Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Apple Blossom Festival |
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| Begins | May 24th, 2023 (89th Festival) |
| Ends | May 29st, 2023 |
| Frequency | Yearly |
| Location(s) | Annapolis Valley |
| Years active | 87 |
| Inaugurated | 1933 |
| Website | https://www.appleblossom.com |
The Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival is a super fun yearly celebration in Nova Scotia's beautiful Annapolis Valley. It usually happens at the end of May. This festival brings many visitors to the area. They come to enjoy special events, local culture, and see the valley's orchards when they are full of blossoms. In 2017/2018, the festival celebrated its 85th year. Its theme was "Rooted in Tradition."
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A Look Back: History of the Festival
The Apple Blossom Festival started in 1933. Its main goal was to celebrate the traditions and farming history of the Annapolis Valley. Towns from Windsor to Digby all join in this event each year. The very first apple blossom parade happened in Kentville in 1933.
People who first started the festival wanted to show off the Valley's natural beauty. They also wanted to highlight the long history of the apple growing industry. Plus, it was a chance to help local artists and performers grow their talents. Today, the festival still promotes local culture and the natural environment. It also shows off many different local businesses.
About 300 volunteers help plan and take part in the festival. They work for several months to make sure everything is ready.
Fun Things to Do: Festival Events
The Apple Blossom Festival has many exciting events. Some popular ones include the Grand Street Parade, the Children's Parade, and the Apple Blossom Concert. The festival also has social events. These include dances, barbecues, and delicious home-cooked dinners. You can find these dinners at church and community halls.
The Big Parades
The Apple Blossom Grand Street Parade is one of the biggest parades in Canada. Nearly 100,000 people come to watch it! The parade route goes from New Minas to Kentville. It features marching bands and many colorful floats. These floats are sponsored by local groups, businesses, and organizations. There are also floats for the young people competing in the annual Leadership Competition.
The festival also has a big Children's Parade. This parade takes place on Saturday morning. It happens right before the Grand Street Parade.
Fireworks Fun
In the early 1990s, the fireworks show used to start the festival on Thursday night. Later, it was moved to Saturday night. Since then, the fireworks have sometimes been on Friday and sometimes on Saturday. In recent years, the fireworks have been held only on Friday night. They usually happen right after a local radio station's anniversary celebration.
