Apple blossoms are gorgeous. And fragrant. Winchester – and the Shenandoah Valley in general – is full of apple trees, and those trees are celebrated annually in a variety of ways. Winchester is the Apple Capital of Virginia, after all. One of our favorite apple celebrations is the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, which is held each spring over the course of 10 days.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. The first festival was held in 1924, didn’t occur during World War II, and has been going strong since. April 26 is the kick-off to the 97th edition of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.
Winchester, Virginia transforms each spring to become a bustling festival destination decorated in pink and green, a reflection of the apple blossoms themselves. Indeed, Lily Pulitzer and a few sororities are at home in the crowd. Celebrities and DC elite flock to the city. Even presidents have made appearances, with two presidential daughters coronated as Queen Shenandoah: Luci Johnson (daughter of Lyndon B. Johnson; 1964) and Susan Ford (daughter of Gerald R. Ford; 1975).
Spoiler Alert: The great-granddaughter of President Gerald R. Ford is Queen Shenandoah XCVII, designate. Her name is Joy Berlanga, and she comes from a line of queens. In addition to her grandmother, Susan Ford Bales, wearing the crown, her mother, Tyne Vance Berlanga, has as well. Joy is the first third-generation Queen Shenandoah.
View this post on Instagram
The Schedule
Pack a suitcase and make the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival your spring vacation! The events include special dining opportunities (lots of food!), parades (multiples!), golfing and other sporting competitions, demonstrations, concerts, carnivals, beauty pageants, and much more. More events than you can shake a stick at, in fact. Here are some highlights, however.
- Cider Tastings & Orchard Tours
- Apple Blossom Golf Classic
- Old Town Winchester Artisan & Crafter Fair
- Bloomin’ Wine Fest
- Fiesta Latina
- 100th Birthday Celebration
- Veterans Dinner Show
- Apple Pie Baking Contest
- Old Town Midway
- Ladies Horticultural Luncheon
- Coronation of Queen Shenandoah
- Fireworks Display
- 10K Race and Kids’ Bloomin’ Mile Race
Music for Everyone
What better way to shut down a festival than to dance your way out of it? May 1-4 there are 8 dance parties scheduled for Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. Pack the appropriate outfits and let’s go!
- May 1: Rockin’ Remix featuring multiple decades of Rock & Roll, 7-11 p.m.
- May 2: Young at Heart luncheon and dance, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- May 2: Ultimate Dance Party for Adults with food and drinks, 8 to 11:59 p.m.
- May 3: Queen’s Ball and Dance Party for 21+, black tie optional, 8 to 11:45 p.m.
- May 3: 80s Dance Party featuring The Deloreans Band; for adults; food and drinks, 8 to 11:59 p.m.
- May 4: Square Dance, 8 to 11 p.m.
- May 4: Country Music Party featuring Chayce Beckham; all ages; food and drinks, 8 to 11:59 p.m.
- May 4: Bloom Boom featuring DJ UnieQ, TikTok experiences, a gaming lounge, and more; 8:30 – 11 p.m.
Need more music? Close out the festival with a Contemporary Christian Concert on May 5 at 2 p.m. The lineup includes TobyMac, Mac Powell, and Terrian.
Stay the Night
If you intend to take in the full scope of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, you’ll need a homebase. Our favorite place to stay is The George Washington, but you may need to look a little farther away to secure a room. Consult with our friends at Discover Winchester to find accommodations and perhaps even some deals.
Header Image: Annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival by Michael Brannon IG account: @mbran1. Courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation.