6,000 ATTEND COUNTRY DAYS PARADE MOORPARK'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY MARKED WITH FUN FOR ALL AGES.

Byline: Carolyn Sinclair Special to the Daily News

MOORPARK - Under the shade of the pepper trees along High Street, the crowd laughed Saturday while watching two boys play-fighting, one dressed as a cow and the other as a yellow chicken.

The costumed duo performed alongside the Ventura County 4-H Club parade float and the people of Moorpark were out to enjoy a sense of community in the cool autumn morning.

Approximately 6,000 gathered for the parade to celebrate Moorpark Country Days, the 20th anniversaryof the city.

With sunny skies and a light breeze, the parade began at Chaparral Middle School, ended at High and Magnolia streets.

The parade was followed by a street fair along High Street.

Moorpark Country Days Chairperson Leisa Ormsbee said this year's event was one of the best she could recall.

``It's one of the best in terms of participation, street vendors and attendance is up,'' said Ormsbee. ``We lucked out. Last year the last bands got rained out. This year the weather is perfect.''

This year's parade theme, ``Growing Up Together,'' was suggested by Rachelle Cohen, a second grader at Campus Canyon Elementary School. The logo artwork for the parade was drawn by 5-year-old Molly Ormsbee who attends Peach Hill Elementary School.

The theme reflects the sense of closeness in Moorpark which is a young but booming community.

The fair was crowded with families dashing between attractions such as the Ferris wheel and the popcorn vendor.

Featured artists this year included the Murmaids, the Lost Canyon Rangers, Mark Bailey and Ashley Jay, a local country music singer who recently performed for American troops in the Middle East.

Families with kids of all ages lined the streets to watch the floats and performers.

From the floats, people tossed butterscotch, Blow Pops, Tootsie Rolls and Frisbees to kids along the sidewalk.

Mothers managed babies and distracted toddlers, while big kids on bikes navigated along the crowded sidewalks riding one-handed to keep candy clutched to their chests.

Local resident Frank Spadafora and his 10-year-old daughter Daniella were out to cheer on his other daughter who passed by in the parade with her soccer team.

``I enjoy watching our kids in the parade,'' said Frank Spadafora. ``Also the Army Reservists were one of the most interesting things.''

Daniella however insisted she most enjoyed the high-stepping horses.

Three boys in soccer uniforms, their shaved heads spray-painted orange, sat on the curb talking excitedly, stuffing Skittles into their mouths while watching floats roll past.

One man sat watching the spectacle, with his young son on his lap and an American flag airbrushed on the back of his bald head.

A little girl wearing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich costume held her mothers hand while walking backward along the parade route.

Along with floats and candy, a variety of vendor booths kept the people's interest.

Booths along the parade route sold everything from handmade jewelry, dolls and candles to popcorn, balloons, scrap metal sculptures and henna tattoos.

One highlight that held the crowd's attention was Pam Rossi's Dance Ten group.

Eighty girls ranging from ages 4 to 17 danced in costumed and choreographed unison while marching to their own music.

Cheerleaders, Civil War re-enactors, marching bands, Army reservists and soccer players also got the community cheering.

Despite the crowd, it was hard not to notice Todd ``Mr. Twist'' McDade.

He was dressed as a clown and twisted balloons into animal shapes for kids. He said he enjoyed the parade for what it is and is not. ``This is a hometown event,'' said McDade. ``It's not a bunch of hoopla with cigarette and booze ads. This is kids and families, churches and schools.''

Bob Meseck said he attended to see his two daughtersin the parade with their dance team and that he's hasn't missed a Moorpark parade for the last eight years. ``It's good fall weather for (a parade),'' he said. ``Moorpark is a city but its small and it seems we have half the city here.''

Janet Nelson came out to share the experience with her six kids. ``It's fun,'' she said. ``It's nice that we have a community that does something like this. It shows we have strong sense of community spirit.''

Nelson's young daughter smiled and shyly agreed, ``It's cool.''

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(10 Ryan Lamoreaux of the Tierra Rejada 4-H Club entertains the crowd in his cow outfit during the Moorpark Country Days Parade.

(2) Guillermo Castro Jr., in his dad's arms, waves to Moorpark Country Days Parade participants Saturday morning.

(3) A mixed group of Civil War re-enactors from the Richmond Howitzers of the Moorpark Rotary Club walks past.

(4) A troop of Boy Scouts makes its way down Poinexter Avenue approaching Moorpark Road on Saturday. Flags are held high.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News