The unveiling of the 98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® annual theme, and its distinctive artwork, represents the official kickoff of the Festival every November. The theme announcement is the foundation for building momentum through the unveiling of newsworthy events and special guest announcements throughout the winter and early-spring months that lead up to the Festival which takes place from April 25 to May 4, 2025.
Hosted by the Festival’s Apple Club, the annual theme announcement is an anticipated and celebrated tradition. The messaging, design and development of the theme is a collaborate process through a series of meetings consisting of the Festival’s President, Executive Director, and Creative Director. Oftentimes the theme design reflects a fond tradition, detailed imagery and a catchy phrase endeared by the Festival President.
Jeremy Luttrell, Festival President states, “The symbolic change of season lets us know that the apples will soon be gone, and the apple trees will become dormant to protect themselves from the harsh winter ahead. The bleak and bare branches that winter brings will awaken from their slumber in the spring and delicate pink and white blossoms take their place in the “Field of Blooms”. The theme for the 98th Festival, “Field of Blooms” evokes the beauty of spring in the countryside where blossoms signal the promise of an abundant harvest ahead. This celebration of vibrant blossoms captures the spirit of new beginnings and the anticipation of all that is yet to come.”
The 98th theme is once again designed by the Festival’s talented Creative Director, Erik Zimmerman. In describing the theme design and inspiration, Zimmerman states, “Our theme title, “Field of Blooms”, was originally inspired by the popular 1989 film “Field of Dreams”. The large moon in the background was an iconic image from the movie poster. Instead of corn fields and farmland, I used apple blossom trees and mountains as a local feel. As the design progressed, it took on a bit of a “Wizard of Oz” flavor with abstract blossom trees, pink brick road, and atmospheric sky, done in a mixed media style of hand-drawn artwork and realistic photography. The finishing touch, a suggestion by President Jeremy Lutrell, was to add the apple within the moon, to represent the local apple industry and evolution from apple blossoms to apples. Overall, the color scheme and design is a playful and fun representation of the theme title and the Festival heritage.”
Event ticket sales will be announced at a later date. Tickets can be purchased in person at Festival Headquarters located at 135 North Cameron Street, by phone at (540) 662-3863 or through our online ticketing system at www.thebloom.com. Make plans now to join us for the 98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® on April 25 to May 4, 2025.
