Families across Ventura County celebrated the July Fourth holiday with pride, patriotism, even pancakes.

In Newbury Park, hundreds of people started their Independence Day with a pancake breakfast at the Borchard Community Center on North Reino Road, hosted by the Conejo Recreation and Park District.

"The Conejo Valley is a close-knit community, and families have been coming here for years," said Patti Hamm, a supervisor at the center, who was among about 25 staff members and volunteers serving sausage, pancakes and coffee.

Ryan King came to the breakfast with fiancée Janet Sorek, their 2-year-old daughter, his mom and mother-in-law.

"This used to be a big family tradition for us because it's my birthday today," said King, who returned to his hometown of Newbury Park after serving eight years in the U.S. Navy. "We used to come every year when I was a little kid, and it's been about 10 years so we thought we'd give it another try."

In Simi Valley, crowds flocked to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum for its annual Fourth of July celebration.

"We were driving up and we were reading all the presidents' names with the kids and it just reminds them how lucky we are to be living in this country," said Terri Platt as she helped her 4-year-old son, Shane, stick white stars on his red, white and blue paper windsock.

Visitors also enjoyed free birthday cake, old-fashioned picnic games such as sack races and the water balloon toss, face painting, and story-telling by Abraham Lincoln and George Washington look-alikes.

"It makes you proud to be American coming here," said Kristina Goldberg of Thousand Oaks.

For those seeking to cool off, the swimming pools at Thousand Oaks High School and Newbury Park High School opened up during the afternoon for a free Family Open Swim.

The day ended with the traditional fireworks display sponsored by the city of Thousand Oaks and the Park District.

In Simi Valley, hundreds of revelers came out to Rancho Santa Susana Park for the 38th annual Fourth of July Festival and Firework's Extravaganza sponsored by the Rotary Club of Simi Valley and co-sponsored by the city of Simi Valley and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.

After the gates opened, Puma Karate and the Polynesian Dance Group gave demonstrations, and The Platinum Groove played oldies and disco hits for the crowd.

Megan Meneray came to the event at 7 a.m. to set up the booth for her Simi Valley-based business, Clear Choice U.S.A. Windows. She had only a short break to relax later that afternoon, as her children, Bridget, 7, and Tom, 10, were set to go climb a large inflatable rock at the park.

Five-year old Robin Chavez, along with her sister Grace, 4, had an opportunity at the Simi Valley event to pet Taz, a German Shepherd trained with the Simi Valley Police K-9 Unit.

Canine Officer Rich Wigginton said Taz started with the K-9 Unit eight months ago. Wigginton showed the crowd how Taz responds to commands.

Elsewhere across the county, The Westlake Village Junior Women's Club held its 39th annual Westlake Village Community Fourth of July Parade, ending with free refreshments in Bennett Park.

There was a July Fourth fireworks and fun day at Camarillo High School and the Rotary Club of Ventura held its annual community picnic and fireworks display at Ventura College.

— Correspondent Michele Willer-Allred contributed to this report.