​The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is pleased to announce that Dr. Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist with Virginia REALTORS® will speak at the Valley Health Business at the Bloom Luncheon presented by Top of Virginia Regional Chamber at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at the Tolley Dental Zone in the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center on the campus of Shenandoah University. 
 
Dr. Sturtevant has been involved in research on economic, demographic, and housing market issues and local housing solutions for more than 20 years. She currently serves as Chief Economist with Virginia REALTORS®, leading the association’s research on housing market and economic conditions throughout the Commonwealth. In her role, she prepares regular reports on the residential and commercial real estate markets in Virginia. She also conducts research and analysis to support the real estate industry in the Commonwealth.
 
Prior to coming on staff with Virginia REALTORS®, Lisa founded and served as president of LSA Planning, an Alexandria, Virginia-based consulting firm that partners with local communities to provide comprehensive analyses and strategic planning to promote and support housing and planning policy and development decisions.
 
Between 2013 and 2016, Lisa served as Vice President for Research for the National Housing Conference (NHC), a national non-profit organization focusing on promoting safe, decent, and affordable housing opportunities. Prior to NHC, Lisa served as Deputy Director of the Center for Regional Analysis and Associate Research Professor at the George Mason University School of Public Policy. 
 
Dr. Sturtevant completed her PhD in public policy from George Mason University, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, and a BS in mathematical economics from Wake Forest University. In her free time, she listens to economics podcasts, bakes cookies and cakes, and reads post-apocalyptic fiction.  She lives in the Alexandria portion of Fairfax County, Virginia with her husband, two kids, two cats, and a gecko.
 
Tickets for Valley Health Business at the Bloom presented by Top of Virginia Regional Chamber are available at www.thebloom.com/events.

​Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® President, Tommy Price, is happy to announce Miss Virginia 2021, Tatum Sheppard, will be making appearances at Festival activities and events. 

Tatum currently resides in Roanoke, VA and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Liberty University.  She has performed with professional theatre companies in Virginia and Tennessee since graduating from college in 2020. 
Tatum was crowned Miss Virginia in Roanoke on June 19, 2021. As part of her year of service, she makes personal appearances to promote local businesses and non-profits as well as keynote speaking and vocal performances. She also serves as the ABC Spokesperson by promoting healthy choices and substance abuse prevention to students in Virginia’s elementary schools as part of Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s Miss Virginia School Tour program.

Tatum is using her platform as Miss Virginia to promote her Social Impact Initiative: Mentoring Matters. As a former Big Sister and Mentor in the BBBS of Central Virginia program, she now partners with all six BBBS agencies across the Commonwealth through fundraising, events, and conferences.

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is implementing their program with Miss Virginia, being a trained representative giving youth the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence.  Her advocacy within these three diverse platforms offers schools the opportunity to target the programs that best meet the needs of their students.  

Tickets for Festival events are available at www.thebloom.com/events.

Tommy Price, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® welcomes Kara Britz back home to Winchester to serve at the Court Ambassador at the Coronation of Queen Shenandoah XCV, Mia Dorsett.  Kara will be performing at the Coronation and at the Malloy Toyota Country Music Dance.
 
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Kara Lee Britz is the daughter of a musically-gifted mother and a music-loving father.  She is the youngest of three musical children and spent time living in Germany before the family settled down In Winchester, Virginia.  At age 6 Kara began classical piano lessons and sang along to both gospel and contemporary classics.  In typical Kara fashion, she followed her own beat and started drum lessons in the 4th grade! 
 
By age 11, Kara was playing drums and singing in a band called TCC, sponsored by Grove’s Harley-Davidson.  In 2002, her band, Luckie & Almost Country, played the local bars, Harley-Davidson events, and Winchester’s Apple Blossom Festival, even though she was years away from a driver’s license or entry into the clubs where she played.   Kara dedicated her middle school and high school nights and weekends to writing, recording, and cultivating her ability, including happy hours every Friday night at the former Sweet Caroline’s, accompanied by Phil Zuckerman and David Linaburg, throughout her junior and senior years of high school.
 
