COUNTRY DAYS GOING TRUE BLUE.

Byline: - Grace Lee

``Patriotic Friendship'' is the theme of this year's Moorpark Country Days parade and street fair, which will be held Saturday.

The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m., passing along Poindexter Avenue to High Street. The street fair will follow immediately after on High Street through 4 p.m.

Country Days Chairwoman Debi Ryono calls the parade and fair a ``hometown type of event'' that leaves Moorpark children with happy memories.

``That's what I think is so cool,'' Ryono said. ``I still have memories of it as a kid, and it's terrific.''

Some 800 Moorpark residents regularly take part, and the festivities typically draw a crowd of about 5,000.

Among the newcomers to be displayed at the 23rd annual Country Days will be llama-like animals called alpacas, raised by nearby farmers for their silky wool.

The parade will include Civil War re-enactments as well as World War II equipment and artillery, Ryono said.

The California Truckers Association is in charge of a new display called No-Zone Truck. The show will let paradegoers climb into trucks and see for themselves where drivers' blind spots are.

More about the parade can be found online at www.countrydays.org. Those interested in volunteering can also call the Country Days information line at [phone].