Washington State Apple Blossom Festival

The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is a festival held annually in Wenatchee, Washington, self-proclaimed the "Apple Capital of the World" due to the valley's many apple orchards. The Apple Blossom Festival is a two-week festival, running the last weekend in April to the first weekend in May.

The Festival includes a Grand Parade, a youth parade, an arts and crafts festival, A carnival, A food fair, and other amusements.

The Festival is estimated to bring over 100,000 visitors to Wenatchee, a town with a population of 29,022 in the 2004 census.

The Youth Parade

The last weekend in April, the youth parade is run by Diana Vargas. The parade usually includes about 100 different groups, such as middle school bands, elementary schools, and local area businesses catering to youth. Awards are given for the most creative floats, best bands and drill teams, best use of festival theme, and best overall.

The Grand Parade

The Grand Parade is held towards the end of the festivities, during the first weekend of May. During the Grand Parade, High school bands, floats from local clubs, groups and businesses, Cars driving dignitaries and the Royal Court, and many more are run down the main street of town. Spectators have been known to set up folding chairs along the sidewalks of the parade route up to two months in advance in anticipation of the festivities. Awards are given to The best floats, best bands and groups, best use of theme, and many more.

Royal Court

Each year, a Royal Court comprising a Queen and two or more Princesses is chosen from among high school senior women. By the rules of the Apple Blossom festival High School senior women (ages 17-18) volunteer to run in the competition which includes many steps and cuts starting in the previous December. All contestants attend either of the two High Schools located in the Wenatchee Valley (Wenatchee High School and Eastmont High School).

The first step is optional based on the number of interested candidates. If a single school has more than 16 interested women they must perform a preliminary vote to the students to cut the candidates down to 16 or less depending on a decision by the royalty coordinator for each school.

The second step is the High School presentation. The girls are given a topic to speak on before the population of their school. The student body then votes along with a small panel of out of town judges to create the top ten.

After this vote is tallied the top ten is announced in a formal ceremony held at the Wenatchee Performing Arts Center. The rules of the contest state that there must be 5 girls from each school in the top ten.

The top ten candidates then go into a period of approximately two months in which they attend classes on etiquette and public speaking as well as other duties that are important for the Apple Blossom court to attend to. During this period the 10 candidates are given their final speech topic.

The last step is the Royalty pageant, held at Wenatchee High School in early February (usually around valentines day). This pageant includes a question and answer session, their final speeches, and an evening gown presentation. It is judged by a panel of out-of-town judges who perform interviews prior to the pageant to help in their decision. The judges are not told which High School the girls come from (to avoid any conflict of interest). At the pageant the Queen is crowned as well as her princesses (which recently has been limited to 2 but in the 1980s included the entire top ten). There are also other awards given including the most scholastic, most photogenic, best speech, and miss congeniality.

The queen and princesses then reign for one calendar year representing the Wenatchee Valley and the apple industry in regional festivals through the year.

Junior Royalty are selected from among area 5th-graders, based on an essay they submit to the festival.

History

The Festival was started in 1919 by Mrs. E. Wagner, wife of the district's first apple shipper. The festival was first called "The Blossom Days", and Mrs. Wagner based it on festivals she had enjoyed in New Zealand during her childhood.

Previous Apple Blossom Royalty

1920Q Fern Prowell Sipes +P Elizabeth Humphries Hamilton +P Beth Boblet Rogers +

1921Q Florence Kratzer+P Ruth Williams Johnson+P Francis Faris+P Marcu Flanagan BurtonP Virginia Bird Ryan+P Virginia Leedy Lund+

1922Q Ruth Ella Adams Shively+P Doris Cedargreen+P Golda Hamilton+P Janice Gellatly+P Blanche Smith Sperline+P Julia Newell+P Helen Gauff Harris+P Ella Newberry+

1923Q Imogene Carpenter Sigrartsen+P Nancy Bittick Ogan+P Bernice Smith+P Bernice Gellatly Green+P Bertha Goff Barragan+P Dorothy Zimmer Richardson+P Marcella Steinacker+P Mrs. Jack Tyrell+P Mrs. N.F. Kerr+P Latha Parsons Mowbray+