Growing up in Winchester afforded Kara the best opportunities to hone her craft with the support of a truly encouraging community.  Singing in Elaine Aikens' school choirs from 6th grade at Daniel Morgan Middle School through her senior year before graduating from John Handley High in 2004, gave Kara one of her first “pinch me” moments…the unique opportunity to sing “I’m Sorry” as a special tribute to Brenda Lee at the Coronation in 2001 with Brenda in attendance as the Grand Marshal.  This opened the door to strike up a coveted mentorship with Brenda Lee, all thanks to the Apple Blossom Festival.  Mrs. Aikens and Kara’s late drum teacher, Steve Kastuck, always encouraged and supported Kara and gave her the confidence to continue to be bold in her efforts.  Kara is so thankful for the amazing support the Winchester community continues to lend her to this day. 
 
Two weeks after graduating high school, Kara celebrated her parents’ blessing to move to Los Angeles, and pursue her musical ambitions.  She attended the Musician’s Institute studying voice and quickly found herself singing on major label records and alongside established artists.  Booking her first international tour in 2009 with Japanese mega star, Eikichi Yazawa, Kara began to see how this could become a full-time career.  After returning from Japan, Kara worked for Cher during her Las Vegas Caesar’s Palace Residency and then was hired to join Joe Cocker’s band for his Hard Knock’s World Tour.  She credits Joe for taking her on her first trip around the globe, sharing special memories like performing at the Kremlin Palace, for the Prince of Monaco, the Princess of Morocco, and on hit European shows like Wetten Das, and ultimately singing a duet “You Loved Me Back,” on Joe Cocker’s last studio album ever released. 

"My biggest fans are my family members.  There are things you can only imagine yourself doing, things you wish you could try, and then there are the things that only become possible because of your support group.  All of the little things that stop most people from realizing their dreams were eliminated by my family, and I was given the green light to pursue them.  Little things like rent, food, transportation, clothes, and all of the other things that were required were very unselfishly absorbed by my family.  My brother Corey (bass player for BUSH) was an established musician in LA when I got here, and his experience and support and his knowledge of music were incredibly invaluable to me.  My sister, Kelley, who is literally my very best friend, was in LA as a full-time model and let me live with her and became my LA mother for several years."
 
Following the Joe Cocker tour, Kara was asked to join Paul Mirkovich’s (Cher, Janet Jackson, Pink) house band for NBC’s Hit Show, The Voice.  Since Season 2 (through the recently wrapped Season 21), Kara has served as backing vocalist as well as vocal contractor for the show.  In the last 10 years, Kara has had the privilege to hire over 75 Sag Aftra working LA vocalists to join her on stage backing up each season’s hopeful contestants as well as countless guest performers including some of Kara’s biggest inspirations:  Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani, Bob Segar, Michael Buble, Sheryl Crow, Christina Aguilera, Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Shakira, and her idol, Kelly Clarkson. 
 
Working at The Voice opened up the opportunity to contract and/or sing for other television performances including Songland, The Masked Singer, The Grammys, The Oscars, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.  The Voice is also where Kara met Blake Shelton.  Blake hired Kara on the set of The Voice to become a full-time member of his band in 2015.  With Blake, Kara has had the pleasure of performing on some of country’s biggest stages including The Grand Ole Opry, CMA Fest, Academy of Country Music Awards, The Houston Rodeo, and The Grammy’s.  Blake also hired Kara to sing on his Grammy-nominated record, “God’s Country” as well as "Minimum Wage" and his “Blake Shelton Live” album released on Spotify.  With Blake, Kara has had the honor of sharing the stage with top country artists, including Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, Tracy Byrd, The Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Luke Bryan, and Little Big Town.
 
 These days you can find Kara anywhere Blake Shelton may be, and she might just pop up unexpectedly! Most recently, Kara was asked to backup Mickey Guyton to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.  Kara continues to have “pinch me moments” as she enters her 18th year in Los Angeles as a full-time vocalist, and being asked to come home for the Apple Blossom Festival is a HUGE honor for her.  Winchester’s community along with her family is whom Kara credits for molding her into the tenacious, kind-hearted, Christian woman she prides herself in being today. 
 
Kara will be making appearances at many Festival events. The Coronation presented by Morgan Orthodontics will be Friday, April 29, at 1:30 p.m. at Handley High School and the Malloy Toyota Country Music Party is Saturday, April 30, at 8 p.m. at the Tolley Dental Zone located at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletic and Events Center on the campus of Shenandoah University.  Tickets for all Festival events are available at www.thebloom.com/events.

​Jeff Hammond’s love of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is equal to that of longtime fans of Bloom Nation. Tommy Price, president of the Festival, is now welcoming Hammond’s return as a speaker at the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast.  Jeff was the Firefighters’ Marshal in 2016.  Jeff says, “Apple Blossom to the spring is what Macy’s Parade is to Christmas."
​
Jeff Hammond joined FOX Sports at the conclusion of the 2000 NASCAR season as an analyst for FOX NASCAR’s inaugural year of MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES coverage, moving over from his duties at Roush Fenway Racing as Kurt Busch’s crew chief.
 
