giving a summer-like glow to two of Ventura County’s biggest spring events.

In Thousand Oaks, crowds lined up to view the classic street parade that highlighted the annual Conejo Valley Days festival. The 170 entries featured the Budweiser Clydesdale horses, clowns, beauty queens, high school marching bands and an eclectic collection of floats.

In Ventura, as if anybody needed an excuse to go to the beach, the California Beach Party spread along the promenade from Surfers Point to the Ventura Pier, attracting thousands.

There were sandcastle contests and surfing and volleyball competitions. MCI offered free long-distance calls, and psychic channelers charged $10 to connect people beyond a telephone’s reach.

There were tie-dyed T-shirts, shish kebobs and karaoke sing-alongs. Ross Perot volunteers collected signatures, and radio stations sponsored name-that-tune championships.

Joe Castagnoli had a field day with his giant shark prop, as a steady stream of children lined up to have their pictures taken inside the beast’s mouth for $5.

“Doing good, lots of pictures,” Castagnoli said as he reloaded his camera.

The Surfaris engaged the crowd with a medley of surf rock relics, ending with a rendition of “Wipeout” in which drummer Dan Murray distinguished himself with a hot solo.

“This is a great opportunity to share the nice weather,” said Ventura Mayor Greg Carson, who judged the sandcastle contests. “Events like this bring the community together.”

There was one change that somewhat dampened the two-day festival: For the first time, the city charged admission fees of $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and children.

But festival-goer Debra Davis, who brought her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, said she didn’t mind paying.

“They have to pay for the cops somehow,” Davis said. Local taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for the event because most festival-goers are from outside Ventura County, she reasoned.

For the most part, people didn’t seem to mind forking over the extra bucks. They milled around and basked in the sun and people-watched.

“A lot of pretty girls out here,” said Joey Reis, within earshot of his girlfriend, Wendy Anastasio.

“Consider him dead,” Anastasio replied, nodding toward Reis.

The best place to enjoy the Conejo Valley Days parade was in the shade, so hundreds of people set up lawn chairs against the shops that line Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

The Arco station at the end of the route offered a particularly cool vantage point for Loretta Sherwin, who said she hasn’t missed a parade in more than 20 years.

“It’s a wonderful parade, I’ve been coming since 1968,” she said.

“It’s a nice town, it really is,” said her husband, Clifford. “Very friendly.”

Civic spirit was running high as community groups ranging from the Masonic Lodge to a Harley-Davidson club rode by. The Lynn Ranch cowboys were especially appreciated because they took time to let the children pat their horses and let out primal screams that reminded everyone of their favorite Westerns.

Cyanna Goold, 12, was duly impressed.

“I think it’s kind of cool,” she said. “I really like the horses and the clothes people are wearing.”

Temperatures in parts of the county reached the low 90s, about 20 degrees over the average high, said meteorologist Steve Burback of WeatherData Inc.

Burback said, “A strong high-pressure system moved into all of Southern California, including Ventura County, causing continued high temperatures.” Ventura temperatures reached 80 degrees, and in Los Angeles they peaked at 93 degrees, he said.

Times staff writer Sherry Joe contributed to this story.

Conejo Valley Days

Conejo Creek Park, Moorpark Freeway and Janss Road TODAY Noon to 8 p.m.: Carnival rides, food and games, concessions, exhibit tent, bingo tent, country fair tent and youth tent; admission: adults $3, students $2, children 7 to 12 $1, children 6 and under are free 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Remote Control Modelers will fly planes at Northrop Corp., Rancho Conejo Boulevard Noon to 6 p.m.: Western pit barbecue, adults $5 advance, $5.50 on-site, and children $4 advance, $4.50 on-site Noon to 8 p.m.: Bingo, bingo tent 11 a.m. to noon: Dan Anderson’s Martial Arts Academy demonstration, Main Stage 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Western singer Janie Fox, Main Stage 1 to 1:30 p.m.: Disabled Players, theatrical performance, Main Stage 1 & 4 p.m.: Rodeo, arena (free with admission) 5:30 to 6 p.m.: Conejo Valley Days committee sings Adios Cowboy