Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival

Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, Wikimedia

The annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival takes place over 11 days at the end of April and beginning of May.

The six day festival is held every spring in Winchester, Virginia. The very first festival was held in 1924, and has been held every year since, excepting 1942-1945, making it one of the oldest festivals in Virginia.

The festival attracts more than 250,000 people each year.

The festival is a compilation of more than 30 events, including the Apple Blossom Carnival, the Old Town Wine and Arts Festival, a circus, and various parades.

Location and Admission

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is held in the city of Winchester, Virginia. Winchester is located in the northwestern portion of the state, in Frederick County.

The city has a rich history, as it played an integral role in the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War. During the Civil War, Winchester changed hands between the Union and the Confederacy as many as 72 times, and as many as 13 times in one day.

Winchester is an hour and a half drive from Washington, D.C., and two and a half hours from Richmond.

Hosting the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival requires ample preparation. Citizens of the city hold an annual clean up, and then decorate the city in the colors of the festival, which are green, pink, and white.

The festival has been attended in the past by several celebrities, including Lucille Ball, Adam West, Martha Stewart, and DanAykroyd.

Tickets can be purchased on the festival’s official website, or at the Official Souvenir and Ticket Outlet, located at 107 Millwood Avenue in Winchester. Ticket prices vary, according to the separate events one wishes to attend.

Events

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival has enough events and entertainment to keep everyone busy.

One of the festival’s oldest traditions is to crown Queen Shenandoah, which it does every year.

The queen is chosen from children of Festival volunteers. The Queen will ride in the festival’s parade, along with more than 170 other units and floats.

The Firefighter’s Parade also takes place during the festival. Over 175 firetruck and squad units are expected to take part in the parade this year.

The six day festival will also feature fireworks, a 10K race, wine tasting, midway rides, the Pro-am Golf Tournament, an apple pie baking contest, and a square dance.

The Weekend in the Park is a part of the festival that takes place at Jim Barnett Park. This event features more than 250 arts and crafts displays, as well as live music.

The festival is big enough to involve most local organizations and companies.

Events proceed in rain or shine, so it is important to dress appropriately for the weather.

No one knows exactly when the apple blossoms are going to bloom, but as they last around ten days, there is rarely a festival without any blooms.