From 2001 to 2013, Hammond served as an analyst for FOX NASCAR SUNDAY, the network’s prerace show at the time, alongside Chris Myers and Darrell Waltrip.  In 2014, he covered stories on pit road, becoming the first former crew chief to serve in that capacity for network television’s NASCAR coverage.
 
In 2006, Hammond received his first Sports Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Sports Person--Studio Analyst. Hammond visited America’s troops serving overseas in Baghdad and Southwest Asia as part of the NFL on FOX’s Thanksgiving Day coverage in 2010 and in Korea as part of the NFL on FOX’s Thanksgiving Day coverage in 2011.  His broadcasting resume includes work for FX, ESPN, Turner, and TNN.  He has co-hosted the nationally syndicated NASCAR Country radio show.
In 2019, Hammond was awarded the prestigious Smokey Yunick Award.  A year later, Jeff was awarded the Fireball Roberts Hard Charger Award.  Hammond may be heard weekly on Performance Racing Network’s “Fast Talk” on Monday evenings and on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s “Late Shift” with Brad Gillie on Tuesday evenings.
 
In 1974, at the age of 17, the legendary crew chief began his NASCAR career as a tire changer for Walter Ballard. He transitioned to the role of jack man and served in this capacity for all three of Cale Yarborough’s Cup Series championships before winning the 1981 championship as Darrell Waltrip’s jack man.  In 1982, Hammond took the helm as crew chief for the first time atop the pit box for Waltrip at the pinnacle of the future Hall of Famer’s career.  Together, the pair visited Victory Lane an impressive 43 times, including Waltrip’s 1989 Daytona 500 victory.  Hammond, known as a methodical strategist, was Waltrip’s pit boss for two of his three Cup Series championships (1982 and 1985), and won the 1989 GM Goodwrench Teamwork of Excellence Award.  He retired with 508 races as a crew chief.
 
In 2021, Hammond returned to the Crew Chief ranks as only one of four Crew Chiefs chosen for the inaugural Superstar Racing Experience series.  Hammond would get his first win in this new racing series with driver and eventual series champion, Tony Stewart.
 
Hammond co-owns and operates Pit Training and Instruction (PIT) facility, a 24,000 square foot facility in Mooresville, N.C.  PIT also owns 5 Off 5 On Race Team Performance and specializes in training current NASCAR pit crew members, in addition to assisting aspiring pit crew members gain the skills and knowledge they need to break into and succeed in NASCAR.  Through PIT, Hammond also conducts team-building exercises for corporations and serves as a motivational speaker for several Fortune 500 companies, including ExxonMobil, Northrop Grumman, and O’Reilly Auto Parts.
 
Hammond attended East Carolina University, where he played football.  He resides near Charlotte, N.C., with his family. 

​Jeff will be speaking at the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast at The Tolley Dental Zone in the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics and Events Center at Shenandoah University at 8 a.m. and riding in the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade, which steps off at 1:30 p.m. through the streets of historic Winchester. 
 
Tickets for Festival events are available at www.thebloom.com/events.

​Yes, Winchester, there are still Redskins coming to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®.  Tommy Price, Festival President, is pleased to announce Fred Smoot will be added to the long list of former Redskins who have been part of our springtime celebration.
 
Fred played nine seasons in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings.  He went to college at Mississippi State University where he played from 1997 to 2000.  He started his junior and senior years, was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection both years, and a consensus first-team All-American as a senior.  He was also a finalist for the Conerly Trophy in 2000.
 
Smoot was drafted by Washington as the 14th pick in the second round (45th pick overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft and immediately formed an impressive duo with Champ Bailey.  Following two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, he returned for a second stint with Washington and helped the team make the playoffs in 2007 and played with the team until 2010.   He played in 129 games and had 21 interceptions, 450 tackles, and 5 forced fumbles.
 
The colorful Smoot, affectionately known as the “Mouth of the South,” was one of the more popular Washington players over the last 20 years.  A funny quote attributed to him is, “2/3rds of the earth is covered by water, the other 1/3 is covered by Fred Smoot.”  Now, Smoot does some work in the media; and, yes, he is a big Washington fan.
 
