LOBSTER FEST TO PAVE WAY FOR SIMI SHINDIG.Byline: ERIC LEACH Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. -- Tickets are already on sale for the 12th annual Lobster Fest that marks the start of the Simi Valley Days festival season. The Lobster Fest, hosted by the Simi Valley Kiwanis Club, is scheduled later this month to help raise money for charity and generate support for Simi Valley Days festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. , which run Sept. 13-17, including the annual horse show, family picnic, battle of the bands, carnival carnival, communal celebration, especially the religious celebration in Catholic countries that takes place just before Lent. Since early times carnivals have been accompanied by parades, masquerades, pageants, and other forms of revelry that had their origins in and Sept. 16 parade. ``It's going to be a great, great event this year. It gets better and better, and every penny that comes in goes to some type of charity or to run the event the next year,'' said Wayne Schultz, a volunteer who has been working with the event since 1984, when the name was changed from Pioneer Days. There were about 700 people at last year's sold-out Lobster Fest, and organizers expect a record attendance at this year's event, which is set for 3-8 p.m. Aug. 26 at Rancho ran·cho n. pl. ran·chos Southwestern U.S. 1. A hut or group of huts for housing ranch workers. 2. A ranch. Tapo Community Park, 3700 Avenida Simi SIMI Sea Ice Mechanics Initiative SIMI Search for Intelligent Monkeys on the Internet SIMI Students Islamic Movement in India SIMI Society of Irish Motor Industry SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Markets Initiative . In addition to dinner, the event will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. booths, activities for children, raffle prizes and a silent auction. Maine lobsters, flown in the morning of the event, are served with salad, potatoes, corn on the cob, garlic bread and dessert for $35, or $30 in advance. Rib-eye steaks will also be offered as an alternative to lobster, and $5 hamburger or hot dog meals will be available for kids. Simi Valley Kiwanis officials said they plan to use funds raised from the Lobster Fest to help buy a specially equipped van for use by developmentally disabled citizens of Simi Valley. Last year's Simi Valley Days drew about 20,000 people over five days, and officials are hoping for 25,000 this year. Zane Widdes, Simi Valley Days president, said he has been working at the festival since about 10 years ago, when he started coming as a family outing with his young sons. ``It's a family event for many volunteers, and an umbrella for a lot of the charities and nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that benefit the valley,'' Widdes said. ``I'm really excited about it this year. We expect it to be the best ever.'' This year's theme is ``Let the Games Begin.'' The festival will raise funds to benefit more than 40 local charities. It also likely is the last year it will be held on the 16 acres of open land at First Street and Madera Road, which provides parking for thousands of cars, along with the festival tents and carnival rides. Although various developments have been proposed for the site over the years, officials said construction of new homes could begin there in less than a year. ``This site has been good to us, and we'll be sorry to lose it,'' said Marita Faulwell, executive director of Simi Valley Days. ``We've been there ... on and off for the last 15 years. You put a Ferris wheel Ferris wheel, amusement park ride. It consists of a power-operated wheel that is about 50 ft (15 m) in diameter. It has two rims that are parallel to and equidistant from the shaft about which the wheel rotates. up there and everyone can see it. It's easy to get to and easy to park.'' Schultz and Faulwell said this year's event will have new attractions for children and will focus on youth sports, a major attraction in the community. The parade is set for 9-11:30 a.m. Sept. 16, running west along Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Avenue from Erringer Road to Sinaloa Street, with floats, marching bands Noun 1. marching band - a band that marches (as in a parade) and plays music at the same time band - instrumentalists not including string players , horses and classic cars. Another one of the festival's most popular events is the Kow Chip Bingo game Sunday, in which small plots of land are squared off and ``sold'' to players before cows are turned loose. Crowds gather around watching the cows, and players can win hundreds of dollars if one leaves a cow chip Noun 1. cow chip - a piece of dried bovine dung buffalo chip, cow dung, chip droppings, dung, muck - fecal matter of animals on their square. The game is a major fundraiser for the Santa Susana Santa Susana can refer to several places:
The cows fit in with the farming tradition of Simi Valley Days, which originated under the name Pioneer Days in 1933 as a gathering for farmers in the area, including some of the valley's original pioneer families. ``It's still an event that brings the community together, but now we not only celebrate our community, we raise funds for the local charities,'' Faulwell said. ``We used to have a barn dance and rodeo, but times change. Now we celebrate local and regional musical talent of all kinds.'' The charities that receive funds from the event include youth groups, senior citizen organizations, schools, athletic groups, programs to help victims of cancer and heart disease, and food banks for the needy need·y adj. need·i·er, need·i·est 1. Being in need; impoverished. See Synonyms at poor. 2. Wanting or needing affection, attention, or reassurance, especially to an excessive degree. . ``This year we are featuring exhibitions for kids to let them know about the youth leagues and encouraging them to try things that interest them,'' said Simi Valley Days spokeswoman Terry Marvin. ``Sports is a big part of our community, youth sports particularly.'' eric.leach(at)dailynews.com (805) 583-7602 CAPTION(S): box Box: IF YOU GO |
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