Cherry Parade & Festival

Our annual Cherry Parade started in 1972 and was uninterrupted until 2020.  It features lots of floats with community Queens, horses, antique cars and anything else our residents come up with to get them on the road.  The Parade starts at 10 am and ends about noon at the Leona Valley Community Building.

We feature many vendor booths with mostly hand crafted unique items for sale.   There are also several food vendors with a wide range of cuisines, including our famous deep fried cherry burritos with whip cream!  We will have a live band, the Boomers, who are always popular.

Every year we have a different theme suggested by one of our elementary school kids.  This year's theme is All Aboard the Cherry Express, submitted by Mason Massari, who will ride in the Cherry Parade as Junior Grand Marshal.  Shirts are for sale now at the Post Office in Rancher's Market for $25.

Young and old alike take part in our very popular annual Pie Eating contest.  Whoever eats their slice of pie fastest wins the prize!  Sometimes it is a ribbon or trophy and other times it is a whole cherry pie.

Almost every year we bring together lots of restored cars from different eras to have on display.  Many of our local residents enter their own cars and others come from nearby neighboring communities.  We will have cars in the Parade this year, but no separate Car Show.  Enjoy them as they are driving down the road.

Our 2022 Grand Marshal was Don Blumenshein.  Don grew up in Leona Valley, worked at the local market and served on our volunteer fire department while raising his twin daughters.  He consistently supports everyone in our community.  Our Grand Marshal is nominated by the residents to best represent the spirit of Leona Valley.