Smoot co-hosts a podcast with popular D.C. sports personality Chick Hernandez called “That’s Your Opinion” on the Bleav Podcast Network.  It’s an entertaining show that will make you laugh while offering plenty of good football takes.  In addition, he does radio and TV work for CSN, 106.7 The Fan, and NBC. 
 
Smoot will be speaking at Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast at the Tolley Dental Zone inside the James R. Wilkins Jr. Athletic and Events Center on the campus of Shenandoah University on Saturday, April 30, at 8 a.m. and will ride in the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. 
 
Tickets are available at www.thebloom.com/events.

Legendary basketball great of all times, Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, has been named Sports Marshal by Tommy Price, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®
 
Julius Winfield Erving, internationally recognized as Dr. J. was the dominant basketball player of his era, and a true innovator who revolutionized the way the game was played. Widely heralded as one of the all-time greats, he is often considered to have been the catalyst for the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.  Erving’s strong leadership skills led his teams to championships in both leagues while his authentically thrilling high-flying style on the court captivated millions of fans from all over the world along the way.  A gracious, dignified, and disciplined man, Erving was an ideal ambassador of the sport.  He was the epitome of class and humility, and no one was more respected both on and off the court. This is the essence of who he is and what he still brings to any role he serves in.
 
Currently serving as founder/managing member of Erving Global Opportunity LLC, Julius brings to the table close to 40 years of experience as a Hall of Fame player, executive and entrepreneur. Erving Global Opportunity (EGO) is engaged in managing the ownership, business development, commercial utilization, merchandising, television, film, social media and philanthropic involvement of the Julius “Dr. J. Erving” brand.  Dating back to 1979, Mr. Erving’s business affiliations have generated close to 2.5 billion dollars in revenues and brand value for his partners and other high-profile clientele.  The overarching business model consists of leveraging the name, likeness, and intellectual property of Mr. Erving primarily through endorsements, personal appearances, strategic partnerships, equity participation, and worldwide licensing programs.
 
Erving holds a degree in business management from The University of Massachusetts, as well as honorary degrees from Temple University and Philadelphia University. He has served on various Boards of Directors including the following: Converse (6 years), Darden Group, (8 years) Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (3 years), Meridian Bank (5 years), Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commission (3 years), Saks Fifth Avenue (8 years), The Sports Authority (8 years), The University of Massachusetts (2 years), Widener University (1 year) and Williams Communications (4 years).

Erving played professionally for 16 years, having scored 30,026 points in his combined ABA and NBA career, and left as the third highest scorer in professional basketball at the time behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain.  Erving scored more than 22.0 points per game in his 11 NBA seasons with Philadelphia and 28.7 points per game in his 5 ABA seasons with Virginia and New York.  In 1993, Erving was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was also named to
the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-time team.  In 1994, Erving was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the 40 most important athletes of all time.  In 2017, GQ Magazine selected him as part of the 50 Greatest Living Athletes, a true testament to his staying power of remaining generationally relevant some 30 years after his playing career ended.
 
Erving will be speaking at the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast at the Tolley Dental Zone in the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletic and Events Center on Shenandoah University Campus, on Saturday, April 30 at 8 a.m.    He will then ride in the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade, which begins at 1:30 p.m.   Erving’s appearance is being sponsored by Omps Funeral Home and Cremation Center. Tickets to Festival events are available at www.thebloom.com/events.

​Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® president, Tommy Price, has the privilege of naming Dean Cain as Marshal of the Firefighters' Parade and Marshal of the Shenandoah Caverns Heroes' Division in the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade.
 
Dean Cain is a multi-faceted, Emmy-winning filmmaker and actor. An All-American football player at Princeton University, he transitioned to film when an injury ended his (NFL) Buffalo Bills career.
 
He starred as Clark Kent/Superman in “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” (4 seasons), produced and hosted “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” (4 seasons) and made well over 100 films, including “Out of Time", “The Broken Hearts Club,” "God’s Not Dead,” “Vendetta,” and “Gosnell.” He co-hosted the Today Show and Fox and Friends in between his numerous film and television projects. He is currently hosting Season 9 of “Masters of Illusion” for the CW and Season 3 of The Christmas Caroler Challenge.  He is completing his feature-film debut, Little Angels, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in and is yet to have a date of release.
 
A strong believer in human rights, Dean received the prestigious Order of Armenia for producing the anti-Genocide documentary film, Architects of Denial.  Dean’s newest documentary, Hate Among Us, just won an Emmy.  Hate Among Us shines a light on the current rise of anti-Semitism throughout the United States and Europe.
 
