Queen Shenandoah XCVI

​Isabella Louise Astin has accepted the role of Queen Designate XCVI for the 2023 Festival.  Known to family and friends as “Bella, the third daughter of Sean and Christine Astin who resides with her family in California will be returning to Winchester.

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Festival Co-Grand Marshals

​Kate Flannery is an actor, singer, and writer best known for her nine seasons as Meredith, the drunk, on NBC’s The Office. Kate was a fan favorite on Season 28 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

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1989 James Wood High School graduate and anchor of CNBC’s new 7:00pm ET show, “Last Call,” Brian Sullivan named Grand Marshal

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Grand Marshal sponsored by:

Celebrity Sponsors

Festival Honorary Grand Marshals

Every so often members of our community are crowned as Festival royalty and honored for their extraordinary achievements, selfless acts, and good deeds.  Such individuals help shape our community by sharing their time, talents and gifts every day – helping to make the place we call home very special.  It is a pleasure to announce our 96th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Honorary Grand Marshals - Kathy and Nick Nerangis.  They truly have demonstrated our theme of Live fully, Love deeply, and Bloom forever.

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Firefighters' Marshal

Festival President, Sharen Gromling, is pleased to announce Kenny Wallace as Firefighters’ Marshal for the 96th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.  Wallace is a retired NASCAR driver renowned for his racing prowess and national television on-air persona.  As our Firefighters Marshal Kenny Wallace will kick off the parade with “start your engines” as he leads the festival fire truck brigade through crowd-lined streets in historic downtown Winchester, VA.   

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Festival Co-Sports Marshals

Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back, Eric Dickerson named Co-Sports Marshal 

​Eric Dickerson, Pro football Hall of Fame and record-breaking running back has been named Co-Sports Marshal by Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®
 
Dickerson was selected second overall in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. An immediate success, he established rookie records for most rushing attempts (390), most rushing yards gained (1,808) and most touchdowns rushing (18), including another two receiving touchdowns. His efforts earned him All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.

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Nazeeh Johnson - Super Bowl LVII Champion and Millbrook High School standout athlete

His hometown community has called the play, and Nazeeh Johnson, local gridiron hero and 2023 Super Bowl Champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, has been named Co-Sports Marshal by Sharen Gromling, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®​.

​The rookie safety entered his first season with the Chiefs in 2022, being drafted in the 7th round (Pick #259). Johnson was waived on August 30, and the next day he was signed to the practice squad.  On September 28, his name became part of the active roster.  His running speed is described as explosive or like a rocket.  In his first season, Johnson led the Chiefs in Special Teams tackles and played a crucial part in the longest punt return in NFL Super Bowl history, as the Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LVII.

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Sports Marshals sponsored by:

Festival Special Guests

Washington Redskins two-time Super Bowl Champion & James Madison University Football Great, Gary Clark to be Festival Sports Guest 

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Noah Thompson, 2022 American Idol Winner
Hunter Girl, 2022 American Idol Runner-up

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Ashburn, Virginia native and reigning 2022 Miss Virginia, Victoria Chuah, to be special guest during the Festival

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Amanda Short, Miss Apple Blossom 2023

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Gracie Clarke, Miss Apple Blossom Outstanding Teen 2023

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Natalie Woodward, Miss Virginia Association of Fairs 2023

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Phil Glaize, Court Ambassador

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Speaker Sponsors

Valley Health Business at the Bloom
​Guest Speaker

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is pleased to announce that writer and civic advocate, Pete Davis, will speak at the Valley Health Business at the Bloom presented by Top of Virginia Regional Chamber. The luncheon will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at the Tolley Dental Zone in the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center on the campus of Shenandoah University.  Davis is the author of Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing and co-producer of Join or Die, a feature documentary on community in America.  

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Prayer Luncheon presented by Knouse Foods
Guest Speaker

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is pleased to announce, 1987 Miss America, Kellye Cash as the keynote speaker for the Prayer Brunch presented by Knouse Foods/Musselman's.​  She works in the Bethel University Music Department as music director, a piano/voice teacher, a concert artist, and as a musical director for community theatre productions.  Cash has played Patsy Cline, a role she’s become known for, in her 13th production and tour of ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE.

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​Ladies Horticultural Luncheon Speaker

​Sharen Gromling, President of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is pleased to announce Elizabeth Lynch as the featured speaker for the Ladies Horticultural Luncheon presented by Spring Arbor Assisted Living.
 
Elizabeth Lynch made history when she became the second Miss West Virginia to make the Top Five at the Miss America Competition. The Martinsburg native finished as 3rd runner up to Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke from Wisconsin. A summa cum laude graduate of Delaware State University and a recent graduate of West Virginia University with a Master of Science in Food and Nutritional Science, Lynch will enter a Ph.D. program next fall, putting her $42,500 in scholarship earnings to good use.

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