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Simi Valley Days plans to celebrate its own history
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In 1933, Simi Valley residents organized a community festival called Pioneer Days in honor of the area's founders.
Seventy-five years later, organizers of the festival, now called Simi Valley Days, will be recognizing the early days of the event in this year's celebration, which kicks off next month with a gala dinner.
Marita Faulwell, executive director for Simi Valley Days since 2001, said the theme "From Pioneer Days to Simi Valley Days — 75 Years of Pride" will be incorporated into many activities this year.
"I have been with Simi Valley Days for 15 years, and I am truly excited about all the fresh new events and talent and our returning venues we have planned for this year," Faulwell said.
A Denim Gala Dinner celebrating the anniversary will be held Aug. 9 at the Barn at Strathearn Historical Park & Museum. The Simi Valley Days Persons of the Year will be honored, and a commemorative 75th anniversary magazine will be unveiled.
The dinner is $75 per person, and reservations are due by Friday.
The Simi Valley Days Carnival will be held at its new location Sept. 10 to 14 at Rancho Simi Park at Erringer Road and Royal Avenue. The carnival was previously held at Los Angeles Avenue and Madera Road.
Organizers say the new location will allow for more and bigger carnival rides. It also will feature an expanded picnic, including new and old-fashioned games, and a larger merchant area with a stage featuring acoustic music.
KowChip Bingo also will return to the festival Sept. 14.
"We will be on grass for the first time in a long while, and that alone is a great plus," Faulwell said. "The layout we are able to have there is very exciting."
New to this year's carnival is an all-day "Kids-a-Palooza," featuring performances by area children of all ages.
A larger schedule of musical performers also is planned for this year's event. Billy Vera and the Beaters will perform, along with nine other bands playing different styles of music.
The traditional Simi Valley Days parade will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 13.
For information about the Denim Gala Dinner, call 529-9219, or e-mail colleen@eclipseprint.com.
For information about Simi Valley Days, visit http://www.simivalleydays.org.
Posted by SimiProud on July 21, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hopefully the committee will be sensitive to the current state of the economy and make sure that the prices are reasonable this year, otherwise the event will be a bust. Past years have been ridiculously over priced. Specifically the carnival rides. Families can't afford over priced splurges anymore.
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