A single father and a staunch supporter of our military and first responders, Dean is honored to serve as a sworn Sheriff’s Deputy in Frederick County, Virginia, and a Reserve Police Officer in Pocatello, Idaho. Dean also serves on the Board of Directors for the NRA. In Dean’s own words, “real heroes don’t wear capes, they wear uniforms and stethoscopes and badges.”
 
Dean will be honoring real heroes at the Firefighters' Rodeo, the Coronation of Queen Shenandoah XCV, and leading the Firefighters' Parade on Friday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, April 30, he will serve as the Marshal of the Shenandoah Caverns Heroes' Division in the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade honoring the dedicated essential workers during COVID.

​Tommy Price, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® announces with pleasure that Tony Dorsett will be returning to the Festival for his third visit, this time as Father of Queen Shenandoah XCV, Mia Dorsett.  Additionally, Dorsett will be a guest speaker at the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast.  Tony was first a sports guest in 1985 as the outstanding, leading rusher for the Dallas Cowboy.  During our 85th Festival in 2012, he proudly crowned his daughter, Jazmyn, “Jazz”, as Queen Shenandoah LXXXV.   
 
Anthony “Tony” Dorsett was born to Wes and Myrtle Dorsett on April 7, 1954, in Rochester, Pennsylvania. When his parents moved to be near the Jones and Laughlin Steel Mill in Aliquippa when Tony was young, they hoped at least one of their seven children would reach beyond the town's limits.  Tony was the one who did. He had visions that went beyond the steel gray hue of the Western Pennsylvania projects that he called home.
 
While Tony was still attending Hopewell High School in Aliquippa, his coach made a wise decision to switch him from linebacker to running back. Dorsett gained 1,034 yards as a junior in high school, and his record of excellence continued unabated when he moved on to college at the University of Pittsburgh.
 
Dorsett's record with the Panthers was legendary. He was named to an All-America team as a freshman and again as a junior and senior. Playing under Coach Johnny Majors, Dorsett became the first college back to rush for 1,000 or more yards all four seasons and the first to gain more than 1,500 yards for three years. As a Senior, he had his best season rushing for 1,948 yards and 21 touchdowns.
He crowned a brilliant collegiate career by being named All-American four times and winning the coveted Heisman Trophy in 1976. He is considered one of the greatest running backs in college football history. 

​In the 1977 draft, the Dallas Cowboys were quick to select Tony in the first round. He won consensus rookie of the year honors in helping Dallas win Super Bowl XII. Tony is one of the top ten all-time leading rushers in the NFL. In 1982, Tony captured his first NFC rushing title and established an unbreakable NFL record by racing 99 yards from scrimmage for a touchdown.
 
Tony served as team captain in '81, '82 and '84. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in '78, '81, '82 and '83. In 1981 he earned consensus All-Pro honors and was named NFC Player of the Year by UPI. In a 1979 Gallup Youth Survey of American teenagers' favorite sports personalities, Tony finished second to Roger Staubach.
 
1994 was a banner year for Tony. He was inducted into the prestigious Dallas Cowboys’ Ring of Honor, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
 
Tony lives with wife Janet in the Dallas area and has three beautiful daughters and a son, Anthony, who also played in the NFL. Tony is involved in many community activities and charities in Dallas, including ALS, March of Dimes, Minnie’s Food Pantry and the Tony Evans Ministry. Tony also supports the McGuire Memorial Foundation in Pittsburgh, a facility for handicapped children and Minnie’s Food Pantry.
 
The Coronation of Queen Shenandoah presented by Morgan Orthodontics will be held at Handley High School on Friday, April 29, at 1:30 p.m.  The Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast will be on Saturday, April 30, at 8 a.m. at the Tolley Dental Zone inside the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletic and Events Center located on the campus of Shenandoah University.
 
Tickets for Festival events are available at www.thebloom.com/events.
 
