SIMI VALLEY DAYS SET TO START COMMUNITY FESTIVAL INCLUDES PARADE, RIDES, BARN DANCE.Byline: ERIC LEACH Staff Writer Hundreds of people are expected to line 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 on Saturday for the 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. Days Parade, a kind of giant block party and pep rally where local citizens are both the stars and the spectators. ``I've lived in Simi my whole life,'' said Kelly Cherrier, the assistant cheerleading The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. coach at Simi Valley High School Simi Valley High School is a secondary school located in Simi Valley, California which was established in 1920 as the first high school in the valley. It nestles in the Santa Susana Mountains and is adjacent to the San Fernando Valley, part of the city and county of Ventura. , where cheerleaders Notable cheerleaders
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. run this year from Wednesday through Sunday, including the annual horse show, family picnic, battle of the bands and carnival. The parade will feature 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. Becky Herrera, owner of CheerForce, an all-star competitive cheer program in Simi Valley, is also gearing up for the parade with her students, who come from Ojai to Pasadena and range in age from 3 to 31. ``All of the age groups will be there,'' she said. ``Some yell cheers from flatbed trucks A flatbed truck is a type of truck which can be either articulated or rigid. It has an entirely flat, level body with absolutely no sides or roof. This allows for quick and easy loading of goods, and consequently they are used to transport heavy loads that are not delicate or , and the teenagers will be on the street tumbling, doing handsprings and backflips and throwing people up in the air.'' Herrera said members of her group have participated in the parade for years. ``We love to do it,'' she said. ``The kids love it. The crowds go crazy. It's pretty much the first chance of the (school) year to perform.'' She said she's anticipating having about 200 people participate from her group, adding, ``We're a big unit going down the road. You can't miss us.'' Funds raised at the various Simi Valley Days events will benefit more than 40 local charities and community organizations, including youth, senior citizen and athletic groups, schools, food banks and programs to help victims of cancer and heart disease. This year's theme is ``Let the Games Begin,'' with the event focusing on youth sports -- and the cheerleaders fitting right in. There are 63 members of the freshmen, junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. and varsity cheerleading squads at Simi Valley High School this year, Cherrier said. ``When I heard that the parade was coming up, I approached the coach and said, `We've got to do this,''' she said. ``It's a lot of fun.'' Simi Valley Days began as an outgrowth of Pioneer Days, which had been held in town since 1933, originally as a gathering for residents of what was then an agricultural community. The event still features a barn dance, rodeo and other old-time western attractions. Last year, about 20,000 people attended over the five-day period, and officials are hoping for 25,000 this year. It's expected to be the last year Simi Valley Days can be held on the 16 acres on the southeast corner of First Street and Madera Road, which provides parking for thousands of cars, along with the festival tents and carnival rides. Daniel Sternberg, director of instrumental music at Simi Valley High School, said the school's marching band will be led by an award-winning drum major, Erich Drossel, who also marched in a London New Year's Day parade The New Year's Day Parade is parade of 10,000 performers through the streets of the West End of London which takes place annually on 1 January. The first year the parade took place was 1987 as the Lord Mayor of Westminster's Big Parade. this year. Drossel, a senior, won an outstanding drum major award at the Granada Hills High School Granada Hills Charter High School (Granada Hills High School) is a public, charter, co-educational, secondary school consisting of students in grades 9-12. The school colors are green, black, and white. field tournament in fall 2005. ``The Simi Valley marching band has been involved in the Simi Valley Days Parade for years,'' Sternberg said. ``We do it as a tradition. It's a great way to showcase our band early in the school year.'' He said the parade gives the students a chance to be seen by people in the community who don't often get a chance to see their talent. ``Everyone loves it,'' Sternberg said. ``It's really a broader audience than we get from our school shows.'' eric.leach@dailynews.com (805) 583-7602 CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1) Coach Carlos Norona helps Katie Landtiser, 8, as she attempts a difficult position at Cheer Force. Cheerleaders from the gym will be out in force for the Simi Valley Days parade. (2) Young cheerleaders in training work through a routine at Cheer Force in Simi Valley. Their training should pay off in their appearance in the upcoming Simi Valley Days parade. John McCoy/Staff Photographer Box: IF YOU GO |
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