Chili Cook-Off and Other Events Fill Simi Valley Days Festivities : Fund-raisers: The salute to the city’s small-town heritage is put together by local charities and service clubs.

Simi Valley Days, the city’s annual salute to its Western small-town heritage, kicks into high gear today with a chili cook-off, a horse show, a barn dance, tours of a train museum and other events.

Simi Valley Days is the banner name for a series of family oriented fund-raising events throughout the month, put together mainly by local charities and service clubs.

Organizers say the activities, at sites throughout the city, give the city’s residents a chance to meet their neighbors and celebrate Simi Valley’s rural past, while contributing to worthy causes.

“It’s like the small town we used to have here,” said Ivan Delman, a local chiropractor who organized a car show that will take place today in conjunction with the chili cook-off.

Jim Thomsen attended his first Simi Valley Days Barn Dance four years ago after moving from the Glendale area to Simi Valley.

After pitching horseshoes at the event, a fund-raiser for the city’s historical society, Thomsen asked how to become involved in the organization. Today, he is the chairman of the dance.

Most of those who attend wear country-and-Western attire. The dance is expected to draw 800 people tonight to a restored barn at Strathearn Historical Park.

“It’s very important every year for Simi Valley residents to come and feel like part of the community,” Thomsen said of the Simi Valley Days festivities. “You meet new people socially or make business contacts.”

The celebration has its roots in Pioneer Days, a short-lived town festival organized by the area’s founding families in 1932. In 1962, the local Jaycees revived the event, setting up a parade, carnival and rodeo.

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce took the reins in 1985, moving the festival from spring to September and changing the name to Simi Valley Days.

Organizers encouraged local nonprofit groups to schedule some of their special events in September under the Simi Valley Days banner to create a celebration spread over several weeks at different sites.

“We felt it would be a good community togetherness-building event,” said Nancy Bender, the chamber’s executive director. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the people who love to volunteer. The camaraderie is outstanding.”

Last year, the chamber allowed an independent committee to take over the supervision of Simi Valley Days.

The festivities officially began last weekend with a bowling tournament. But many of the most popular events are scheduled for this weekend.

The combined chili cook-off and car show is expected to draw 3,500 people. Proceeds will be donated to local youth groups, according to the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, which organized the event.

Today and Sunday, the Santa Susana Railroad Station Museum, a century-old depot that is undergoing restoration, will be open for free public tours. Inside, visitors can view an elaborate model train layout depicting the rail route between Burbank and Oxnard during the 1930s and ‘40s.

Also today and Sunday, the Rancho Simi Equestrians will sponsor a charity horse show.

“It’s very relaxed and a lot of fun,” said Cindy Panolfi, co-chairwoman of the event. “It’s a very friendly atmosphere, which is a little different from what you’d find at shows that are really intensely competitive.”

The festivities Sunday will include a running contest, a fund-raising walk and the Miss Simi Valley Pageant.

Other events scheduled next week include the Simi Valley Days carnival, a rodeo dance, a parade and a rodeo. The festivities conclude Sept. 22 with a charity golf tournament.