Young, Old Line Streets for Conejo Valley Days Parade

Conejo Valley Days hit the streets Saturday when locals lined the city’s main drag for the event’s annual parade.

Thousands of east county residents flocked to Thousand Oaks Boulevard to see old friends, cheer marching bands and celebrate their city.

“This is the Conejo Valley,” said Lorrie Mulick of Thousand Oaks. “This represents the spirit. Everyone in the Conejo Valley is in the parade.”

Despite overcast skies and cool temperatures, it did seem as if everyone in town was either marching along the one-mile parade route or watching the show.

Clad in a cowboy hat and black boots, Jim Burford sat in a plastic folding chair next to his daughter, Elizabeth, 7.

“We come every year,” said Burford, who has lived in the area for 22 years. “My kids always like it. I enjoy watching them enjoy it.”

Elizabeth couldn’t decide what she liked most about the parade.

“Everything,” she said.

With more than 100 entries, there was a lot to like. Marching bands played, horseback-riding groups trotted, Shriners zoomed, dance troupes jammed, Scouts strolled and politicians waved.

When the parade got slow, 13-year-old Audra MacFarlane squirted Silly String at her cousin, 10-year-old Monica MacFarlane, and six other friends and family members in their group. Monica and Audra like the horses and bands, but Audra said the best part is still “having Silly Stringing fights.”

Audra can’t remember a year that she hasn’t come to the parade.

“I see my friends in the parade, so I like to say hi to them,” said Audra, on a short break from the Silly String battle.

Georg’Ann Cutter, 77, has lived in Thousand Oaks for nearly 30 years and wouldn’t miss the annual event. She chatted with her two granddaughters as the procession streamed past.

“Everybody gets together,” Cutter said. “It’s fun to see people you know on the floats.”

Linn Nellans has lived in Thousand Oaks for a only few years but felt a similar sense of community spirit.

“Watching the kids and the bands . . . all of it’s really great,” said Nellans, 50. “I feel like I’m back home [in Indiana].”

The parade is also nostalgic for Max Herstein, 71, owner of an engraving shop on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, who took a break from work to watch.

“Today, I don’t expect to do much business,” said the Simi Valley resident. “I’m just going to watch the parade. . . . The bands bring me back to when my kids were in bands.”

A few steps away, Richard Comfort of Thousand Oaks kept his camcorder rolling as he and his son, Ben, 7, waited for the Thousand Oaks High School Marching Band.

Comfort was hoping to videotape his daughter, Stephanie, 15, who plays clarinet.

As the band marched by, Ben clapped for his sister and Richard Comfort pressed his eye into the camera lens for a shot of Stephanie. At this year’s Rose Parade, Comfort wasn’t able to tape her.

But Saturday was different.

“It’s easier to get a seat here than the Rose Parade,” Comfort said.

By the time the two-hour parade was wrapping up, the sun had burned off the morning clouds.

The better weather came just in time for the rest of the day’s festivities, which included a carnival, two free rodeos and two evening concerts.

Conejo Valley Days continues today.

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Conejo Valley Days

TODAY

9 a.m.: “Rabbit Run,” a 5K and 1-mile run-walk, Conejo Creek Park

Noon to 8 p.m.: Carnival, Janss Road and California 23

1 p.m.: Rodeo at carnival site

4 p.m.: Rodeo at carnival site

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Fun Fly and Air Show Club Field, behind old Northrop Corp. site.

MAY 3

All day: Conejo Valley Days Golf

Tournament, Sunset Hills Golf Course, 4155 Erbes Road

Carnival admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students, $3 for children 6-12, free for children under 6. Call 371-8730 for more information.