Apple Blossom is an event that has been around for 80 years. It is usually put on the first weekend in May, around the same time the Apple trees blossom in the orchard fields. When the timing is right, it's just so beautiful to see. There is a huge weekend event consisting of amusement rides, Clyde Beaty-Cole Bros. Circus, a Fireman's Parade, a Grand Feature Parade, a Concert Band competition, a Jazz Band competition, a Drill Team competition and a Weekend in the Park with all kinds of arts and crafts. If you would like to find out more information on the festival, please visit their web site at: Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. Please go to the Events page for a complete listing of events.

There use to be a field band competition, but due to the lack of funds and larger commercialized band competitions, the interest isn't there anymore for field competition. This use to be one of the biggest events during the 4-day weekend. Bands would have to compete in all events for the Grand Champion: Jazz, Concert, Parade, and Field. It is a real shame that the Field competition has been eliminated. It was very entertaining, and gets people excited for the coming summer of Drum Corps.

The largest display of fire fighting equipment in the nation can be seen during the Firefighters' parade. Over 300 units of equipment, celebrities, bands, beauty queens and special units twist their way along downtown Winchester. The 2007 Firefighters' Parade is coordinated by members of the Winchester and Frederick County Firefighters for the 71st year.

Floats, bands, celebrities, classic cars, beauty queens, special units, and animals all make up the Grand Feature Parade winding through historic Winchester. The parade is coordinated by the members of the Winchester Host Lions Club for the 63rd year.

The Weekend in the Park has Over 250 juried crafts, people, and live entertainment that will be on hand displaying their talents. Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus cast of over 100 performers and animals to delight and entertain through seven stupendous star-studded performances. Fun for the entire family, the Apple Blossom Carnival Rides, produced by Powers Great American Midway and presented by Food Lion and Nabisco, offer a variety of activities.  This event features over 30 carnival rides along with food and games.

With the Old Town Midway, you can shoot some hoops, throw some darts, eat some food or just go for a stroll on the Loudoun Street Mall. The Midway offers these things and much more.  Featuring vendors from over twenty states, the Midway is full of carnival games, novelty items and food. Cotton candy, caramel apples and corn dogs are just a few of the favorites along with a variety of international foods.

Now onto the parades. Keep in mind that I can go on, about the Cars, Fire Trucks, and Floats in the parade. But I would bore you. So I just took out all of that stuff and put in the good info, the Bands! That is the main reason I go. Bands travel from great distances to compete. Some just stop on their way to another more commercialized competition.

The Festival is held in Winchester/Frederick County Virginia, in the beautiful and historic Northern Shenandoah Valley, just 75 miles west of Washington, D.C. A small city with a rural atmosphere, Winchester is within easy driving time from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA, Baltimore, MD and Richmond, VA. Crowds in excess of 300,000 attend the Festival each year.   To find out about the History of the Apple Blossom Festival, feel free to go here to learn about it's beginning.