NOTABLE HONORS
               Four Time NCAA All American
               First Player in NCAA History with 4 - 1,000 Yard Seasons and 3 - 1,500 Yard Seasons
               1976 Heisman Trophy
               NFL Rookie of the Year 1977
               NFL All Pro
               Four Time Pro Bowl Player
               12 Year Career Only Missed Six Games
               2nd All-Time Leading Rusher in post season play - 1,383 yards
               2nd All-Time NFL Rusher at time of retirement
               Hold NFL record for longest run from the line of scrimmage 99 yards in ‘83 against Minnesota
               Two NFL Super Bowls XII-1978; XIII-1979
               5 NFC Championship Games
               Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor 1994
               College Football Hall of Fame 1994
               NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame 1994 first year of eligibility
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE   
               Easter Seals
               Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Denver
               Cancer Foundation
               American Heart Association
               Muscular Dystrophy
               United Negro College Fund
               Make a WISH Foundation
               United Way
               Special Olympics
               McGuire Memorial Home
               Minnie’s Food Pantry

​The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® What’s New at the 2022 Bloom-Part Three release below highlights tickets and information for events that are now on sale.  Festival goers are encouraged to order tickets early before popular events sell out.
 
Stonebrook Club Tennis Tournament
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is excited to announce the return of its annual USTA-sanctioned Stonebrook Club Tennis Tournament, presented by Partlow Insurance. Now in its sixth year, the event promises to be competitive and exciting for tennis players of all levels. The success of the tournament grows each year, attracting local and out-of-town tennis players and spectators. To register, visit www.thebloom.com. $50.00 entry fee for single event.  $25.00 entry fee for double events.
 
Registered participants receive tennis-themed items or locally sourced goodies.  Trophies are awarded to champions in each division.
 
The tournament will take place at Stonebrook Club of Winchester on Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24, 2022.  Stonebrook Club offers nine courts: four indoor and five outdoor. Two of the outdoor courts are clay-surfaced and lit for evening play.   The facility is in a lovely area of rolling hills and blooming orchards in beautiful Winchester.
 
As the event date approaches, participants and spectators are encouraged to check for updates on www.thebloom.com or social media. You may also contact the Tennis Tournament Committee at [email protected].

​McDonald’s Esports Tournament (New Event)
The McDonald's Esports Competitive Event presented by Shenandoah University Esports is a tournament-style event offering Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Fortnite competitions hosted at the Shenandoah University Esports Arena. The event will be held on Sunday, April 24th and will run from 10am to 5pm EST. This event requires a registration fee to enter and must be submitted by 11pm EST on Saturday, April 23rd. A cash prize and other gaming related prizes such as Respawn Gaming Chairs will be available for tournament entrants to win. Competitors must be at least 13 years old to enter. Fortnite will be run on a PC, and it is recommended that you bring your own controller. Be on the lookout for specific details and additional information on www.thebloom.com as the event date comes around! Registration is $25.00 per player.
 
Spectators are encouraged to view the competition either inside the Esports Arena (25 spectators max) or at the Shenandoah University Business School located adjacent to the Esports Arena (250 spectators max.)  Viewing tickets are only $5.  Visit www.thebloom.com to register to participate or purchase viewing tickets.

​Navy Federal Credit Union Veterans Dinner Show (New Event)
Come join us at “The Bloom” for a unique experience as we celebrate our veterans at the Navy Federal Credit Union Veterans Dinner Show, presented by Omps Funeral Home & Cremation Center at 5:00 pm on Tuesday evening, April 26 at Millwood Station Events Center. Cocktail hour will feature our local Veteran Service Organizations where you can meet Veterans, learn about who they are and what they do! Dinner will open with a missing man ceremony, remembering those who are no longer with us and posting of the colors.  Enjoy a dinner show with the Pin-Ups on Tour bringing back the nostalgia of the 40’s and 50’s Salute to the Troops inspired show!  You may even get a chance to snap a picture with one of our period dress folks and Uncle Sam! You will also see military memorabilia of past and present.  So, don your best vintage dinner dress and come show support for our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians! 
 
PIN-UPS ON TOUR is a good time for a great cause. From the moment guests enter the event, they will be treated to something special. The PIN-UPS ON TOUR takes great pride in recreating the magic of the Hollywood Canteen that operated during the 1940's as a club offering dancing, drinks and entertainment for service members, usually on their way overseas. The evening will feature dancing showgirls, comedy, variety acts, soulful lounge singers, vintage candy girls and more than a few surprises! With entertainment & atmosphere around every turn, guests will feel like they stepped into another era.
 
Tickets are $50.00.

​The Willows at Meadow Branch Young at Heart Dance
The Willows at Meadow Branch Young at Heart Luncheon and Dance will spring to life at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 28th at Millwood Station Event Center. Music provided by The Nitehawks Swing Band, to delight dancers and listeners alike as we spend an afternoon with old and new friends and dance away the day.
 
