Local Events & Activities

Night Golf In Simi Valley Anyone? Lights Out” No Frills 9 Hole Scramble Golf Tournament

August 2, 2011 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

Save the date
Saturday, August 13, 2011

Yes, that’s right night time golf in Simi. What a great way to get out and have some fun on the golf course, at night. Using glow in the dark golf balls can 9 hole finish up before midnight? Super low entry fee of $80.00 to play. Come out and join the fun.

Loving Heart Hospice Foundation is pleased to host the 1st Annual “Lights Out” No Frills 9 Hole Scramble Golf Tournament. The proceeds support terminally ill low-income Ventura County hospice residents. Registration and sponsorships are accepted on a first-come, first served basis. Submit full payment along with your completed application or register online at lovinghhfoundation.com.

Filed Under: Events, Local Events & Activities Tagged With: golf, Simi Valley

#1 – Simi Valley Cajun Music Festival – 365 Things To Do

May 26, 2011 By Ted Mackel 9 Comments

(Video Below) What a better way to start off 365 Things to do in Simi Valley with the largest event our city has. The Simi Valley Cajun Music Festival takes place every Memorial Day weekend on Saturday and Sunday. The two-day event hosts numerous top Cajun musical acts from across the country including Grammy award nominees. Over 15,000 people attend the two-day event and is the largest Cajun Festival west of the Mississippi River. The festival is now in its 21st year has added a Blues stage which was given a sneak preview in last year’s festival and looks to be a very popular new attraction. Attendees predominately come from all over Southern California as well as Cajun music fans from all over the country.

This festival is operated by the Simi Sunrise Rotary Club and is the largest fund raiser in Ventura County. The proceeds from the Simi Valley Cajun Music Festival support many local charitable organizations. There are activities for the entire family including children, food and dancing. Make sure to visit www.SimiCajun.org for information on the event. You can also follow on twitter and the Simi Valley Cajun Music Festival’s Facebook page.

Here is a YouTube clip of all the sights and sounds and too bad I can’t provide the smell the great food, I hope you enjoy.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Local Events & Activities, Simi Valley News Tagged With: 365 things to do, cajun music festival, Simi Valley

#10 Chili Cook-Off & Car Show – 365 Things to do in Simi Valley

June 14, 2010 By Ted Mackel 2 Comments

(Video Below) – The Simi Valley Valley Knights of Columbus Annual Cook-Off & Car Show at its 23rd year. This event attracts chili fans from all over. In addition to sampling all the different entries of homemade chili, there’s a car show with over 100 cars, live music, vendor craft booths, bouncers/jumpers for kids. The event as a small entry fee of five dollars, the Knights of Columbus have used this event over the years to raise money for local charitable community needs. Be sure to bookmark the Knights of Columbus Chili Cook-Off website http://www.chilikc.com for information on next year’s event.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Events, Local Events & Activities Tagged With: car show, chili cook-off, Knights of Columbus, Simi Valley

#2 Hit Balls at the Simi Hills Driving Range 365 Things to do in Simi Valley

May 28, 2010 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

(Video Below) The Simi Hills Driving Range is open late. How Late? 9:00 pm or an hour after dark. The range opens at dawn. I have a bunch of athletic kids and they wanted to come out with me. The Simi Hills Driving Range and Golf Course supports junior golf and has buckets of balls at $2.50 for those under 18. The discount bucket is for 50 balls. The facilities also has a large well maintained putting green for some practice after hitting balls on the range. The website and information for the Simi Hills Golf Course and Driving range is at www.simihillsgolf.com

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Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Local Events & Activities Tagged With: 365 things to do, driving range, Golf Course, Simi Hills, Simi Valley

365 Things To Do In Simi Valley- New Section on my Blog

May 25, 2010 By Ted Mackel 4 Comments

Yes, that’s right, I’m opening a new section on my blog entitled 365 things to do in Simi Valley. I know this is an ambitious project and will probably create an extra workload, but as a resident of Simi Valley since 1986 and a local real estate agent, my friends, family and clients are always interested in things to do in the area.

