Photos by Chuck Kirman / Star staff Julio Ortega, left, and Francisco Mendez connect air hoses on the roller coaster ride for the Conejo Valley Days festival. The setup takes a week. A new layout at the festival this year includes more on-site parking that will accommodate 2,000 cars and eliminate the need for a shuttle from an off-site parking lot.

A new layout for the carnival is among changes visitors will find at Conejo Valley Days' 52nd annual festival, a community celebration Wednesday through Sunday in Thousand Oaks.

The new layout will allow more on-site parking for cars, about 2,000 in all, so shuttles to off-site parking won't be used this year, officials said.

"Because we can park all the cars we anticipate coming, we will not need a shuttle to bring people," said Kenneth J. Walker, CVD executive committee member.

The festival grounds are in Conejo Creek Park South, located on Janss Road at Highway 23. The main entry gate has been moved from the site's north side, where it has been in previous years, to the west side, said Walker.

The shape of the carnival layout shifted from a square to a rectangle to accommodate changes in fencing placed by the Conejo Recreation and Park District, which is preparing for site upgrades after Conejo Valley Days ends on Sunday.

Parking for people with disabilities remains at the north side, where there is an entry gate, but the walk from that gate to CVD festivities is about one-eighth of a mile over a grassy meadow. On Monday, 2008 CVD on-site chair Diana Javurek said no plans had been made to bring people with disabilities from the entry gate to locations inside the grounds, but consideration was being given to measures that might include golf carts.

Many nonprofit and community groups use the festival as a means to raise money by selling food and refreshments and operating games.

There will be entertainment over five days, with acts and performers such as Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees, Firefall and the Grass Roots stepping onto the Main Stage.

Among the Main Stage warm-up acts and headliners listed on the CVD Web site are the following: Wednesday, 6:45 p.m., Bluez Boyz, and from 8 to 9:30, Billy Vera & the Beaters; Thursday, 6:45 p.m., Buster, and at 8 Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees; Friday, 7 p.m., The Long Run before Firefall at 8:30; Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Radio Disney Afternoon Party, 6:30, Cash Cats, and at 8, The Grass Roots. On Sunday, the stage goes to Extreme Canines Stunt Dogs Show, at 2 and 3:30 p.m.

Another musical venue is the Community Stage, now just inside the festival's west entrance, with a daily Battle of the Bands.

The third stage has just been renamed the Ma Keeler Stage, to honor the late Mary Ann Keeler, past general chair of CVD, said Walker. "Her very own stage" is located next to the Food Court and carnival games, and it will feature local talent, he said.

Coming up in the KidZone will be performers starting on Wednesday with Jest in Time and children's magician Dan Ray.

Admission tickets can be bought online or at the festival site.

Carnival ride wristbands are $30 but discounted to $25 Wednesday and Thursday for on-site sales only.

Other attractions include the Conejo Contest, with ceramic rabbits painted by local residents; a Tiny Tots contest Thursday afternoon; a new photography exhibit featuring photos with a theme of local history; and the Commercial Tent.

"We've got something for everyone, something to keep anyone of any age interested," said Marty Campbell, CVD general chair.

"A whole team of volunteers has been working very hard to prepare for these days, and make sure you come with your family and have fun," Walker said.

Meanwhile, another team of volunteers, these from Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks, are readying to roll out the Saturday parade along Thousand Oaks Boulevard, starting at Pierce Arrow Avenue, west of Westlake Boulevard, and moving west to The Lakes shopping center. The parade starts at 9 a.m.

More information is available by calling 371-8730 or going online to http://www.conejovalleydays.org.