A highlight of event festivities includes a visit by the Queen XCV-designate and her court as she begins her whirlwind weekend.
​
The Willows at Meadow Branch Young at Heart Luncheon is truly a wonderful way to kick off your Apple Blossom weekend. We hope to see you there.  Tickets are $35.00.

​The Village at Orchard Ridge Queen’s Dinner
The Village at Orchard Ridge Queen's Dinner, presented by F&M Bank has been held for more than four decades and ushers in the celebration of the 95th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® as Queen Shenandoah XCV-designate is presented. The Queen-designate and her court will enter through an arch of sabers held by cadets from Randolph-Macon Academy and a trumpeter’s fanfare.  The evening is filled with tradition and festivities, including a delicious catered meal, and gifts and greetings from special dignitaries throughout the community.
 
The Queen’s Dinner will take place at Millwood Station Event Center on Thursday evening, April 28, 2022.  Cocktail hour starts at 5:00 pm and dinner is at 6:00 pm.  Tickets are $60.00.
​
The dinner is hosted by the civic clubs of the Winchester area.

​Old Town Midway
The Old Town Midway continues to evolve into a festive and entertaining destination.  The Midway features family friendly games including water balloon races, duck ponds, fishing games, mini basketball, and others many of which are prize every-time entertainment. A family-oriented Kids Zone featuring moon bounces, rock wall, face painting, and bungee jumping.
​
Food vendors from all over the East Coast serve traditional fair food as well as novelty and international cuisine. The live entertainment makes the atmosphere electric with local bands that have great followings.
 
Grab a Funnel Cake, Cotton Candy, or a corn dog and enjoy the fun atmosphere! 
 
The Old Town Midway is open on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm each day.

​Ladies’ Horticultural Luncheon
The Ladies’ Horticultural Luncheon, presented by Spring Arbor Senior Living began as an unofficial Festival event and informal luncheon in a private home. Now it is sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary of the Virginia State Horticultural Society and recognized as an official event of the Festival. The luncheon has grown from a small gathering to a springtime celebration enjoyed by hundreds of people. It has always been one of the most elegant activities of the Festival.
 
A delicious lunch, an outstanding keynote speaker, wonderful door prizes, and table favors contribute to a time of food, fun, and fellowship. In the past, we have been entertained and inspired by authors, a finalist from Project Runway, and Winchester’s very own Lauryn Ricketts, a DC network meteorologist. Proceeds from this event provide scholarships for Virginia Tech horticultural students.
 
Margo Oxidine will be the featured speaker at the Ladies’ Horticultural Luncheon.   Margo writes columns for two newspapers and is a featured writer in the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative Living magazine, seen throughout Virginia.
 
The Ladies’ Horticultural Luncheon will take place at 10:30 am on Friday, April 29, 2022 at Millwood Station Event Center.  Tickets are $35.00.  Please call the Festival office at (540) 662-3863 for ticket information.

​Coronation of Queen Shenandoah
 
The Coronation of Queen Shenandoah, presented by Morgan Orthodontics, is one of the oldest and most notable traditions of the Apple Blossom Festival. Many Winchester residents recall the magnificent pageants produced for so many years by the late Dr. Garland R. Quarles. Pageants were held on the steps of John Handley High School where children from all of the schools in Winchester performed for the Queen and her Court.
 
Audiences will now enjoy a new Coronation Ceremony written and directed by Elaine Aikens.  This year for the very first time, the children will participate in speaking parts for the Coronation of the Queen.  The Narrator is Dr. Paul Ulich and the prelate is Reverend Mathew Borbor.
 
​The traditional Royal Command Performance is presented by The Handley Singers to honor the Queen.
 
The Coronation takes place at John Handley High School on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 1:30 pm.  Tickets are $20.00.

​American Woodmark Fireworks Show & TREX Music Fest
Fireworks and music will resonate through the streets of Winchester on Friday evening, April 29 at dusk immediately following the Firefighters’ Parade.  Family and friends by the thousands will fill the streets and gather on the campus of John Handley High School for the TREX Music Fest and American Woodmark Fireworks show.  Noted as the areas grandest fireworks show, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is pleased to partner with TREX and American Woodmark to bring back a free fireworks and music show to our springtime celebration. 

Anthony’s Pizza Senseny Road Bloomin’ Sunday
How can you cap off the most amazing springtime festival around? End your Apple Blossom by visiting the Anthony’s Pizza – Senseny Road Bloomin’ Sunday on May 1, 2022, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Frederick County Fairgrounds and Stonewall District Ruritans Club Grounds.
 
