CVD Parade features traditions, veterans, horses and a flyover
By Nancy Needham  nancy@theacorn.com

Children will bring their parents to the Conejo Valley Days Parade once again when about 90 groups participate this year in the traditional celebration of Thousand Oaks' roots.

The Sat., May 3 event that begins at 9 a.m. is special to parade coordinator Joana Smith, who recalls going to the parade as a child in the 1960s and watching Donna "Conejo" Fargo, one of the city's founders, lead the parade in her 1930s red vintage Model A pickup truck, "Queenie."

Just like in days past, the parade will have a celebrity grand marshal: Actor Chad Everett will fill the role this year. Dignitaries, veterans, clubs, school groups, bands, horses and clowns will also be there.

"I remember marching in the parade when I was in school. A couple of years ago my son marched, too, with his school," Smith said.

Family traditions will continue this year as children are expected to march down the street and flock to see the parade. Other festivities include the carnival this weekend that raises money for local charities.

Most of the 100 Kiwanis Club members in Thousand Oaks will volunteer their time, and often their family members' time, to pull off this year's parade, chair David Biedebach said.

By the time the parade is over, the Kiwanis will have donated about 400 hours of service, he said.

"We do it for the kids. The kids want it, like it and need it. Their eyes light up when the parade goes by," Biedebach said.

A P-51 Mustang flyover is sure to delight the children, Kiwanian Rick Beal said.

The plane will follow the parade route as low as legally possible- 1,000 feet- and give the children and the adults a thrill, he said.

"The P-51 Mustang was used during WW II to escort the bombers in Germany," Beal said.

Also in the parade will be the Wells Fargo Stagecoach, Biedebach said. The stagecoach is just like the ones that used to travel through the Conejo Valley and stop at the Stagecoach Inn.

"The parade keeps the old-time flavor, the rural community, alive," Biedebach said.

There will, of course, also be floats in the parade. New participants Sons of Norway, Rotary Club of Newbury Park and Conejo Veterinarian Hospital will all have floats.

Unlike the all-vegetation rules that require floats to be made out of flowers and seeds at the Rose Parade, the float makers for the Conejo Valley Days Parade have few guidelines they must follow, but they will be judged on criteria such as how they reflect the theme and spirit, use of color and spectator appeal. The theme this year is "Come Along With Me to CVD."

The parade route has been lengthened this year and will start on Thousand Oaks Boulevard closer to Westlake Boulevard and continue on to The Lakes shopping center, where there will be additional entertainment.

People are encouraged to bring their own seating. Bleachers will be set up near the Do-it Center and in front of The Lakes, with announcers at both locations. Time Warner Cable will record the event and play it on the community TV channel, Biedebach said.

Free parking will be offered at the Civic Arts Plaza parking structure again this year, and the longer route will allow people to also park at businesses near Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards.