Blooming in Winchester

On Saturday with dark clouds looming but the sun valiantly maintaining its superiority in the sky, I headed to Winchester to see the Apple Blossom Parade. I've been wanting to see this for a few years since it's one of the oldest celebrations in Virginia, this being its 92nd year. The only years it didn't run were WWII years of 1942-1945. It's an annual celebration of the apple blossoms and the coming fall crops and lasts 6 days. The whole town is decorated in pink and green, houses flying pink, white and green flags, balloons and every other form of decoration paraphernalia. Residents and visitors wear pink and green, me included. I'd never been before as I found it a little overwhelming, not knowing where to park or where the best places to watch the parade were. With so many visitors attending it would be easy for a novice like me to make a wrong decision. So today I met a friend whose uncle lives in Winchester. We parked outside his house and then walked the short journey to Handley Blvd where we bought front row tickets right opposite the covered seating, where the judges, queens and princesses sit. It was that simple!

I loved the little store with pink and green everywhere, and this dog was certainly his blooming best. We walked some of the streets along the route where houses were decorated with lanterns and banners, chairs lined up on lawns and drinks flowing freely as people readied themselves for the parade. Music played from yards and cyclists rode up and down the roads, definitely an idea if I come again. We made our way to our seats and patiently waited for the start, watching as the chairs filled up quickly around us. It seemed no time had passed at all before the beginning of the parade was announced.

The Bloom Time float rolled by, with its pink apple blossom trees and clock, a theme followed by many of the following floats. The parade's Executive Director, John Rosenberger, looked resplendent and happy in his bloom attire.

And of course, throughout the parade there were princesses and queens, floats filled with pretty girls and even some senior ladies who were still fortunate enough to be turning heads in their later years. Each float or vehicle that carried anyone of importance was escorted by a military guard, I loved that attentive detail. The Queen of the 92nd Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival this year is Virginia Isabella Barker, the great-granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, and Victoria Chuh is Miss Apple Blossom Festival, the official hostess.

There were many floats decorated for the parade, most of them keeping to the blossom theme but others choosing something completely different. There are also many opportunities to win awards for the originality and appearance of the float, these awards were placed on their sides, the judging obviously done before the parade started. I was extremely pleased to see that Shenandoah Caverns won overall first place. This is one of my favorite places to visit, a jaw dropping experience to witness the size of the old floats once used for The Rose Parade, Thanksgiving or inaugurations on display. I thought the Rubbermaid float had used a flag from the Cavern's exhibit, but realized they were different when I checked my old blog entries, both are here. Shenandoah Caverns definitely possess the skills to create beautiful floats and theirs was easily the most original today while holding true to the parade's theme.

There were a few celebrities in the parade today, but only 2 who I knew of, Elle Macpherson, one of the original supermodels, and Jeff Burton, who I know as a racing commentator, but was also a stock car racer.

The cavalcade of floats was broken up with various other modes of transport or displays. This herd of horses performed twirls or walked backward while their riders threw circles with lariats, long ropes vibrating before people's faces and then hauled in quickly. The black horse danced to the beat of the music. Each troupe of horses was followed by a guy in a 4 wheeler who twice had to hop out in front of us to swiftly scoop up droppings, a task so well executed with speed and smiles that he received thunderous applause from the crowds, actually more than the horse and rider team proceeding him!

The prettiest fire engine in the show, a stagecoach, a Beverly Hillbillies knock off, all drove past and then I actually recognized someone. The director of the Berryville Gas and Steam Pageant, Kenny Pruitt, cruised by on a vintage Farmall tractor. There was also a group dressed in period costume march with a banner. Winchester was founded March 9, 1744 and apparently at that time was the most western town to be settled.

The Wiener Van was here today, there's only 6 of them in the country. The drivers are known as Hotdoggers and hand out Wienermobile toy whistles, but we never saw them. I would have loved one of those... Some skateboarders from DC put on a show, flipping their boards as they jumped. speeding past on 3 wheels and then performing jumps over their team members who held their hands in prayer, and no doubt their breath!

 

 

 

And of course, lots of bands. I was really happy to see 2 school bands from Front Royal. They all played magnificently, but likely saved their best for when they reached us, since the judges were right opposite. Quick marching steps and gleaming instruments, with polished buttons and shoes, these bands were resplendent, and the last band below played Sweet Caroline which had everyone singing along.

  

At times there were pauses, as bands sometimes performed slower, or mainly because various groups of Bolivian dancers stopped in the street to perform a routine. Whenever we had these quiet times a chap up on the wall behind us, dressed in green regalia with a gold crown would yell out, "APPLE!" to the crowd, who would promptly respond with an equally loud, "BLOSSOM!" This would go back and forth until a float or somebody else in the parade turned the corner for the final stretch on which we were sitting. The WINC FM radio car had passed with Katie G and Robert Allen driving but I was disappointed at not seeing Barry Lee, until I realized that he was sitting opposite us with another gentleman. They were both commentating for the TV coverage that would run the next day.

These Bolivian dancers were my favorites in the parade, their outfits a sensory overload of color, reminding me of The Mummers Parades. They needed so much energy to dance the 1.55 mile route, and as they neared the end, some were visibly exhausted. But as they approached us, and the judges, they somehow found some last dregs of power and began dancing, boots stamping, with twirling skirts and jackets that glittered in the sun that was still resiliently shining a little.

And just about 3 minutes from the end, after a 3 hour parade, a few raindrops plopped down. The sun had given up the battle and now dark thundery clouds presided over us. We started walking back to Scott's uncle's house and just as we approached the heavens opened. I was so glad the parade hadn't been washed out as people had feared. It had been a success, and as Barry Lee noted, the organizers would be meeting up on Monday start planning for next year's event.

I took the photo below the following day when the parade was on TV. You can see me sitting on the front row, perfect placement for my first Apple Blossom Parade.