Here is a photo gallery of some Conejo Valley Days images of mine from the last 25 years. Its not a complete album, but its what I have cataloged into my Lightroom photo library so far. Enjoy.



The images from year 2000 parade were a real eye opener to the early days of digital. I shot them on a Kodak DCS-3 digital camera that by 2000 was already several years old. It was a one megapixel camera that was hand made and originally cost about $25,000. It was big, clunky, and the images were - let's just say a real challenge to color correct. The highlights were usually heavily magenta and skin tones very red. Time to write some really good per-channel curves. I had fun with the images.

Man, the quality of digital images had come a long way.

The last Sunday in April, is always the opening weekend for Conejo Valley Days. So yesterday, I went to Conejo Creek Park South in Thousand Oaks. And yes there was a hugh crowd gathering for the Chili Cook-Off. Yea.

But it wasn't Conejo Valley Days.

It looked like Conejo Valley Days. It smelled like Conejo Valley Days. The crowds looked like Conejo Valley Days. The tents,badges, rides, food, music, cops, cops and more cops, were all there, but it was something called 2009 Conejo Valley Family Fun Fest.

Huh, What????

What I missed was the announcement last September. For various reasons, the annual Thousand Oaks community celebration had to be cancelled for 2009. Link to story in Ventura County Star.

Actually the reasons for cancellation for one year are valid. The main ones seem to be volunteer burnout, on- going construction at Conejo Creek Park South, rising security costs, and the economy.

But many non-profit organizations depend upon Conejo Valley Days for fundraising. The Thousand Oaks Rotary Club, stepped forward to help fill the gap by enlarging the traditional Chili Cook-Off into a two day event named 2009 Conejo Valley Family Fun Fest. Based on my visit Sunday afternoon, this two day version of the traditional opening of Conejo Valley Days was a major success.

Great crowd, I suspect over 5,000 were in attendance. I arrived about 1 pm and it took over 30 minutes to get parked. Traffic was backed up off Janss Road onto the 23 Freeway.

In additional to this successful butt not-CVD event, a real mini Conejo Valley Days is happening in a week. On April 3rd, the Conejo Valley Activities Corporation, voted to put on the mini CVD days at Conejo Creek Park South on May 6th through 10th. Yea. Link to Acorn story.

While there is no parade this year, at least there will be the carnival - with reduced prices. Moms get in free in Sunday, May 10th. Check out the CVD web site.

On a personal note. Conejo Valley Days has been a major part of my life in Thousand Oaks since moving here in 1982. Yesterday former Thousand Oaks resident, Steve Halub. said it best "CVD is great for the community, it gives TO that small town feel."

CVD is important to the Conejo Valley. Maybe it is time to slim it down to manageable levels. But keep it going!

Enjoy the photos.