Sports Weekend

Sports, Parades & Springtime Fun

MORNING

Arrive in Winchester and start your weekend at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center, where you can pick up trail maps, bike routes, and a schedule of Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® events. Then stretch your legs with a leisurely walk through Jim Barnett Park. Enjoy lunch in Old Town Winchester, where festival decorations and spring blooms set the tone for the weekend.

MIDDAY

After lunch, check into your hotel and take some time to relax or explore more of Winchester on foot. If you’re running in Saturday’s 10-K, this is also a good time to familiarize yourself with the area and save your energy for race weekend.

EVENING
Kids- Lace up those sneakers! The Kids’ Bloomin’ Mile is a fun, energetic race just for kids. Then find some seats to watch the Firefighters’ Parade, one of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival’s most beloved traditions. Watch as fire companies from across the region parade through Winchester in a lively display of lights, sirens, and community pride.

After the parade, the celebration continues at the Fireworks Show at John Handley High School, lighting up the night sky and marking an exciting start to the weekend. If you’re looking for additional entertainment before the fireworks, check out the evening’s festival music and activities. 

MORNING
Start your morning with the excitement of race day at the Apple Blossom 10K Road Race, a signature outdoor event that winds through Winchester’s historic streets and neighborhoods. Non-runners can line the route to cheer on participants or enjoy a morning walk downtown as the city buzzes with race-day energy. 

If you don’t feel like running, get tickets to the Sports Breakfast  where you can have breakfast and listen to the festival’s sports celebrities. Choose the experience that best fits your morning before heading into the day’s festivities.

Afterwards, explore the Old Town Midway. Grab a bite to eat, browse the downtown area, and enjoy the festival atmosphere before the afternoon’s main event.

AFTERNOON
Put your walking shoes on and spend the afternoon at the Grand Feature Parade, the hallmark event of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®. Secure a viewing spot along the parade route to watch marching bands, elaborate floats, equestrian units, and festival royalty pass by in a vibrant celebration of community and tradition.

With the parade stretching through the afternoon, be sure to leave some time afterward to explore Old Town, grab a snack, or take a break before evening entertainment.

EVENING
Wrap up the day at the Country Music Party, a celebration featuring live country music, dancing, and festival fun. Enjoy the energetic atmosphere and celebrate spring in the Shenandoah Valley before turning in for the night.

MORNING
After two busy days of races, parades, and festival celebrations, slow things down with a peaceful morning in Winchester. Enjoy breakfast and then head to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley Trails, to hike around the trails where art, history, and landscape come together. Tour the galleries, explore the Glen Burnie House, and stroll through the formal gardens—an especially peaceful and beautiful way to end the weekend.

AFTERNOON
Before heading home, continue the festival fun with the Apple Blossom Carnival, or attend the Contemporary Christian Concert for a more relaxed way to close out the weekend. Leave Winchester with a weekend filled with springtime scenery, outdoor adventures, races, parades, and traditions that make the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®.