Wild Oaks offers boot

By TO Acorn Staff | on June 09, 2023

STEP IN TIME—Jodi Maas teaches line dancing during the Wild Oaks Country Music Festival on June 3. The event was held at Conejo Creek Park South on Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

Music radiated across the parking lot. A stream of men with cowboy hats and big belt buckles holding the hands of women in cowboy boots and cut-off jeans entered the park.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, a one-day respite from a cool spring, for the Rotary Club of Westlake Village's Wild Oaks Country Music Festival at Conejo Creek Park South.

"The Inaugural Wild Oaks Festival exceeded our expectations on all levels," said Mary-Catherine McBride, event co-chair.

In addition to music and dancing, attendees enjoyed a food truck court, beer and wine gardens, games and prizes, and a kids’ corral for the little ones.

"We were grateful to have over 3,500 attendees, a dozen food vendors sold out, vendor village was hopping," McBride said.

"Kids romped in bouncies and got their faces painted. It was a magical event that brought the whole community together for a sunny day of family fun, young adults hanging out with friends, all the while enjoying lots of activities."

RED HOt—Jasmin Spicer of Ventura receives a taste of hot sauce from Jeff Losey, CEO of Old Boney Mountain Foundation for Kids ,at the Wild Oaks festival Sat., June 3.

The Rams Cheerleaders performed a welcome show while Ventura County Sheriffs’ helicopters did a flyover to kick off the event while beer and barbecue smells wafted through the crowd and country music fans came ready to line dance.

"It's great!" said one woman walking through the crowd. "I’m buying a hat."

She had paused at a booth selling cowboy hats and vintage boots.

Over 50 vendors sold their wares across the venue, including Westlake Village Councilmember Ned Davis. Davis’ booth, Legendary Organics, was popular.

"There's a lot of curious customers and customers who already come into the store," he said, referring to the Thousand Oaks cannabis dispensary which he co-owns. "Some of them are regulars."

Featured performers included Craig Morgan, Cam, Chayce Beckham, Justin Honsinger and Chris Johnson and the Hollywood Hillbillies. VIP tickets, $225, sold out.

Presented by the Rotary Club of Westlake Village, 100% of the net proceeds have been earmarked for nonprofits that support U.S. military veterans and first responders, that combat human trafficking and support the community.

North Hollywood residents Felicity Morales and Eddie Baker dance at the festival. Photos by RICHARD GILLARD Acorn Newspapers

"The Rotary Club of Westlake Village is proud to provide over a dozen local nonprofits with a platform to showcase their social services," McBride said. "Local businesses had the opportunity to engage with their customer base."

Among the charities, the Old Boney Mountain Foundation for Kids burned and tickled tongues with samples of what they said were the top five hot sauces from around the world.

"This is the world's favorite hot sauce, mild, medium, hot, super hot and fruit-based," said Todd Penrose, brandishing a tiny spoon with a dollop of hot sauce poured from an indistinct plastic bottle.

"It's all for the kids, the Old Boney Mountain Foundation," he said, referring to the organization on whose board he sits. The foundation's mission is to offer underprivileged kids the opportunity to escape their daily environment and attend summer camp. The foundation also offers day-to-day life skills training and educational development opportunities.

Penrose pointed to a row of bottled hot sauce.

"These are for the favorite label contest," he said. "What's your favorite?"

On stage, Chayce Beckham crooned "new country" with a familiar twang while fans danced.

On a temporary dance floor across the park, people were line dancing with Jodi Maas instructing, boots stomping in unison.

"The dance floor was filled to capacity with line dancing enthusiasts, and the cold brewskies kept them two-stepping all afternoon," McBride said.

She was very happy with the turnout.

"Our goal was not only to raise funds to support those in need in our community, but just as important to our Rotary members was to bring friends, neighbors, family, businesses and visitors together in an arena of solidarity. The Rotary Club continues its commitment to help those in need, to educate, inform and assist in making the world a better place.

"We will continue the good times next year at the Wild Oats Festival," she said. "Stay tuned."