Residents Work Hard at Having Fun on Labor Day : Holiday: Union members and Democrats; people throughout Ventura County picnic and play.

While a Dixieland band played, Bob Guillen handed out corn on the cob and fried chicken to hundreds of Ventura County union members and Democrats at an afternoon picnic in Oxnard.

For Guillen, executive secretary of the Ventura County Building & Construction Trades Council, the gathering of friends and co-workers was the perfect way to celebrate Labor Day.

“For some people, it’s just a three-day weekend,” said Guillen, whose group represents nearly 30 unions. “But, for me, it’s something more. I’ve worked for the working guy all my life. That’s what it’s all about.”

Under a brilliant blue sky, Ventura County residents from Simi Valley to Ventura spent the sunny afternoon celebrating the holiday with friends and family.

In the sweltering heat, about 3,000 people met at Peach Hill Park in Moorpark to play games, listen to music and eat barbecue.

Howard McClure and his family watched a group of Moorpark High School students perform Broadway show tunes.

“It’s just a day of recreation,” McClure said. “Some people spend it at the mountains, others at the beach. We came here.”

For six years, the city of Moorpark and the Moorpark Youth Activities Committee have been holding the picnic for area families.

“This is the last big event before the kids go back to school,” said Vicky McGowan, who helped organize the gathering. “It’s Moorpark’s gift to Moorpark.”

McGowan said she encouraged an international theme for the picnic. A Simi Valley girl performed a classical dance from India while a group of youngsters wearing grass skirts practiced their steps to a Polynesian tune.

“We’ve always been real interested in promoting cultural awareness,” McGowan said. “We have a little of everything here.”

Randy Lauder, who lives across the street from Peach Hill Park, said the picnic seemed like an ideal way to spend the day.

“We didn’t want to fight traffic to go to a three-day weekend somewhere,” Lauder said. “This was perfect. It’s real local for us.”

In Oxnard, about 500 members of labor unions and Democrats United of Ventura County gathered at College Park.

“This is our big event of the year,” said Beverly O’Gorman, co-chairwoman of the picnic. “It is a time for us to applaud our past accomplishments and make plans for the future.”

Among those attending the gathering were Sen. Gary Hart (D-Santa Barbara), the local leaders of the Public Employee’s Assn. of Ventura County and members of the Oxnard Firefighters’ union, who sold T-shirts and showed off a classic firetruck.

Hart told the group: “It is good to see the Democratic Party and the union members together working for working people. Labor Day is the traditional kickoff for the campaign season . . . Labor Day is the time when we get to hold people accountable.”

He urged the group to get out the vote for area Democrats in the November election.

“There is strength in numbers,” Hart said.

Ventura County Supervisor Susan K. Lacey served as the host of the event.

“Labor represents the middle class,” Lacey said. “It keeps democracy strong.”