WINCHESTER, VA - Every spring, locals in Virginia count down to the Apple Blossom Festival and the planning has already begun.
Considered the pink and green town, Winchester is also known for hosting the largest event that attract thousands of people a year, including celebrities such as Mario Lopez and Lucille Ball.
"We have the love of pink and green, we have the blossoms, we have the entire community backing up one festival that makes it what it is today," says Ivy Tyson, chairman of the volunteer fair.
Organizers held their volunteer fair, allowing locals to sign up and offer a hand on the big day.
Sabra Veach, a long-time Winchester resident, says the festival was a big part of her childhood.
"I remember as a kid, we would get our pickup truck and park on one of the side streets so that we could see the feature parade which was fun," says Veach, also a coach for the Sheetz Disco Dance Party during the festival.
The festival is a series of events featuring dances, parades, dinners, band competitions and approximately 250,000 crowds attend each year.
History also falls behind the colors of pink and green.
"Years ago, there were thousands of acres of apple orchards. Since then, the development has changed a little bit and there aren't as many apple orchards; the apples have been a major industry," says Lou Ann Thomspon, president of the Apple Blossom Festival.
The town is also known for the Miss Apple Blossom pageant where the women have a chance to go onto Miss America.
"The talent is primarily the focus for selection of Miss Apple Blossom but also the interview process. This goes along for a few days before the pageant, leading up to the pageant and the night of the pageant, it's just so exciting," adds Thompson.
Thomspon said her father was the one who allowed her to appreciate apple blossom and in return, that is how she knew what this year's theme was. After much discussion and contemplation, she named it "Love to Bloom."
The 86th Apple Blossom Festival will be held from April 26 to May 5th next year.
Considered the pink and green town, Winchester is also known for hosting the largest event that attract thousands of people a year, including celebrities such as Mario Lopez and Lucille Ball.
"We have the love of pink and green, we have the blossoms, we have the entire community backing up one festival that makes it what it is today," says Ivy Tyson, chairman of the volunteer fair.
Organizers held their volunteer fair, allowing locals to sign up and offer a hand on the big day.
Sabra Veach, a long-time Winchester resident, says the festival was a big part of her childhood.
"I remember as a kid, we would get our pickup truck and park on one of the side streets so that we could see the feature parade which was fun," says Veach, also a coach for the Sheetz Disco Dance Party during the festival.
The festival is a series of events featuring dances, parades, dinners, band competitions and approximately 250,000 crowds attend each year.
History also falls behind the colors of pink and green.
"Years ago, there were thousands of acres of apple orchards. Since then, the development has changed a little bit and there aren't as many apple orchards; the apples have been a major industry," says Lou Ann Thomspon, president of the Apple Blossom Festival.
The town is also known for the Miss Apple Blossom pageant where the women have a chance to go onto Miss America.
"The talent is primarily the focus for selection of Miss Apple Blossom but also the interview process. This goes along for a few days before the pageant, leading up to the pageant and the night of the pageant, it's just so exciting," adds Thompson.
Thomspon said her father was the one who allowed her to appreciate apple blossom and in return, that is how she knew what this year's theme was. After much discussion and contemplation, she named it "Love to Bloom."
The 86th Apple Blossom Festival will be held from April 26 to May 5th next year.
