OKTOBERFEST TO OFFER CONTESTS, FOOD, PARADE.Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. - A variety of Bavarian-style entertainment is planned today for the Thousand Oaks Oktoberfest, which has grown into one of the community's most popular events. ``The first year we had probably 1,000 people, and since then it's become a major event in the area with about 10,000,'' said Ragnar Storm- Larsen, who has been involved in the Oktoberfest for 18 years. ``It's still free.'' Mary-Catherine McBride is co-chairwoman and producer of the 18th annual event, which is sponsored by the Newbury Park Rotary Club and draws people from the Conejo, Simi and San Fernando valleys San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . ``There are a lot of fresh attractions to the festival this year; we wanted to get it back to traditional entertainment,'' said McBride, a film and television producer for shows such as ``Knots Landing Knots Landing is a primetime television soap opera that aired for 14 seasons, from December 27 1979 to May 13 1993 on CBS. Set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles in California, the show initially centered around the lives of four married couples residing in a .'' ``We have an alpine horn, Bavarian dancers, a beer stein A beer stein or Steinkrug is a traditionally German beer tankard or beaker, made of pewter, silver, wood, porcelain, earthenware, stoneware or glass. Modern Beer steins or stonejugs are usually found with a hinged lid and levered thumblift. holding contest, a beer drinking contest, a lederhosen contest and a dirndl dirn·dl n. 1. A full-skirted dress with a tight bodice and low neck, that is either sleeveless or has short full sleeves. 2. A full skirt with a gathered waistband. contest. At noon there is a grand parade, which anyone in costume can join.'' The festival will feature live German music throughout the day, 60 vendor booths and activities for all ages, including a children's fairway with games and face-painting. ``The thing to do is just watch the people in the crowd and see how much fun they are having,'' said Storm-Larsen, who will be joining the parade in a Viking costume with horns on his helmet. ``We have over 300 volunteers, including puppeteers, jugglers and lots of kids who help us set up the festival and direct parking. Noting that money raised helps fund a number of 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. , including Meals on Wheels n. 1. A program that delivers hot meals to persons, such as the elderly or disabled, who are confined to their homes and unable to cook for themselves; also, the meals thus delivered. Such programs are usually conducted by governmental or charitable organizations. , scholarships, the teen center and the senior center, Storm-Larsen said, ``It's a family event, and not one penny raised is spent on ourselves. It's all spent on the community.'' Eric Leach, (805) 583-7602 eric.leach(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO The free Thousand Oaks Oktoberfest will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Conejo Creek Park North, at the Route 23 Freeway and Janss Road. Information (805) 701-7248. CAPTION(S): box Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion