8 Fireworks Shows Planned Countywide to Mark Fourth : Independence Day: Seven are set for Tuesday, while Moorpark will celebrate a day early. Parades and other festivities are also scheduled.

Ventura County residents on both sides of the Conejo Grade will have plenty of opportunity to watch the Big Bang theory in practice this Fourth of July, with seven fireworks shows scheduled from Ojai to Thousand Oaks on Tuesday night.

Viewers may even get help from the weather, with a high pressure system poised to chase away coastal clouds in time for the shows, according to the National Weather Service.

“If the timing is correct, it could break up the clouds enough to see some blue skies in the evening,” meteorologist Ivory Small said. Clear skies are expected inland.

Clouds or no, fireworks display organizers are predicting that tens of thousands of Ventura County residents will turn out for the shows.

Moorpark will have a fireworks show for the first time in four years, while Camarillo has dropped its long-running exhibition.

“There was a lack of financial support from the community” for the Camarillo event, said Kathy Matejka, recreation coordinator for the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District.

The district needed about $16,000 to put on the fireworks display, Matejka said, and no revenue source could be found.

Moorpark officials are excited about their city’s fireworks display, which will take place Monday night at the Moorpark High School stadium. They expect the 3,500-seat stadium to be filled.

“We hope to start our own tradition,” said Chris Adams, director of community services. Adams said Moorpark opted to show its fireworks the day before the Fourth because of money.

“We got a great deal,” she said.

Pyro Spectaculars of San Bernardino County is charging Moorpark half of what it charges for the Fourth of July. In all, Moorpark plans to spend $8,000 on its July 3 show. The festivities at the high school begin at 7 p.m.

Pyro Spectaculars is running six of the county’s other seven shows, which begin shortly after dusk on Tuesday.

“It has been crazy here lately,” said company spokeswoman Lisa Godoy.

The shows range in size and theme, Godoy said.

Thousand Oaks will host the largest and loudest exhibition, as 525 shells explode over The Oaks mall.

Simi Valley and Oxnard will feature a narration celebrating the Second World War, while Ojai and Fillmore will emphasize their small-town atmospheres with daylong celebrations culminating with 20-minute shows.

Each city is expecting more than 5,000 people at their displays.

The Oxnard festivities begin at 6 p.m. at Oxnard High School. The fireworks at dusk will be preceded by music and games on the football field.

Simi Valley’s “Spirit of America” begins at 7 p.m. at Simi Valley High School. Gates open at 6 p.m. In a departure from the country and Western theme of previous years, organizers opted for a nostalgic rock ‘n’ roll show before the World War II-themed fireworks.

“There will be a lot of California surf music,” said Dennis Anderson, recreation coordinator for the Rancho Simi Park District, sponsor of the event. Anderson said everyone entering the stadium will receive a Hawaiian lei.

“It should be fun,” he said.

Fillmore officials expect more than 20,000 people to turn out for that city’s all-day celebration, which will culminate with a fireworks display at Fillmore High School.

Just as exciting as the fireworks is the Chili Cookoff and Car Show in Central Park, said Hank Carrillo, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.

This year, Fillmore’s cook-off has been upgraded from a district contest to one of only four regional contests in the state. Winners in Fillmore on Tuesday will qualify for the national finals in Reno, Carrillo said.

Because of the cook-off’s newfound prestige, Carrillo expects as many as 50 entries, nearly double the usual number.

“The winners here go right to Reno,” Carrillo said. “We’re real excited.”

Ventura expects 40,000 visitors to cram downtown this year during the 20th annual street fair. Main Street will be closed between Ventura Avenue and Fir Street for much of the day as more than 400 booths set up shop.

“We really fill up the downtown area,” said Faye Campbell, special events coordinator for Ventura.

For the second consecutive year, Ventura’s fireworks, sponsored by the Rotary Club, will be exploded at Ventura College. Gates open on the football field at 5 p.m., and organizers expect as many as 10,000 people.

Up the hill, Ojai will begin the festivities a day early with a free concert in Libbey Park.

The celebration starts with Ojai’s annual parade down Country Club Drive to Ojai Avenue to Park Road. The celebration continues at the Nordhoff High School stadium, where food booths will be set up and a concert will start at 5 p.m. Gates open 30 minutes earlier. The day culminates with the city’s 32nd annual fireworks display.

