Conejo Valley Days Carnival Begins Its 5-Day Run

For Jerry Oberle and Scott Wolfe, today’s opening of the Conejo Valley Days carnival in Thousand Oaks means more than just rides, cotton candy and Clydesdales.

It is the culmination of eight months of careful planning for the five-day event that is the highlight of the community’s 45-year-old Western-themed celebration.

Oberle is the event’s general chairman and Wolfe oversees on-site activities. Together they are responsible for ensuring that the event, which is run by volunteers and benefits local charities, goes off without a hitch.

“It seems to be going a lot smoother than it has in the past and I’m not going to question it,” Oberle said Tuesday afternoon as he made last-minute preparations for tonight’s opening. The Optimist Club member, in his second year as chairman, has been involved with the event for 17 years. “Opening night is what we call our ‘shakedown night’ when we find out what the problems are and take care of them.”

Wolfe, a volunteer since 1996, said his job is to make sure everything at Conejo Creek Park runs smoothly through Sunday night. “If there’s a conflict I try to make it go away. But most of the people have been doing this a long time so they know what to do.”

Despite the flurry of last-minute activity, Andy Maroti of Shamrock Shows, which provides the event’s rides and carnival games, said things were under control. He said the last of the nearly two dozen rides were expected to be erected by late Tuesday.

Maroti, who calls himself “JJ Gator” after a miniature Gator roller coaster he operates, said he has traveled the country for 23 years operating carnival rides, the last nine with Shamrock. A crew of 98 Shamrock workers packed up Sunday night at the close of the Santa Barbara County Fair and was setting up in Thousand Oak the following afternoon.

“You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to do anything else,” said the Boston native. “This type of job chooses you as much as you choose it. If you don’t enjoy kids you wouldn’t last a month.”

A perk of working the same fairs each year is that you get to know some of the regular visitors.

“On Monday night, I was in the grocery store and this little kid came running up and hugged me because he remembered me from last year,” Maroti said. “The kids is what this is all about. I just try hard to put a good show on for them.”

Along with the carnival rides, food stations and games of chance, fair-goers can browse through a tent featuring 115 booths of specialty items for sale, such as arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry and leather products.

After more than a decade’s absence, the Budweiser Clydesdales are returning to Conejo Valley Days. In addition to being on display in a tent near the main stage where various musical and dance acts will perform, the draft horses will participate in the Conejo Valley Days parade that starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Hampshire Road.

Lon Parnell, assistant supervisor of the Clydesdale team, said eight of the 10 horses that travel with the tour will pull the original wooden Studebaker wagon in the parade with Gus, the signature Dalmatian, riding on top.

“The horses are very popular, part of Americana really. We just hope to generate some interest and have an impact on the event,” he said.

Attendance at this year’s event is expected to top last year’s mark of 50,000. “Characteristically every year has been better than the last,” Oberle said. “I think most people come out because it’s a worthwhile event and it’s fun.”

The Conejo Valley Days carnival runs tonight and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday noon to midnight; and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. General admission is $6 for adults; $5 for students and seniors; $3 children ages 6 to 12; those 5 and younger admitted free. For more information, call the Conejo Valley Days hotline at 371-8730 or check out the event’s Web site: www.conejovalleydays.com.

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Conejo Valley Days

Carnival admission prices: $6 adults, $5 students and seniors, $3 children 6-12; free for children under 6.

Family fun nights today and Thursday; unlimited ride bracelet $15 per person.

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

Today

5 to 10 p.m.: Carnival.

6 p.m.: Badgeroo Contest.

Thursday

5 to 10 p.m.: Carnival.

Friday

5 p.m. to midnight: Carnival.

Saturday

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