A FAIR SPECTACLE : NEARLY 12,000 FLOCK TO VIEW REVELRY, FLOATS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

In an annual kickoff to the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival, the Antelope Valley Fair Parade attracted more participants and more spectators this year, fair officials said.

``Our spectator and participant numbers were up,'' said Parade Chairman Gary Simpson, who is vice president of Special Events for the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.

He said approximately 11,000 to 12,000 people attended the parade, up from 10,000 last year.

``We had some entries this year that attracted other interests,'' said Simpson citing such entries as KaBoom from the Lancaster JetHawks and the Antelope Valley Big League All-Stars World Champions.

Nancy Freer, 35, of Lancaster, attended the fair and noticed the increase. ``It's really good this year,'' she said. ``We come every year, but this year, it seems like it's getting bigger with a lot more participants.''

As Freer and her son sat in chairs along the parade route, Freer's daughter, Melissa Briceno, 7, a second-grader at Nancy Corey Elementary School, took a front row seat sitting on the curb waving at the passing people enjoying some cotton candy.

``I like the horses,'' she said. ``They're fun to watch.''

Palmdale resident Anita Salas, 22, came with her boyfriend, daughter, niece and nephew.

``If we didn't have a parade, I don't think we've have a good fair,'' said Salas. ``It gets us excited about the fair and put us in the right mood.''

Beginning at 10th Street West, the parade traveled east along Lancaster Boulevard to Division Street and ended at Antelope Valley High School.

It featured community groups, including dancers, bands, car clubs, equestrian groups, local businesses and law enforcement and political officials.

``It's pretty nice,'' said Richard Sharratt, 74, who came to Saturday's parade after a six-year absence. ``I glad I came,'' he added. ``But there needs to be more bands.''

St. Jude's Home Health Care was awarded the Judge's Trophy for creating a float depicting a barn scene with balloons floating above and a scoreboard reading Health Hawks 94.

Float riders danced and were followed by other parade dancers carrying balloons.

Other awards went to Cub Scout Pack No. 146 of Quartz Hill, the winner of the Sweepstakes Award; Hughes Family Market, which captured the Theme Award; Filipino-American Association of Antelope Valley, winner of the Queen's Trophy and Cub Scout Pack No. 68, which won the President's Trophy.

Antelope Valley Fair

The Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival opened Friday to start an 11-day run.

WHERE:155 E. Ave. I, Lancaster.

ADMISSION: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children ages 6 to 12. Children under 6 and uniformed military personnel enter free. Parking: $2.

PHONE: [phone].

TODAY

SHOWS AND EVENTS: Doobie Brothers, 8 p.m. Tardeada, 3 p.m. Seven Hurts, noon. Milkweed Soil, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Frank Lloyd Vinyl, 11 p.m.

HOURS: Noon to midnight.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--color) Early Day's Gas Engine and Tracto r Association members form a moving line of antique tractors.

(2--color) Melissa Briceno, 7, of Lancaster, munches cotton candy as she watched the annual fair parade from her curbside vantage point.

(3) A crowd estimated between 11,000 and 12,000 watches passing floats, marchers and clubs as they move down Lancaster Boulevard.

(4) Members of the world champion Antelope Valley Big League All-Stars acknowledge the hometown cheers as they ride along the Antelope Valley Fair Parade route on a flatbed truck.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News

Box: Antelope Valley Fair (see text)