The big excitement in the Agoura area 30 years ago this week was Pony Express Days, a community-wide festival that took place over two weekends. The Acorn devoted three pages to the event.

A parade kicked off the event the first weekend at Dorothy Drive and Lewis Road, featuring grand marshals Walt Penland and Art Wright. Festival-goers could enjoy a skateboard rodeo; a continuous talent show under the direction of Heather Woodruff, a former Miss America pageant contestant, musician and Agoura resident; a rummage sale; a raffle; or the predictions of an astrologist.

But perhaps the biggest highlight was the mud bath tug o’ war between the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce and the Agoura Valley Chamber. The losers would have to fight their way out of two feet of slimy clay and adobe mud. The losers could challenge the winners to a rematch the following day, but The Acorn wondered if being humiliated twice was a good idea.

Admission to the festival was $1, with the first 200 women through the gate to receive a plant.

Also in the news, over 100 horses in the Old Agoura area became sick from an airborne virus and respiratory infection. Horse owners were advised to obtain early treatment for horses exhibiting signs of illness. With proper treatment the virus could be gone within a week.

—Sophia Fischer