Conejo Valley Activities Corporation, a non-profit organization, is comprised of 28 clubs and organizations dedicated to continuing and remembering the traditions of Conejo Valley Days.

Now in its 52nd year, Conejo Valley Days (CVD) is an annual celebration of our valley's rich heritage and volunteer spirit. It is the largest, all-volunteer festival on the west coast, which is an astounding demonstration of the amazing volunteers that make up our community. CVD helps make our community a great place to live. Here is a list of our past general chairpersons, Grand Marshals, and Conejo Valley Days themes.

In the early years in the late 40's at the the old Jungleland compound, Conejo Valley Days was a "Community Circus" according to the Oak Post Newspaper. Special appearances by "moving picture actors" and the crowning of a Circus Queen made the event a draw and success.

During the second year the parade was added to the festivities starting at Conejo School Road and ending at Jungleland. It was joked that more people were in the parade than were watching. Believe it or not they even had Camel races! Small groups worked fundraising food booths to raise money for a "much-needed speaker system for the whole town to use."

As it grew, Conejo Valley Days added more attractions with the first Whiskeroo Contest (38 bearded and mustachioed gents) and 31 ladies put on their Western best for the first Ladies Western Dress Contest. A BBQ was added to feed the crowds and help raise dollars for local causes.

By the mid-50's rides were a part of Conejo Valley Days and the Beauty Contest was the talk of the event, with local lovelies raising monies at 10 cents a vote for charity to win the coveted title of "Conejo Valley Days Queen."

In 1956, the Conejo Valley Days Beauty Pageant was held at the old Acorn Movie Theatre. It culminated with a royal Coronation Ball held at Peterson's Barn. At this point Conejo Valley Days, as an annual fundraising event for the community, was well on its way. The new Conejo Activities Committee (CVAC), a group of friends and neighbors including legend Donna "Conejo" Fargo, laid the groundwork for the Conejo Valley Days Parade, with Mabel Stark, famed lion tamer, selected as "Honorary Grand Marshal." With proceeds from the annual celebration the CVAC decided the community needed a park. Local residents, Mr. & Mrs. Otto Erbes, donated the land for Estella Park, located in the heart of downtown Thousand Oaks and still enjoyed today by community residents.

TV Star, Ward Bond, and his wagon train led the Conejo Valley Days Parade in 1958 and community booths and rides were added to the annual festivities. The Honorary Mayor's Race was born in 1960 with local residents vying for the title by raising dollars for charity. The Junior Women's Club saw their candidate, Bob Talley, named the first "Honorary Mayor" of Conejo Valley Days. This time the dollars were earmarked for a community recreation center. Once again, the land was donated by the Janss family with materials and labor donated or provided at cost. Today's residents know it as the Conejo Community Center at Dover and Hendrix. This race changed names to the Grand Marshal Race for Charity when the City of Thousand Oaks incorporated.

The Conejo Valley Activities Committee turned over the reins of Conejo Valley Days to the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, who coordinated the event until 1994 when the Chamber invited local clubs and organizations to once again become the moving force behind Conejo Valley Days and its community fundraising efforts.

Although the festival has traditionally spanned five days, Conejo Valley Days encompasses a five-week celebration throughout the community. It begins with the start of the Conejo Valley Days Grand Marshal Race in late March followed by the Conejo Valley Days Kick-Off Picnic and Classic Car Show, which provides awareness to the community that Conejo Valley Days is here again. The Grand Marshal Race is a fundraiser where candidates hold events throughout this period to raise funds for the organizations they represent and Conejo Valley Days. It culminates with the Final Countdown celebration the week before the festival. Then the celebration moves to the Conejo Valley Days site for the Chili Cook-Off. This is a well-attended event that raises additional funds for non-profit organizations and Conejo Valley Days. Finally, during the Saturday of the festival we hold the Conejo Valley Days Parade down Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Special Kid's Day prior to the festival being open to the public.

Conejo Valley Days now entertains 55,000 visitors each year over the five-day festival. With live national and local entertainment, carnival rides, commercial vendors, arts & crafts, community organizations, games, food and a wonderful community spirit, it is truly a long-standing celebration perfect for the whole family.

The small group of friends and neighbors who started the idea of Conejo Valley Days has grown into a network of clubs, organizations, charities, sponsors and hundreds of volunteers who work every year, throughout the year, to guarantee the success of Conejo Valley Days, as a community event that provides a wonderful source of fundraising for so many needed services and projects in our community. Conejo Valley Days - a community tradition for generations to come. Why don't you make plans to be part of the celebration!