THOUSAND OAKS : Cowgirls, Cowboys to Star in Parade
Cowboys, cowgirls and stuffed-animal horses will star in this year’s 27th annual Conejo Valley Days Children’s Parade, scheduled for Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. along Auto Mall Drive in Thousand Oaks.
About 250 children from toddlers to teen-agers are expected to march, bike, dance or ride horses down the parade route, wearing costumes to fit this year’s theme of “Western Styles and Country Smiles.”
Three judges, including Mayor Judy Lazar, will award prizes for the most creative costume, the outfit that best fits the Western theme and the most outstanding entry overall. In addition, each participant will receive a ribbon, refreshments and balloons.
Past winners have included a young boy who decked his bike out as a horse, complete with a tail hanging off the seat, and pulled a mock stagecoach filled with his stuffed animal menagerie. Real equestrians are also welcome in the parade. Only motorized vehicles and skateboards are prohibited, organizer Linda Wycko said.
Children through age 14 can participate, alone or with a group, and they can stage a short performance in front of the judging stand. Children under age 5 must be accompanied by an adult.
The parade, sponsored by the Optimist Clubs of the Greater Conejo Valley, comes a week and a half before most Conejo Valley Days festivities begin. For more information about the kids’ parade, call the Optimist Clubs at 498-5178, 375-8233 or 495-9980.
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