Simi Days Puts Friends and Family on Parade

It looked more like Halloween than the end of summer on Los Angeles Avenue Saturday morning.

Kids ran into the street pleading for candy and waving at clowns, float riders and costumed performers.

Part of the annual Simi Valley Days festivities, the parade featured almost 150 entries, including school marching bands, floats, Girl Scout troops, politicians in cars and the first Miss Simi--from 1933.

Although mist hung in the air like a thick gauze during the three-hour event, close to 10,000 people reveled in the candy and the sight of a sister, son or grand-niece marching down the street.

“Our son is a Cub Scout,” said Janie Edwards, waving enthusiastically at the fire engines. “We moved here a year ago and we try to get involved in local festivities.”

She and her husband were standing near the end of the parade, adjacent to a side street. When her son, Alex, came down the line they were going to whisk him out of the parade and off to his other obligations.

“We have to take him to soccer for team pictures at 11 a.m.,” she explained.

Families sitting in chairs or relaxing on flowered blankets lined the nearly three-mile stretch along Los Angeles Avenue between Sinaloa and Erringer roads. Cameras snapped, parents waved and kids sorted through toy fire engine hats full of candy.

“They’ll give you even more candy if you clap for them,” said Barbara Nord, with a laugh. Nord said she goes with her mother and son to the parade every year because she likes the community feeling.

“I like to see the kids, especially the little ones; they put so much effort into walking so far,” Nord said, watching a marching band go by. “This shows the togetherness of the community. I hope Simi never grows too big to do this.”

With the parade theme of “Pride in the Past,” some participants dressed as pioneer women, ‘50s swing dancers and haunted house ghouls.

Vicky Dillin was at the parade to watch her daughter perform in the Royal High Dance Guard. “It’s great because it gets the youth involved in Simi Valley and lets people see what the youth are doing as well.”

Sisters Amanda and Sandy Holloway said they both brought their 4-year-olds because they had loved the parade as children and wanted to share the event with their kids.

“Our parents used to bring us and it’s a great memory,” Amanda Holloway said. “I remember all the thrown candy and the hot dog-shaped gum and a yellow beetle.” She said her daughter, Victoria, was excited by the noise of the marching bands.

The bands and school groups appeared to be the most popular, with crowds cheering them on throughout the route.

“I like the bands because you get to see local people,” said Lillian Torres, a longtime resident of Simi Valley. Her husband, Ray, used to participate but this year he got a chance to sit with his wife and enjoy it.

“It’s more relaxing to watch,” he said.

In addition to the school groups, some commercial entries also tossed out plenty of goodies to the crowd. Costco had a truck full of colas that were passed out. Jim’s Tireman threw bunches of mini-flying discs to parade-goers. And Trader Joe’s pushed six shopping carts full of goodies that were thrown to children.

About 4,000 people took part in the event, including eight school bands, car clubs and motorcycle groups, said parade chairman Robert Noorigian.

Schedule of Events

Simi Valley Days ends today with rodeo events from 2 to 4 p.m. and a 5K and 10K family run-walk this morning.

The carnival runs from noon to 11 p.m.

The run-walk route begins on Los Angeles Avenue between 1st Street and Madera Road, with start times between 7:30 and 8:20 a.m. depending on the event.

All participants are expected to register at 6:30 a.m.