Meanwhile, Thousand Oaks officials expect 20,000 people to gather at The Oaks mall for that fireworks exhibition. The day’s events begin with an 8 a.m. pancake breakfast at Borchard Park. A home run derby for children starts in the park 30 minutes later, and Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks high schools are opening their swimming pools to the public until 4 p.m.

In Santa Paula, the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce is again sponsoring fireworks for the city. Chamber director Jim Tovias said he expects 3,000 to 4,000 people to turn out at George Harding Park to watch the display.

Tovias said that while he enjoys celebrating the Fourth of July, he finds other holidays much more relaxing.

“It’s a lot of work putting on the show,” he said. “I look forward to July 5.”

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Fourth of July Activities

* FILLMORE

Fillmore High School football field, 555 Central Ave. Gates open: 6 p.m., entertainment 7 p.m. Admission: Free What you will see: A mostly aerial exhibition with some ground displays, including image of the American flag. Number of shells in show: 286 Number of shells in finale: 110 Other events: Chili cook-off and car show in Central Park, starting at noon Information: 524-0351

MOORPARK

Moorpark High School football field, 4500 Tierra Rejada Road Gates open: 7 p.m. Monday; entertainment starts shortly afterward Admission: Free What you will see: An aerial display set to patriotic music; American flag will appear overhead. Number of shells in show: TK Number of shells in finale: TK Other events: Family picnic 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, featuring food booths, at Arroyo Vista Community Park Information: 529-6864

OJAI

Nordhoff High School football field, 1401 Maricopa Highway Gates open: 4:30 p.m. Admission: Pre-sale: $4 adults, $2 children and $10 family pass; at the door: $6 adults, $2 children What you will see: Fireworks interspersed with patriotic music. Number of shells in show: 426 Number of shells in finale: 150 Other events: Kids Freedom Run at 9 a.m., parade at 10 a.m. Information: 649-2729 or 646-4295

OXNARD

Oxnard High School football field, Campus Drive and Gonzales Road Gates open: 6 p.m. No seating after 8:45 p.m. Admission: $5 adults, $2 children What you will see: Mostly a ground display, backed by narration and patriotic music featuring the 50th anniversary of World War II and highlighted by a scene of Marines hoisting the flag on Iwo Jima. Some aerial fireworks are planned. Number of shells in show: 283 Number of shells in finale: 140 Information: 385-7578

SANTA PAULA

George Harding Park, Harvard Boulevard Admission: Free What you will see: Twenty-minute aerial display set to patriotic music Number of shells in show: 426 Number of shells in finale: 150 Other events: Circus Vargas, Teague Park, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Information: 525-6697

SIMI VALLEY

Simi Valley High School football field, 5400 Cochran St. Gates open: 6 p.m. Entertainment includes sky divers and oldies band. Admission: $6 adults, $3 children What you will see: Mostly a ground display, backed by narration and patriotic music featuring the 50th anniversary of World War II and highlighted by a scene of Marines hoisting the flag on Iwo Jima. Some aerial fireworks are also planned. Number of shells in show: 283 Number of shells in finale: 140 Other events: Concerts, dancing and games for children in the courtyard at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 2 p.m., a U. S. Marine Corps band will perform. Information: 584-4400

THOUSAND OAKS

The Oaks mall, 222 W. Hillcrest Drive Admission: Free What you will see: Biggest show in Ventura County. Aerial show set to music should be visible throughout the Conejo Valley and east county. Number of shells in show: 525 Number of shells in finale: 215 Other events: Nature walk in Wildwood Park at 7 a.m. Pancake breakfast at Borchard Park 8 to 11 a.m. Concert in Conejo Community Park at 5 p.m. Information: 499-4355

VENTURA

Ventura College football field, 4667 Telegraph Road Gates open: 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $8, children $5 (includes food booths, games and concerts) What you will see: Aerial fireworks display set to patriotic music Number of shells in show: 242 Number of shells in finale: 140 Other events: Main Street fair, with more than 400 vendors’ booths and several bands performing downtown throughout the day. Information: 648-1346