CHERRIES DELAYED - IT'S THE PITS! : LEONA VALLEY WON'T LET RAIN STOP PARADE.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Daily News Staff Writer

Leona Valley will host its annual Cherry Festival on Saturday with a parade, craft show and bicycle ride - but the cherries won't be there.

The cherry crop is a good one, but cool spring weather means most cherries won't be ripe enough for the community's 28 ``u-pick'' orchards to open until around June 12 at the earliest, and more likely June 19.

``We have a good crop this year, but because of cold weather it has been delayed,'' said Ken Striplin, president of the Leona Valley Cherry Growers Association.

The parade will start at 11 a.m. at Leona Avenue and 90th Street East, run north on 90th to Elizabeth Lake Road, then head east on Elizabeth Lake to the Leona Valley Improvement Association Community Center.

Bands from Quartz Hill High School and Tropico Middle School in Rosamond, the Antelope Valley Street Rods car club, community queens, equestrians, tractors and floats will take part in the parade, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Leona Valley Improvement Association.

The craft fair will run until 4 or 5 p.m. at the center, 8367 Elizabeth Lake Road. Offered for sale will be jewelry, handmade children's clothing, dried floral arrangements, children's books, tole painting, herbs, photographs and other items.

``It's just a very family-oriented day. There's a real country spirit in our community and it's all centered around family,'' said Lee Ann Bonn, the craft fair organizer.

A cherry bake-off will be judged at 1:30 p.m. Bakers can enter any dish that contains cherries.

``They've even made a cherry burrito. It's just open to the imagination,'' said Bonn's husband, Jim, the parade organizer.

Ten-mile and 25-mile bicycle rides will precede the parade. Riders can register starting at 6 a.m. at the community center. Registration the day of the event is $13 for adults and $7 for children under age 15. Children under age 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

The 25-mile ride will start at 7:30 a.m., the 10-mile ride at 8.

The entry fee includes fruit, bagels, water, coffee and free flat fixes if needed.

The Leona Valley Cherry Growers Association hotline carries a message saying that a few orchards will be open June 12 and most by June 19.

Cherries need sunshine to turn the bright red that most customers want, and this week's cold temperatures and rain haven't helped.

``It's very slow and the cherries haven't matured yet,'' said grower Tom Wade, a past president of the growers association.

Wade advises people to check with the cherry hotline - [phone] - for up-to-date information on when the orchards will open.

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color--Ran in AV Edition only) Grower John Mayfield handles some of his orchard's cherries, which await the return of sunny skies to reach full maturity.

(2--Color--Ran in AV and SAC Editions only) John Mayfield checks on his cherry trees at his Big John Mayfield Honey and Sweet Cherries U-Pick Orchard in Leona Valley.

(3--Color--Ran in AV Edition only) Cloudy skies have delayed the opening of cherry-picking season at area orchards.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News