This event has evolved and changed over the years to become what it is today.  Maintaining some of the history and adding new activities, it is sure to entertain the entire family.  There will be plenty of room for everyone to enjoy all that we have to offer including:
 

• The Artisan and Craft Show is part of Bloomin' Sunday and attracts participants from all over with many different products being offered.   This is an anticipated event by many and the attendance is always high.
• New Horizon’s Kids’ Zone Renaissance themed are is for the whole family with fun activities for everyone. The events include pony rides, petting zoo, puppet shows, apple pie eating contests, wildlife shows, magical acts, children's talent show, and much more! Princes and princesses will meet the royalty of Ravenwood Faire!
• Live music by the Robbie Limon Band
• Midway area with food and games 
• Open Auto Show and Motorcycle show featuring all makes, models and years of vehicles are welcome.  Members of the Hoppers Car Club and Harley Owners Group will be on hand for registration from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.  The show will last until 3 p.m. at which time awards will be given.  There will be 25 Top awards and one Best-in-Show award.  There are no separate classes, but judges will make sure that all entries will be represented.   Come and enjoy the great variety of vehicles.

 
Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 4-10.  Children under 4 years old are FREE.

​Firefighters’ Parade
​For 88 years, members of the Winchester and Frederick County firefighters have coordinated the annual Firefighters’ Parade through the streets of downtown Winchester. In 2022, the Firefighters’ Parade will step off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening, April 29th.
 
Come downtown to the Midway for carnival food, games and entertainment and then head over to the parade route to see the Antique Firetruck's start with the pre-parade, some trucks date back to the early 1920's!   Our local Fire Companies are in the First Division to show off their equipment.  There are celebrities, Miss Honorary Fire Company winners, bands and special units.   There are 4 Divisions with Fire and Rescue Equipment from all over the Mid-Atlantic Region. The final division is the Siren Division where the Fire Companies sound their horns.  This is a wonderful community event, where friends and families gather to Thank our first responders.
 
The first Torchlight and Mummers’ Parade in 1929 stepped off at 8 p.m. with each of the Winchester fire departments participating. Each firefighter carried a flaming torch. No parade was held from 1942 to 1945 during the war and 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. From this humble beginning, it is now the largest and one of the oldest annual firefighters’ parades in the world.

glofiber Grand Feature Parade
Since 1941 the Winchester Host Lions Club has coordinated the glofiber Grand Feature Parade through the historic streets in downtown Winchester.  In 2022, the Grand Feature Parade will step off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, April 30th and will include five parade divisions. From start to finish the parade is nearly 4 hours long!
 
The 195+ unit parade has special and equestrian units, floats, and marching bands. The glofiber Grand Feature Parade features bands like the Quantico Marine Band, Steelers Drumline, Community and High School bands from the Mid-Atlantic Region.  The route winds for 1.5 miles around the historic downtown area and passes by the iconic John Handley High School campus. 
 
After two years of no parades due to the COVID pandemic, we are pleased to announce that a special 5th “Hero’s” Division has been added to the glofiber Grand Feature Parade lineup in 2022.  Join us as we celebrate and honor the hero’s in our community who helped us get through the pandemic.

​Tommy Price, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is pleased to announce Kim Sharp as the keynote speaker for the Prayer Luncheon presented by Knouse Foods.
 
Kim Sharp was born and raised in Franklin, Indiana. She is a graduate from North Central University in Minneapolis, MN where she then served in the Student Life Department, ending her tenure there as Dean of Women.  She is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and has served on Indiana District Women's and Youth Leadership Team’s in Indiana.  She has Youth & Worship pastored, Staff Pastored and launched the Indy School of Leadership with North Central University.  Kim has recently concluded her time at the Johnson County Prosecutor's Office as a Special Victims Unit Advocate and has now embarked on a new journey as the National Girls Ministries Director for the General Council of the Assemblies of God in Springfield, Missouri.  She travels extensively across the US and abroad sharing the hope of Jesus Christ and the power of His unfailing love.  Kim’s passion is to encourage, empower and equip people to live their best life.
 
The Festival Prayer Luncheon presented by Knouse Foods, with a change of timing for 2022, will be held at Fellowship Bible Church, 3217 Middle Road, Friday, April 29, 2022, from 11 am to 1 pm. Tickets at $40 are available at www.thebloom.com/events.