1924Q Rowena Burns+P Doris Ovendon Pollock+P Betty GrahamP Zelma Loudenback Batdorf+P Marjorie Graham

1925Q Hilma Erickson Disney+P Bernice Burkhart DingleP Francis Faris+

1926Q Pauline Marler Finck+P Lillian Welch Marler+P Doris Cedargreen+

1927Q Beatrice Mcgough Bearg+P Marjorie Knapton WhitingP Ruby Dull Warren+

1928Q Leona Watson BommerP Nadine Stewart+P Oretha Parkhill McKoin+

1929Q Rosella Corle Etter+P Oretha Parkhill McKoin+P Shirley Foster Congdon

1930Q Shirley Foster CongdonP Margaret Bird GwinnP Helen Carol

1931Q Carol McGough Congdon+P Ovidia Lindston Blackburn+P Jean Vermilya Cedargreen+

1932Q Marjorie Munch Parkhill+P Nadine Long BartheauP Jean Vermilya Cedargreen+

1933Q Lucille Baker MeenachP Vivian Reimer Whiteman+P Dorothy Sampson Provo+P Esther Barnes Roth

1934Q Roberta Hensel Reimer+P Lois Pfau Adams+P Mary Jane Sistig +

1935Q Jean Marlow+P Isabella Haight MutchP Mary Rose Berry+

1936Q Jean Driver JansenP Gertrude Webb ScroggieP Betty Fray+

1937Q Janet Foster ConradP Mary Armstrong HowellP Betty Keller Miller+

1938Q Lois Joan Strong Deitrick+P Doris Ames Hubbard+P Susan Hilt Bryant

1939Q Lois Ross DavidsonP Dorothy Jean SmithP Kathyrn Woods Haley

1940Q Patricia Clapp ThieleP Virginia Maus Sorley+P Esther Mann Luehrs

1941Q Miriam Corner Welty+P Emma Jane HansenP Jean Whitemore Ahlers

1942Q Norabelle Roth SiegelP Mary Jean Stockstill Reich+P Roberta Huffman Bulleri

1943Q Shirley Garland ArchP Janet Martin GadsbyP Vivian Martin Elmaleh

1944Q Clara Lee Davis LumbergP Virginia Vandewater BouchardP Barbara Yerxa Gilyard

1945Q Patricia Lashinger HaugeP Ruthella Welch SkagenP Wilma O'Rear SimonP Mae McLean HamiltonP Shirley Witbeck Moore

1946Q Elsie Beth Halvorson MausP De De Hutchinson StumpfP Jacquie Farrington Letts+

1947Q Jean Olson ReemsP Patricia Sugg HellnerP Lois Banghart Beall

1948Q Jean Olson ReemsP Patricia Sugg HellnerP Lois Banghart Beall

1949Q Portia Thornton MurrayP Carol Dennis WedekindP Ruth Ann Jones Young

1950Q Marylyle Cunningham OsbornP Drucilla Brennan Lingle+P Joanne Brown Michael

1951Q Lily Jo Hammans TrimbleP Barbara Bell MonroeP Odetta Hamilton Molfatt+

1952Q Virginia Click Cooney+P Ann Ware DuttonP Jeannette Bommer Rudy+

1953Q Carolyn Ellis HamiltonP Jean Low OgsburyP JoAnn Heffner Derting

1954Q Carol Jessup PetersonP Bev Shadbolt BrandtP Corinne Bellas Telford

1955Q Sharon Kaye Redlinger UtigardP Judith EmersonP Anna Batterman Pieratt

1956Q Jolly Ann Sachs SeysterP Trina Hansen AdamsP Carol Sutton George

1957Q Jewel Bergan BrumbaughP Marilyn Dalvit AshP Sande Gillette

1958Q Ann Albertson DealP Tonee Hansen GwinnP Kris Whiteman Anderson

1959Q Beverly McKoin MartinP Mary Stewart OlsonP Sally Walker Pugh

1960Q Peggy Kinney MagnusonP Kris Cedarwall WhooleryP Dae Hansen Duval

1961Q Kathy Whiteman ChandlerP Sharon Coon LamarP Carmen Snitily Sirmon

1962Q Polly Kinney FieldsP Carolyn Billingsley OrtizP Susan Looney Wallace

1963Q Mary Radewan HeinzP Paula BarberP Janet Evans Johnson

1964Q Lynn Nicholson ElmoreP Nancy Conyer O' HalloranP Sheila Hildebrand Clennon

1965Q Barbara Erickson HeplerP Kathleen Stockstill WaslenkoP Amy Radewan Cunningham

