No Fear of Flying at Parish Festival : Tradition: Scary rides are a big draw at St. Paschal Baylon Church’s popular fund-raiser, now in its 34th year.

Like off-tone trumpets or squeaky saxophones, the screams broke the spell of the big band music blaring across the field during the St. Paschal Baylon Church Community Festival in Thousand Oaks on Saturday.

Captives aboard “The Sizzler,” a carnival ride with whirling seats attached to lobster-like arms, a dozen children squealed in jubilant terror on this tropical afternoon in the Catholic parish’s schoolyard.

“I like the flying feeling,” said 7-year-old Patrick Paredes, whose face was flushed after being hurled through the air in a compartment the size of an armchair. “But I get a little scared when it goes a little fast.”

Yet Patrick wasn’t ready for a break.

“The cars, the cars,” he shouted, sprinting off toward the bumper cars.

Now in its 34th year, the annual St. Paschal Baylon Community Festival--part small-town fair, part family reunion--has become something of a Thousand Oaks institution. Warren Fandrey, the festival’s chairman, expects 10,000 people to pass through the gates by the time the three-day festival shuts down after dancing and bingo tonight.

Started as an informal family function in the 1960s, the event kept growing. In the late ‘70s, the St. Paschal’s Men’s Club decided to capitalize on a good thing and made the festival a fund-raiser. The club now includes many of the city’s business and political leaders--county Supervisor Frank Schillo, Councilmen Mike Markey and Andy Fox, former Mayor Alex Fiore, among others--and the festival netted $42,000 last year.

“We have a 50-grand goal this year,” said Fandrey, a 73-year-old Thousand Oaks resident. “I don’t know if we’re going to make it or not.”

Fandrey said the proceeds will go to a variety of causes, including Many Mansions, a homeless support agency; the Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank, the Boy Scouts and the St. Paschal’s school endowment fund.

Though Maria Felix said she was glad her money was going to worthy causes, she was a little miffed about her winnings at the Roll-A-Ball booth.

“We’ve spent about $15 on this game, and all we’ve won are these two Barneys,” said the 47-year-old San Diego resident, pawing the furry purple dinosaurs with a degree of disgust. “We really want to try to get the big frogs.”

If the rides bearing ominous names like “The Gravitron” and “Paratrooper” add the thrill to the festival, it’s games like tic-tac-toe and two-pin bowling that create a down-home feeling.

“This is where we see all the people that we know and love and care about,” said Katie Picard, 43, a St. Paschal parishioner from Thousand Oaks.

Adults ate their way around the world--baby back pork ribs, burritos, pizzas and cheeseburgers were brought forth in makeshift kitchens across the blacktop. Booth captain Mike McNamara, 48, said he had bought 200 pounds of ribs and 400 pounds of beef in anticipation of the crowds. At a drink booth, beer, wine and even champagne were being poured.

But children ruled the day. They smashed head-on in bumper cars. They crowed over the bird’s-eye view atop the Ferris wheel. And they drained mom and dad’s savings playing games.

“They spent all my change and dollars,” said Kathy Blumenfeld, 42, of Thousand Oaks, who was testing her luck at the dime-toss with her two daughters. “Once we spend all my money, then--maybe--they consider spending theirs.”

It was the mellow atmosphere and the excuse to while away an afternoon that brought Sean Rossi to the festival.

“It’s friendly here, and there’s no pressure,” Rossi said. “It’s like Magic Mountain, without the people.”

FYI

The St. Paschal Baylon Community Festival at the intersection of Janss and Moorpark roads in Thousand Oaks runs from noon to 10 p.m. today. Entrance is free, but most rides cost $1.50 to $2.