SIMI STEPPING OUT TONIGHT FOR BARN DANCE.

Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer

At tonight's barn dance, festivalgoers can line dance with the mayor and then bid for a guest spot on ``Baywatch.''

``The silent and live auctions are new this year,'' said John Childress, co-chairman of the Simi Valley Days Barn Dance Committee. ``You'd think everybody would want to bid on `Baywatch,' but you'd be surprised how many people were really excited to hear that they could bid for dinner at the fire station and ride-along.''

The 16th annual Barn Dance, titled ``A Day in the Country,'' officially opens Simi Valley Days, the city's two-week community festival. The setting of the barn dance is the rustic Strathearn Historical Park and Museum.

``The atmosphere's very festive, with red, white and blue bunting decorating the barns and music and line dance lessons,'' said Pat Havens, director of the Strathearn House Museum. ``And this year, events will include a stunt show, a Civil War encampment and an artisan's corner where you can watch a glassblower or a leather crafter work.''

A recent Simi Valley tradition, the city's historical society first put on a barn dance in 1982 to celebrate the donation of the two large Wood Ranch barns to the park, Havens said. A few years later, the historical society joined forces with Simi Valley Days organizers and made the barn dance the festival opener. All proceeds from the evening benefit the historical society.

The evening opens with a western-theme feast of barbecue chicken and tri-tip served buffet-style with tables set up outdoors adjacent to the Strathearn house.

During a brief after-dinner rest period, folks can wander the grounds or watch live entertainment, including a movie stunt demonstration by Gypsy Bell and the Groat Brothers Wild West Show, a western-theme caricature artist and a glass artist. A Civil War encampment complete with wounded soldiers and war memorabilia will also be on display courtesy of the First Calvary K Troop.

The auctions begin at 5:30 and run until line dance lessons begin an hour later. Bidders can try for dinner with the mayor or lunch with the police chief, or for celebrity golf with Mickey Jones from the television show ``Home Improvement'' or a brief walk-on part on TV's ``Baywatch.''

The auction will be followed by a half-hour line dance lesson led by Sandi Patterson and followed by ample opportunity to practice new steps. Country and bluegrass musicians will play dance tunes until 10 p.m. Featured bands include Old Time Fiddle and Joe Hunsinger and Friends.

The Simi Valley Original Clogging Company will also perform.

The 16th Simi Valley Days barn dance and fund-raiser begins this afternoon at 4 at the Strathearn Historical Park and Museum, 137 Strathearn Place. Tickets for the fund-raising event are $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors. Barbecue chicken and tri-tip is being provided by Chuy's Mesquite Broiler. The evening of country music, dancing, dining and entertainment continues until 10 p.m. For more information, call the Strathearn Historical Park and Museum at 526-6453.