Star-Spangled Bashes

An explosive Tuesday evening is coming to the county, and it won’t involve unruly Laker fans. Rather, patriots will be celebrating the birthday of our nation with fireworks displays in Fillmore, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura and Ojai.

The Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, thereby officially severing ties with England. Although there was a massive Independence Day celebration in Philadelphia the next year, Massachusetts was the first state to make the Fourth of July an official holiday in 1781. Other states followed suit, and the annual party has continued ever since.

All events will be Tuesday unless otherwise noted.

To get the Fillmore locals in a festive mood, there will be a chili cook-off and classic car show with up to 300 machines on display during the day. The explosives will happen on the football field at Fillmore High School. The entrance is on 2nd Street with plenty of free parking at the school. Gates open at 6 p.m., with the Shootout Band playing country and classic rock favorites at about 7 p.m. When it gets good and dark around 9 p.m., the first of 282 shells will be launched into the air. A number of ground displays will add to the grand finale of the free show. Call 524-3701 to find out more.

Down the road in Santa Paula, the fun will last all day at the Santa Paula Airport, where the Air Fair will begin at 10 a.m. There will be fly-bys, as well as plenty of music and food, including a salsa-making contest. The free fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. at nearby Harding Park. Call 525-5561 to find out more.

Visitors Expected From the Past

Several presidential look-alikes will be at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley to give the nation’s birthday party an aura of authenticity. Stand-ins for Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln are among those who will offer living history presentations. Events are scheduled throughout the day and include a pie-eating contest and a concert by the LAPD Concert Band.

Warren Palmquist, who will portray Honest Abe, may be one of the first to duck when the Confederate Air Force does a flyover at 2 p.m. There will also be musicians, storytellers, games and food, and where else are you going to see an Uncle Sam stilt walker? The entertainment and museum admission are free all day. Call (800) 410-8354 to find out more.

Meanwhile, down in the flatlands, the Simi Valley Rotary Club will once again be in charge of this year’s Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza, which will be held at Simi Valley High School. This event will feature arts and crafts booths, numerous food booths and skydivers. Gates will open at 3 p.m. Admission is $7, $3 for children, in advance; and $8, $4 for children, at the gate. All proceeds will be distributed to nonprofit organizations. Call 583-6700 or 526-3900 to find out more.

In Moorpark, it’s all happening at Arroyo Vista Park, except it’s happening Monday, not Tuesday. Gates will open at 4 p.m., and music will include MC Doc Dewberry doing his thing and the Pop Arts Band doing its. The soundtrack will be temporarily interrupted by a pie-eating contest, a tug of war and a red wagon parade. Then, Lil’ Elmo & the Cosmos will play classic rock until the sky explodes at 9 p.m. The cost is $1 per person. Call 531-9100 to find out more.

The Conejo Valley Recreation & Park District will be even busier on the Fourth than usual. Its initial event is a free, all-ages nature walk beginning at the end of Avenida de los Arboles at 7 a.m. A pancake breakfast will begin an hour later at the Borchard Community Center in Newbury Park. At nearby Borchard Field, there will be Home Run Derbies where batters of all ages can work on their Mark McGwire impressions.

The free summer concert series continues in Conejo Community Park with a 5 p.m. performance by the Conejo Pops Orchestra under the direction of Elmer Ramsey, with the Sherwood Singers. The fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m., with prime viewing available from the parking lots at the Oaks and Janss malls. Call 495-6471 to find out more.

Down the road in Camarillo, all the fun will happen at Freedom Park near the airport. Parking is limited and the CHP will close Pleasant Valley Road sometime between 8 and 8:30 p.m., so punctuality is important. The gates will open at 3 p.m. and festivities will begin at a free event with jazz from Body & Soul. A youth group, Fresh Choices for America, will be next. The Camarillo Community Band will begin at 8 p.m. with fireworks about an hour later. The usual food booths and children’s activities, including five Jolly Jumpers, will be available. Call 484-8388, Ext. 395, to find out more.

Daylong activities in Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor will culminate in the Fireworks by the Sea extravaganza, which will be launched skyward from the Seabee base in Port Hueneme. Live music is the order of the day, with performances at Fisherman’s Wharf by Mardi Gras and Marv Blue & Lori Asher. Meanwhile, at the Marine Emporium Landing, the Calypso Band will provide steel drum and island music and Yahman will play reggae.

There will be extreme sports performances by Airwalk BMX (bicycle motocross) and in-line skating stunt teams. Kids can enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, a rock-climbing wall and a mermaid Jolly Jumper. In addition, a naturalist from Island Packers will explain an aquarium with live critters from the kelp forest. There will also be a fishing derby and kayak tours. The tall sailing ship “The Pilgrim of Newport” will be available for free tours. Call 985-4852 to find out more.

Blues, Western, Folk and Jazz

Ventura will be the scene of various holiday events, including the 25th annual Pushem-Pullem Parade, which will make its way down Main Street beginning at 10:30 a.m. from Cemetery Park. Residents are encouraged to join the Great Ventura All-Star Marching Band. According to the city’s press release, “Most ‘musicians’ play kazoos, old band instruments and pot lids. (No talent required.)” In less enlightened times, this could be construed as a public disturbance. But it’s all in fun as the parade culminates at the annual Fourth of July Street Fair downtown.

A fireworks display will be held at the Ventura College athletic field, providing an exclamation point to a four-hour musical variety show. The Riders of the Purple Sage will play western music, Bob Jones & Mr. Pete will play acoustic blues, the Mark Bailey Trio will play folk music and the Boys & Girls Club Swing Beat Band will play jazz. In addition to all that music, the Rubicon Theatre Company will do what they do and there will be plenty of food, games and exhibits. The big ending will be a narrated fireworks display with Jim Spencer providing the voice-over, all synchronized to music. Admission is $6 general, $4 for children and seniors, in advance; and $8 general, $6 for children and seniors, at the gate. Call 642-2358 to find out more.

Up in the Ojai Valley, the traditionally explosive wingding will begin a day early with a tri-tip dinner slated Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. in Libbey Park. After dinner, there will be a free concert featuring the Nordhoff Jazz Band. On the Fourth, activities begin at 6 a.m. with a four-hour Lions Club breakfast at Chaparral Auditorium on Ojai Avenue. Next, there will be a Youth Freedom Run beginning at Libbey Park with a mile or half-mile choice. A dollar donation is requested.

A parade through downtown will commence at 10 a.m., and at 11:30, the Picnic in the Park opens with food booths, contests, kid games and entertainment. The grand finale will take place at its usual site, the Nordhoff High School Stadium. Gates open at 5 p.m., with a concert beginning half an hour later. There will be food booths and rides for kids of all ages. The fireworks are slated to begin at 9:15. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children. Call 646-4295 or 649-2729 to find out more.

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Bill Locey can be reached by e-mail at blocey@pacbell.net.