The Cajun Creole Music Festival, now in its 20th year, had humble beginnings. In fact the Festival started out as a fundraiser in 1988 called the Clam Bake. After mild success, Members of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise analyzed their options and decided to “Let the good times roll” at the Bayou Simi Cajun/Creole Festival in April 1990. This was a one-day festival held at the Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley. The 2nd annual Cajun Creole event the following year was fun, but club members knew it had to be even more unique to be a successful fundraiser for their community.

It wasn’t until 1992 that the Cajun Creole Music Festival really came into its own. Several important changes were made that captured the hearts and minds of vendors and attendees alike. The Festival transformed into a two-day event over Memorial Day weekend, drawing thousands of attendees from all over California. Finally, the Cajun Creole Music Festival was on its way!

By 1999, the Festival had become the largest fundraiser in Simi Sunrise club history, and indeed in Simi Valley. Literally hundreds of donated man hours were invested to stage the event. Businesses in the community supported the event with the purchase of colorful advertising banners, which ringed the perimeter of the Festival site. Higher quality musical entertainment was booked. The Festival now drew upwards of 15,000 people. The Los Angeles Avenue/Tapo Canyon site had been maxed out as proceeds over $100,000 was donated to local charities.

In 2000, the Cajun Creole Music Festival moved to a new site at the Santa Susana Park at the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Stearns to accommodate the ever-growing number of attendees.

With the support of our corporate sponsors and businesses in the community, this year’s Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever. To accommodate the large number of attendees, the Festival will once again be held at the Santa Susana Park site on Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend.

Let the good times roll, indeed!