Fair Looks to Big Weekend

Conejo Valley Days has been a family tradition for as long as Teri Hamilton can remember. Now that she is a mother, Hamilton and her husband look forward to sharing the fun with their children.

“When we were growing up, it was all about socialization and hanging out with your friends,” the Thousand Oaks mother said. “It’s no different now. I bump into people I know [at the carnival] and I’ve seen friends I haven’t seen in years.”

As Hamilton reminisced about Conejo Valley Days long past, Brittany, 3, and Brandon, 5, were all smiles while enjoying a ride featuring ladybug-shaped cars.

“This is so much fun for them,” Hamilton said. “I worry about certain rides at the larger fairs and this one has quite a few rides that are good for their age.”

The Hamiltons are among the thousands of people expected at the five-day carnival that runs through Sunday at Conejo Creek Park South in Thousand Oaks. Last year, more than 50,000 attended the Western-themed event, which is mainly run by volunteers and benefits local charities.

“I expect the numbers will go up this year, especially if the weather heats up this weekend,” said Scott Wolfe, the carnival’s on-site chairman responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly.

Conejo Valley Days, with rides, sports memorabilia and funnel cakes, offers a little something for many tastes. Midway rides range from favorites, such as a Ferris wheel and carousel, to Gravitron, a sparkling gold spaceship that holds riders against the wall with centrifugal force as it spins around.

Gravitron left some riders barely able to walk straight and others covering their mouths as they rushed to the nearest bathroom. But hearty youngsters such as Heather Dormblum, 8, and Breanna Vergess, 10, of Thousand Oaks couldn’t wait to try the next thrill ride.

“It made me a little dizzy, but it was really fun,” Heather said. Her friend Breanna added that the ride was a little scary because she couldn’t lift her hands while stuck to the wall, but she was ready to go again. Heather’s mom, Patti, said this is the fifth consecutive year they have come to the event.

To enhance the carnival atmosphere, a juggler on a unicycle, a mariachi band and a ventriloquist travel around the park.

For those looking for something different, there is the Baxter Science Fair near the midway with 84 exhibits from local sixth- through ninth-graders. Winners in four categories--life science, chemical, technical and earth science--will be announced on the main stage at 5:45 p.m. today. The top three finishers in each category will receive $250, $50 and $25.

Throughout the carnival, the main stage will feature a variety of local musical and dance acts. “Some of the bands have been getting [record] label attention and we wanted to book them before they break out,” said Kevin J. Rock, the event’s entertainment chairman.

Performers this weekend will include the Razzmatappers, an over-40 tap-dancing troupe, at 2 p.m. Saturday and a performance that evening by Oscar Cartaya and the Enclave, a Latin-jazz-funk band.

Another highlight of the weekend will be the annual Conejo Valley Days parade, scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Saturday at Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Hampshire Road. The 1.5-mile-long parade route will carry 119 entries, including middle and high school bands, floats and the famed Budweiser Clydesdales.

A professional rodeo, with competitive shooting demonstrations by the Western-garbed California Desperados, is scheduled for 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday.

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Parade and a Rodeo Too

Admission prices for Conejo Valley Days carnival: $6 adults, $5 students and seniors, $3 children 6-12, free for children under 6.

All events except the parade are at Conejo Creek Park, Janss Road and California 23.

Today

5 p.m. to midnight: Carnival.

Saturday

9 a.m.: Parade down Thousand Oaks Boulevard, starting at Hampshire Road.

Noon to midnight: Carnival.

1:30 to 4 p.m.: Rodeo.

Sunday

Noon to 8 p.m.: Carnival.

1 to 4 p.m.: Rodeo.

All information is subject to change. More information available at 371-8730.