40th Conejo Days Opening Among the Fairest of All

The 40th annual Conejo Valley Days opened Wednesday night with residents rushing to be the first in line to be spun, twirled, dunked, turned upside down and otherwise discombobulated in giant carnival contraptions.

And they were.

First in line for one of the carnival’s most adventurous rides, the Zipper, were 14-year-old David Mirabilio and 13-year-old Mike Hager.

“We are only here for the extreme,” David said. “We don’t go on any pansy rides.”

After an unusually long spin in the contraption, both were speechless and clutching their stomachs.

But 10-year-old Kaylin Macias had no such problems.

“That was awesome,” she shouted at her mother, Karen. “I’d give it two thumbs up, but I forgot which way was up.”

A steady stream of about 2,600 Thousand Oaks residents funneled through the gates, attracted by short lines and what one organizer declared the best opening day weather in decades.

“This is the best year weatherwise that we’ve ever had,” said Cy Johnson, former chairman of Conejo Valley Days.

Since he was chairman in 1966, he said, the weather has always been cold and windy. But forecasters from the National Weather Service predict clear, sunny skies all weekend along with temperatures reaching the 90s.

But clear skies were not on the minds of most who lined up.

“We came the first day because it’s less crowded,” Thousand Oaks resident Christine Nuttall said.

So much so that her daughter, Elyse Nuttall, got to ride the ponies twice in less than a hour.

Sporting a new pink cowboy hat, the 3-year-old proudly proclaimed herself “a cowboy girl.”

In honor of the event’s western roots, some came dressed for the occasion.

At his son David’s insistence, Thousand Oaks resident Mickey Reaves donned a pair of too-tight cowboy boots and a hat.

“We had to do the theme thing all together,” he said. “It’s part of the fun.”

His 4-year-old son even picked out an outfit for his 1-year-old sister, Katherine. She was decked out in a tiny pair of cowboys boots her brother used to wear, a denim skirt, a gingham shirt and, of course, a cowboy hat.

Their mother, Mickey, said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We’ve lived here from 1959; we came here when we were kids and we’ve watched CVD grow all the while, so we will always dress up,” she said.

But other Conejo Valley Days veterans lamented the days when the carnival was a mere 10 rides and handful of food and game booths.

This year’s celebration--an altogether more sophisticated affair--features 43 rides, 35 games and 35 food stands ranging from the traditional snow cones and cinnamon Elephant Ears to gourmet cappuccino ice-cream drinks and fruit-filled croissants.

Ray and Carolyn Elmore, Thousand Oaks residents since 1964, pined for the days when they knew everyone at the fair.

“We liked it when it was small, but you can’t stop progress,” Ray said.

For the first time, Ray Elmore dusted off a box of Conejo Valley Days buttons and entered them in the annual Badgeroo Contest.

In the contest, which was held last night, 15 contestants try to outdo each other with creative displays of buttons from past Conejo Valley Days.

Entrants strolled the grounds wearing vests, some weighing as much as 40 pounds, covered with buttons.

But for the most part, fair-goers sported everyday wear.

“I don’t really get into that too much,” said Cyndi Shaw of Westlake Village. “We are just here for fun and food.”

She and her 2-year-old son, Brandon, were among the first through the gates.

They headed straight for the children’s rides, where they had full run of the place--for about 10 minutes.

Wednesday’s lines offered just a taste of what’s in store for the weekend.

Special family discounts on Thursday and a sunny forecast for the weekend are sure to draw large crowds, said Tom Hartin, the general chairman of the Conejo Valley Days.

To avoid long lines at the parking lots, Hartin recommends parking at Thousand Oaks or Newbury Park high schools and taking one of the free buses to the fairgrounds.

“Take the shuttle,” he said. “When you do, you get $1 off in admission.”

Residents can also save a wait at the ticket booth by buying tickets on the bus. The shuttle leaves hourly Monday through Friday.

Still to come tonight is the western wear contest, open for the first time this year to men and children, as well as women.

Categories include the best contemporary and traditional costumes and one known as “flash” for the best use of sequins.

On Friday, the park will be open to disabled children from local schools from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., with the junior rodeo starting at noon.

Saturday’s festivities kick off with a parade down Thousand Oaks Boulevard led by Grand Marshal Harvey “Boothill” Bollinger followed by a barbecue at the fairgrounds.

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Conejo Valley Days

Events and Entertainment

DETAILS

* WHERE: Conejo Creek Park, Moorpark Freeway and Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

* WHEN: 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to midnight Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

* COST: Events free with admission to the fair: adults, $5; students and senior citizens, $4; children 6 to 12, $3; children under 6, free.

* GETTING THERE: Fair-goers can save $1 off admission by riding a free shuttle bus from Thousand Oaks or Newbury Park high schools. Buses depart hourly from both schools: 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

* CALL: CVD hotline information, 371-8730.

SCHEDULE

TONIGHT

* Family Night, save $2 off each admission and buy a $6 ticket per person for unlimited rides.

* Best Dressed Western Contest for men, women and children age 5 and older, 6:30 p.m. Contestants must arrive at the main stage by 6 p.m. For early registration, call 497-3800.

* Raymond Michael in “Elvis--the Legend,” 8:30 p.m. Following Michael’s performance will be local blues bands the Rocket Science and Randy Rich & the Ravens.

FRIDAY

* Special Kids Day. Volunteers are needed to help about 300 disabled children invited to enjoy the fair at 10 a.m., before the doors open to the public. For details, call 492-2238.

* Junior Rodeo, noon, in the rodeo arena.

* Bingo, 5 to 10 p.m. (also 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday).

* Local blues group, the Rick Ambrose Band, 7 p.m.

* A night of classic rock music begins at 8 p.m. with local band the Big Ugly Dummies.

* Canned Heat headlines at 9 p.m.

* Local group Side Show takes the stage at 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

* Conejo Valley Days Parade, 9 a.m. Grand Marshal Harvey “Boothill” Bollinger leads the floats, clowns and marching bands down Thousand Oaks Boulevard from the post office at Duesenberg Drive to Erbes Road.

* Western Pit Barbecue, noon to 6 p.m. (also Sunday).

* Rodeos, 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. (also 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday) in the rodeo arena.

* Tiny Tot Children’s Pageant, 3 p.m. Children age 3 to 8 dress up in their western best.

* Clog dancers, 5 p.m.

* Warner Sankman, traditional folk and country troubadour, 7 p.m.

* The Monte Carlos perform rock oldies, 8:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

* Family Country Fun Day: a mix of traditional, Top 40 and original country music, with KHAY radio personalities with prizes and giveaways.

* Ralph Payne and Trouble perform Top 40 country tunes, 1 p.m.

* Kathy Bailey’s Country in Motion performing dance troupe, 2 p.m.

* Midnight Train, contemporary and original country music, 3 p.m.

* Camarillo-based Tropical Taste Band plays Hawaiian-county music, 4 p.m.

* Caught Red Handed plays Top 40 and traditional country songs, 4:30 p.m.

* The Phillip Norris Band, rock and country, 6 p.m.