I’m not even sure if there’s 365 show-stopping things to do in our town Simi Valley so I may venture outside the city boundaries for things that are close and fun. I know of many things that are not particularly related to individual small businesses, but I will focus on many of the small businesses in our Town Simi Valley as well. One more bar to set as a goal for this section is I hope to provide a video post for almost all the places I visit. I use the Internet myself as a tool to learn about things and places I go to, investigate businesses I plan to patronize and many times the information provided on the Internet is pretty vanilla.

If you own a business in Simi Valley and want to be part of place I visit please e-mail, call, contact me on twitter or Facebook will be happy to set up a time for visit. Please remember I’m not interested in creating a commercial, the people in Simi Valley, those people moving the Simi Valley were visiting Simi Valley want to get to know you, your organization or your business.

For my readers please feel free to use comment section on any of the posts and please remember to be cordial as this is supposed be fun and a place for all of us to share about the great places in and around Simi Valley.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Local Events & Activities, Simi Valley News Tagged With: 365 things to do, Simi Valley

Simi Valley Garden Tour April 18 2010

March 20, 2010 By Ted Mackel 1 Comment

12th Annual Simi Valley Garden Tour coming this April 18, 2010

Would you like to get some ideas for your garden? The Simi Valley Republican Women’s Group organizes this event to raise funds to help send our youth to Sacramento. For the past 12 years various homes throughout the city are chosen for the tour. This year features six different gardens.

Italian Villa
English Garden
Classical Tiered Garden
Certified Wildlife Habitat
Drought Tolerant
Hidden Tropical Paradise

This year’s event could be one of the best as this very heavy rainy season has all of the hills of Simi Valley in bloom. This deep watering is benefited both are natural environment and the six gardens.

Tickets for the event are $15 at the gate, $12 before April 13 and a 10 person presale package at $100. The proceeds are for charitable cause so there will be no refunds available. For location information and ticket orders please call (805) 582-4931. This is a self run tour, in any order and will be held rain or shine. Please remember to wear comfortable shoes, no high heels and no strollers.

Filed Under: Local Events & Activities Tagged With: Garden Tour, Simi Valley

Simi Valley is in Bloom – Time to get outside

March 15, 2010 By Ted Mackel 1 Comment

Simi Valley is in Bloom – Time to get outside

The heavy rains this season is making the Simi Valley hills pop! It’s time to get outside and see the hills in full bloom. There are many trails around Simi Valley to experience a colorful spring. You can go to the Rancho Simi Park District site for more information or drop me an email if you want to go out on a group outing. When you get to the park district website go to the “Park” tab at the top. A drop down menu will appear and select “Trails” then you can pick an individual trail.

If you decide to go out for a walk on the trails, let people know where and when you are going, take a buddy, bring water, a first aid kit, your cell phone and wear a good pair shoes and socks. Start out easy, you don’t have to go too far to see the sights.

Also Thousand Oaks has some great Trails. Check out my Video Blog on Thousand Oaks’ Wildwood Park from last summer:

Exploring Wildwood Park Thousand Oaks California (Video Blog)

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Author – Ted Mackel Simi Valley Real Estate Agent – Keller Williams Realty

Ted Mackel is a top producer at Keller Williams Realty Simi Valley,

specializing in Simi Valley Real Estate

(805) 432-7705

Filed Under: Local Events & Activities Tagged With: Park, Rancho Simi Park District, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Trails, Wildwood

Exploring Wildwood Park Thousand Oaks California (Video Blog)

July 5, 2009 By Ted Mackel 4 Comments

Exploring Wildwood Park Thousand Oaks California (Video Blog)

Looking for something to do near Simi Valley that is healthy and inexpensive? Then get out your hiking shoes a knapsack, a couple bottles of water and your digital camera and your ready for some fun. Wildwood Regional Park is located at the end of Avenida de Los Arboles off Lynn Road. The park and trails are maintained, well marked and in regular use by area residents.

The Trail Head at the parking lot has maps and you can drive you car in to the park via fire roads. There is a visitors center inside the park with a small amphitheater for groups. I drive enough every day so I hiked in from the parking lot. Dogs are permitted if on leashes. There are no trash can in the park so you need to take out what you bring in.

The spring is supposed to be a great time to see the park when the wild flowers are in bloom, I plan to get back next year to see the bloom first hand.

