Conejo Valley Days Means Fun and Fund-Raising

Even with its high-tech firms, upscale homes and luxury cars, Thousand Oaks needs only look at the annual Conejo Valley Days to get a reminder of its past.

Times and trends have changed since the country-themed festival began 45 years ago as a leading fund-raiser for local causes. But it has remained a big draw in Ventura County while hanging on to its rural roots, including country music performances and a rodeo.

As the five-day carnival kicked off Wednesday at Conejo Creek Park, denim-clad organizers surrounded by bales of hay said it isn’t nostalgia for the Conejo Valley’s pre-suburban era that keeps them plugging away each year.

Instead, it’s the event’s ability to raise money for causes--about $250,000 annually.

Dave Melton, 64, a golf-shirted Rotarian who has volunteered with the carnival since 1982, recently moved to Palm Desert but drove back to Thousand Oaks to spend the week helping others run the show.

“It’s so important to the community,” he said. “You just can’t give up on it.”

Each spring, a picnic, beauty pageant, chili cook-off and mustache contest lead up to the carnival.

About 50,000 people attend the carnival each year, organizers said. They pay admission--$6 for adults--and spend money at 70 food and game booths and 40 rides while enjoying concerts and contests.

Festival proceeds benefit about 200 nonprofit organizations in the community. Groups raising money or receiving funds from the event include the YMCA, service clubs, church groups, high school booster clubs and teen centers.

In recent years, organizers have modernized the event to attract newer Thousand Oaks residents, said festival spokeswoman Mary Elva Lussier, wife of Conejo Valley Days chairman Frank Lussier.

“The rides are constantly updated and getting more high-tech,” she said. “And it used to be we’d just have hot dogs and hamburgers. Now we’ve got cinnamon buns, Thai food, clam chowder in sourdough bowls. So we change to keep up with the community.”

But it’s tradition that appeals to Les Mosley, 50, a stockbroker who has volunteered at the festival since 1979.

As Mosley clutched a cold beer and caught up with Melton before the gates opened Wednesday afternoon, he shared three generations of family lore from the festival. Not only has he run the rodeo for at least a dozen years, but his daughter Shelley was crowned a festival princess in 1989. A decade later, she was named Mrs. Westlake Village.

His grandson Zeck was crowned the Tiny Tot King of Conejo Valley Days 1999. This year, at age 4, Zeck was named the festival’s “Little Deputy.” Granddaughter Ashley, 2, is this year’s Tiny Tot Queen.

“We’re pretty involved,” Mosley said with a laugh. “We got the kids involved so young to teach them it’s good to be involved with the community.”

Conejo Valley Days continues through Sunday at Conejo Creek Park at the Janss Road exit of California 23. Admission prices are $6 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, $3 for children 6-12. Children under 6 get in free with an adult guardian.