From the Editor—Country Days Continues

I describe Moorpark as peaceful, quiet and friendly when telling people about the city. To these, I lovingly add ... well, a bit quirky—and this from someone who's lived in Berkeley!

But where else do you find a THIRD of July celebration? Two of our popular eateries are Cafe Firenze, owned by two guys from Italy, and Two Guys From Italy, owned by a woman from Germany. We have an incredibly successful Civil War re-enactment, but it's not like we're located anywhere near where even the smallest of battles were fought. And, finally, one of the city's most beloved events, Country Days, takes place for only one day.

And that day is today.

For those who haven't been before (is there anyone in Moorpark who hasn't been?), there are three parts to the event: a parade, a street fair and, a fairly recent addition, a night time beer tasting festival.

Country Days took place just a few days after Patch launched the Moorpark site about two years ago, so when I strolled down High Street covering it for the first time, I was lucky to happen upon some members of the historical society who filled me in on the parade.

"There are a lot-and we mean a LOT—of soccer teams in the parade," they told me.

They were right. There were also schools, karate studios and a Pam Rossi's Dance 10 dance team. And there were, as the Historical Society members told me there would be, pauses in the parade to let trains pass across Moorpark Avenue at the start of the parade. Like I said ... a little quirky. But fun!

This year, the parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. According to the organizers' map (see the map to the right), the parade begins on Poindexter Avenue at Sierra Avenue, continues to Moorpark Avenue and then turns right onto High Street and continues almost to Spring Road.

Street fair vendor and information booths will line the south side of High Street from Moorpark Avenue down past the train/metrolink parking lot. The street fair will begin at 11:30 a.m., following the parade.

Admission to Country Days street fair is free.

The beer tasting festival, put on by the Morning Rotary Club, started the year I did and has grown quickly into a countywide attraction. It will feature tastings from Moorpark's only brewery, Enegren Brewing Company, as well as about 25 additional breweries from far and wide. There will also be live music and a number of food vendors at the venue, which has grown to three times the size of last year's events. If you have tickets, remember the event starts at 6 p.m. If you don't have tickets yet, you might want to be there when the gates open because only a limited number are being sold at the door. The beer tasting festival committee chairperson, Lilly Canterbury, told me earlier this week that the presale tickets, which had been available online, are completely sold out. At the door, general admission tickets are $50 and tickets for non drinkers are $25.

To learn more about the festival, visit the Moorpark Beer Festival website.

For more about Country Days in general, visit the Country Days website.