Happy Days : 15th Annual Simi Valley Celebration Kicks Off Today

Making last-minute preparations Tuesday for the city’s biggest festival and fund-raiser, carnival workers unloaded bumper cars, assembled the Ferris wheel and erected a jumbo slide.

Celebrating its 15th year, Simi Valley Days gets into full swing today with the kickoff of the five-day carnival and two-day rodeo.

“Everybody suddenly realizes it’s here,” said Jo Ann Macek, executive director of Simi Valley Days. “We’ll get it all done.”

New rides and entertainment highlight the attractions at the fair, located at the end of 1st Street, just north of the Ronald Reagan Freeway.

The carnival gates open at 5 p.m.

Jim Lightfoot, who oversees the food and game booths, spent Tuesday afternoon making final decisions on where each vendor would be located.

Food offerings such as elephant ear pastries, Mediterranean cooking and tri-tip sandwiches will be served up all weekend.

“We have a veritable international cuisine selection,” said Lightfoot, a city planner. “We have stuff from all over.”

A wide range of music throughout the five-day extravaganza will match the diversity in eateries.

Fair-goers can spend their evenings enjoying jazz, rock, country and western, and Latin. There will even be a karaoke night.

Scores of cowboys are expected to come to town for the rodeo Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

For those who prefer tamer sports, nearly half a dozen new rides will be available for adults and children, including a kid roller coaster.

A special drive-thru lane has been created for parents who want to cruise in, leave their teens and pick them up later. Organizers say security is a priority and kids will be safe.

Along with the carnival, a golf tournament will be held today at the Simi Hills Golf Course.

The city’s annual parade will move down Los Angeles Avenue on Saturday morning. Also on Saturday will be Kowchip Bingo, which involves five cows and a large square of carnival ground that serves as a giant bingo card with 3,000 randomly numbered squares. Patrons make charitable donations of $5 per square to purchase “land deeds.” They then wait to see where the cows make their deposits. Four cow patties in a row could mean a $1,000 win.

On Sunday, a 5K and 10K run will start at 7:30 a.m. at Sinaloa Plaza.

Although most Simi Valley Days events will be held this weekend, the party started with the Claws for Kids Lobster Bake and Chili Cook Off at the end of August. A barn dance, kids festival and car show were held last weekend.

Simi Valley Days is the successor to Pioneer Days, which celebrated the city’s birthday, Oct. 10, 1969.

Over the years, the festival has grown, bringing in more than $500,000 each year for service groups around the city.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Lightfoot, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Santa Susana. “Service to the community.”

Simi Valley Days

* Carnival, Wednesday through Sunday

* Golf Tournament, Wednesday

* Karaoke Tournament, Thursday

* Rodeo, Saturday, 8-10 p.m.; Sunday, 2-4 p.m.

* Parade, Saturday

* Kowchip Bingo, Saturday

* 5K-10K Run, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. registration.

* Carnival times: Wednesday and Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, noon-10 p.m.

* www.simivalleydays.com

* Phone: 581-4280