1966Q Patti Parkhill CartmillP Sharon Wright RietzP Janice Woods Conchuartt

1967Q Leta (Patti) Scaman BakerP Joanie Stewart HicksP Patty Harris Schultz

1968Q Gail Ross WenaweserP Rosemary KellsP Kathy Murren Mertes

1969Q Linda Parkhill ShaughnessyP Kay Goff LawP Susan Mullen

1970Q Kim Horan RichardsonP Jane Drake CummingsP Gail Burgener Foreman

1971Q Linda Laney LippincottP Ruth Gilbert SmeltzerP Peggy Shay Waslenko

1972Q Pam Murray EricksonP Robin Curtis CurtisP Patty Burgener Bisenivs

1973Q Deloma Ensley SherwoodP Jill Penhallegon PrenticeP Cami Duvauchelle Earsley

1974Q Julie Agens KuntzP Adele Fischer HaleyP Cathy Williams Childers

1975Q Theresa Adams OganP Deborah Sorrentino KilgrenP Kathy MacDonald Tift

1976Q Jan Randall CrollardP Mary Repass CozzalioP Maggie Morton

1977Q Debra CrumpP Stacy Boswell PrussP Julie Gellatly Allison

1978Q Sandy Sharp HermanP Myra (Susie) ClaypoolP Cindy Stinson Harum

1979Q Wendi Wassink Blythe-ClarkP Margaret Lankeit KingP Sally Godfrey Freed

1980Q Melissa Coles BittermanP Anita Hartog HeltP Lisa BollingerP Wendy Bernier FochtP Jenny Navone VannierP Nancy WhiteP Kim Reeves LindermanP Beth Endersby MarriottP Dori ThompsonP Susan Cross Davey

1981Q Trina Damish DecampP Carrie Ogle GilstrapP Liz HaleP Paula Smith PierceP Jennifer Cox PoirierP Sue Harper CoeP Shelly SandsP Penny Sand BuffingtonP Sandy Butterfield RobertsonP Robin Loewen

1982Q Lisa SpargoP Darcy Riddle ArmstrongP Laura Robertson HapperP Joannie Harrington MeyerP Ruth Chapton StumpfP Carrie Key PraterP Sally Sharp FickeP Shirley FabianP Mia HontsP Rose Eley Degoede

1983Q Trina Rank BrautiP Karyn Birmingham BickfordP Laura Davis FulbrightP Becky Shae GuthnerP Erin McMonigle GeorgeP Kathy Birmingham WilliamsP Susy BabcockP Jill Boon DuffyP Cassie Reeves HelmP Shelly Sylvester Anderson

1984Q Marlene Mardian AbrahamP Laura Black DooganP Dana Murray HilpertP Lisa Linterman EngmanP Darcel Recchia TroyP Mindy Piepel CavethP Dana Defina MalickP Marcy BirdP Christy Duncan GowingP Errin Seale Richardson

1985Q Darci Henke WatermanP Mikael Kuske GavinP Kelly Standerford WaudeP Robin Haynes GahringerP Heidi Thomas AshrafP Dawn Maloney SchillerP Tamie Keeler ParrP Debby HambrickP Cami Harris KesingerP Cindy Lee

1986Q Coreen Cockrum TillyP Dana LaFollette CoxP Molly McMongle AkersP Renee Pollock JaegerP Mandy Sand BushP Delcie Proffitt MottP Katie McKee AshcraftP Mindy Cooksey+P Lori Harper HallP Vicki Telford Sherman

