Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival
shenandoah apple blossom festival bloom day festival held annually spring winchester virginia first held one oldest civic celebration commonwealth virginia festival first held saturday may originally celebrated oneday event although held – due world war ii feature include grand feature parade firefighter parade first held thursday april carnival midway luncheon race walk dance concert well field show competition formerly gave queen cup trophy winner although trophy retired princess anne high school virginia beach virginia winning competition three straight year queen queen shenandoah crowned every year john handley high school exception due ongoing renovation starting original queen elizabeth steck arthur loss interest prompted appointment tom baldridge seat executive director festival also employed mgm publicity department allowed opportunity schedule celebrity turn renewing public interest festival period introduced various new aspect festival including first visit u president lyndon b johnson beginning attendance sport celebrity jack dempsey premier sunday park cole brother circus star still favorite child first appeared festival festival run private shenandoah apple blossom festival organization attracts people highlight include old town wine fine art festival apple blossom carnival festival known many guest celebrity event spring preparation festival citizen winchester hold annual cleanup followed decoration city green pink white festival color order make winchester presentable anticipated guest march announced planning festival suspended due covid pandemic effectively cancelling event year festival held theme “back bloom” offering event festival condensed compared earlier instance festival generally presented twice number event restriction due covid pandemic place festival requirement maximum people attend apple blossom carnival one time official festival website