This is a large open space area and encounters with wildlife are possible. Rattle Snakes are my primary concern on the smaller trails; mountain lion and bobcat are native to the area as well. However the animals probably do not come around during the day much as the park has plenty of runners, hikers, mountain bikers and visitors that would scare them away.
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Filed Under: Local Events & Activities Tagged With: paradise falls, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Wildwood Park

Simi Valley Dog Park Now Open

March 20, 2009 By Ted Mackel 9 Comments

Simi Valley Dog Park Big Sky Lost Canyons

Simi Valley Dog Park Now Open

(Map Below) I made it up to the Simi Valley Dog Park last Monday Evening with my pooch “Bentley”. I was quite surprised. I love the location. This section of Simi Valley in the Santa Susana Mountains is breathtaking and has the best views of the surrounding hills, canyons and valley…better than Long Canyon and Wood Ranch. To get to the Simi Valley Dog Park go north on Erringer from the 118 freeway, then at Lost Canyons make a right turn and then at Parkside make a left. Drive past the ball fields and up to the top, past the water tank. The Simi Valley Dog Park is completely fenced in, divided in two sections, one section for large breeds and the other for small breeds. This is in the Big Sky housing development on the north central side of Simi Valley.

This is going to be a popular place for dog lovers to come and play with their dogs and let their dogs socialize with other dogs.

Simi Valley Dog Park Located in the Big Sky Lost Canyons developments

I even thought that if you were a dog lover, but did not have a home that could accommodate dog ownership, you could visit the park and enjoy the dogs. The Simi Valley Dog Park is a great place to visit if you are planning to purchase or rescue a dog soon, as you can meet dog owners and ask questions and observe how the different breeds interact.

This park is beautiful and something our city needed. The only flaw I could find in the Simi Valley Dog park was the watering station. It was not well planned and it has turned into a mud pit very close to the entrance. This can be fixed and should prove to be a temporary nuisance.

To get to the park take Erringer north to Lost Canyons Drive and turn right. Then go to 2151 Lost Canyons Dr. Simi Valley Ca 93065. When you see the Baseball field on the left you are almost there. Turn left into the entrance of the base ball fields and drive past the fields all the way up to the top of the hill. The Google Map below has an old satellite photo.
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Filed Under: Local Events & Activities, Simi Valley News Tagged With: Big Sky, Dog Park, housing, Lost Canyons, Simi Valley

Simi Valley Ghost Tour at Strathern Park Humorously Haunts Again

October 10, 2008 By Ted Mackel 3 Comments

Simi Valley Ghost Tour at Strathern Park Humorously Haunts Again

They are back. That is the Ghosts of Simi Valley’s past. Strathern Historical Park located in the west end of Simi Valley is home to many of the old buildings that made up early Simi Valley and is the repository of the city’s history. Set in and around many of the historical buildings, Simi Valley’s departed citizens come to life. I was invited to the dress rehearsal last night and had a great time coming back to a great show I had not attended for a few years.

The show has been at the park almost every year for the last 10 years. The Ghost Tour is run by the Ventura County Cultural Association and the Simi Valley Historical Society together as a fundraiser to benefit both organizations. The Ghost Tour is directed and produced by Jan Glasband who has been involved in producing community theater and programs for the youth and adult of Simi Valley for more than 15 years.

While this is not the typical haunted house, you can be assured you will be entertained, amused and even learn something about Simi Valley’s past. Several of the more eccentric departed citizen’s colorful stories include Grama Prisbey of Bottle Village, Finis E Yoakam and Krishna Venta. This show is a great family outing. The Ghost Tour is a walking tour through Strathern Historical Park at night so you might need a sweater. The Tour takes about an hour and there are 13 Ghostly stops.

You can meet the Ghosts of Simi Valley as they once lived…and died. The Ghosts will be walking on Friday nights from 7-10pm, Saturday nights from 6-10 pm and Sundays from 6-9 pm. Ghost Tours depart every 10 minutes and are approximately 1 hour.

Your support of this event helps generate funds to maintain Simi Valley’s Historical Park and will help Jan Glasband and the Ventura County Cultural Association to continue to provide community theater and arts programs for our youth and young at heart.

Dates: October 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

Location: Strathern Historical Park, 137 Strathern Place, Simi Valley, CA 93065

Tickets are $8.00, reservations recommended for groups of 20 or more. Call (805) 526-6453