1987Q Candy Cline GettmanP Luann EwingP Becky Schooler VanderpoolP Kijrstin Freed StahlP Maria Velazquez JohnstonP Cari Brownlee SkandsP Kathy Handley NosekP Julie CregerP Carmen Harris McCrystalP Kristin Kerr Gannon

1988Q Heather Smith HansenP Lisa CoopriderP Becky Kearny Darnell$P Pam DowellP Katie Newman VelazquezP Mindi Lipp KronstadP Brooke MurrayP Lisa Rank RiceP Julie Defina HartP Angela Froelich Reese

1989Q Stephanie Smith WatermanP Renee Riggan StocksP Heather CarrP Amy Chapman DilleyP Amy Nebel FernandezP Amy Swalow KieszP Rosie Deal WhiteP Laura Worley BolzP Heidi Farmer FavorP Fona Jeffery

1990Q Jennifer Williams DevereauxP Jennifer Running NeelyP Nicole Davis BrunnerP Katie Odenrider RosmanP Anne Rowley NelsonP Kimberly VanHoven ToftnessP Amy Atwood CaseP Wendy West JonesP Tara HolidayP Jennifer Jakubal Bushong

1991Q Holly Lane KertP Faviola Barbosa ContrerasP Natalie Avey DoreyP Jill Pollock ThorntonP Jennifer Eakin BrockieP Erin Charlton CassP Shanna KeiszP Harmony KartchnerP Elese Harrison EagleP Shanna Grant Baird

1992Q Marcia Turner MurrayP Kirsten EhlisP Kristin Picard NicholsonP April ReidP Nicole FarrellP Kaley O'Kelley

1993Q Kristie Adamson MilnerP Shawnee EffingerP Jennifer NetzP Candida SherrillP Anna ShawP Maria Davis

1994Q Heather Hopkins RuetschleP Stacie Turner HerrinP Alyson Brinton Calaway

1995Q Mari Foreman GroffP Tabitha Alexander PetersP Tanya Rodriguez Huber

1996Q Jill Vanderhoff SandnesP Allison Lynn LewisP Sommer Lacy Seitz

1997Q Stacia Wiggins CruzP Meaghan Williams ViebbertP Marie Magnotti Scanlon

1998Q Krista Berschauer BeckP Maria GonzalezP Alea Pappe Carter

1999Q Lindsay FranceP Jenny Smelser SparksP Brandi DeChenne Darnell

2000Q Chelsea WaliserP Mary Beth Brewer WellsP Alison Brigleb

2001Q Rebecca TinneyP Cori TiftP Leanne Burnett

2002Q Natalie BirdP Bergen White LeeP Amanda Johnson

2003Q Nicole HankinsP Jodi HowardP Michaela Choman

2004Q Ashley Armstrong P Katie HamptonP Stephanie Gay

2005Q Anika GrubbsP Piper GillinP Pamela Alvarado

2006Q Jenny HamptonP Julie RiceP Liz Speidel

2007Q Laura DeCampP Mikel StanawayP Courtney Roberts

2008Q Justine VanderpoolP Nicole BrownP Emily Love

Previous Jr. Apple Blossom Royalty

1994Q Keisha FulbrightP Amy BruggmanP Alicia James

1995Q Rachel CooperP Katrina GriffithP Andrea Johnson

1996Q Megan MillerP Rebecca PaineP Cathy Britt

1997Q Courtney StarcevichP Katie FishbourneP Melissa Isaacson

1998Q Bethany TaylorP Andee VolkmannP Nicole Asplund

1999Q Allison HericksP Erin KiickP Jamie Goodman

2000Q Chelsea KommP Haley PinkstonP Shalee Johnson

2001Q Justine VanderpoolP Kara FisherP Lynn Hericks

2002Q Lisa JonesP Rebecca HigginsP Brittany Drescher

2003Q Samantha BennettP Lauren FergusonP Leanne Thorson

2004Q Elenore BastianP Cassidy FaggP Kristen Stone

2005Q Cici StoneP Devyn HuylarP Ellen Walker

2006Q Maggie ChvilicekP Maddy HeitP Rebecca Morris

2007Q Blair Ellis

External links

* [http://www.appleblossom.org/ Appleblossom.org] , Official Washington State Apple Blossom Festival website