Washington State Apple Blossom Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washington State Apple Blossom Festival |
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Apple blossoms in early spring
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| Begins | late April |
| Ends | early May |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | Wenatchee, Washington |
| Inaugurated | 1920 |
| Attendance | 100,000 (2011) |
| Website | appleblossoms.org |
The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is a super fun event that happens every year in Wenatchee, Washington. It usually starts in late April and ends in early May. This festival began way back in 1920. It was a small, one-day event then. Now, it's a huge eleven-day celebration! You can enjoy a carnival, golf, tasty food, and awesome parades. There's also an arts and crafts fair and live shows in Memorial Park.
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History of the Apple Blossom Festival
The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival started in 1919. It was first called "Blossom Days." The festival was created to celebrate how important the apple industry was to the Wenatchee area. Apples were, and still are, a big deal there!
Early Beginnings: Blossom Days
The very first festival took place in 1920. It was organized by the Ladies Musical Club. This first event was just one day long. It happened in Memorial Park. People enjoyed songs, speeches, maypoles, and even baseball games. The festival was very popular. Many people came to visit. This success made sure the festival would continue each year.
In 1921, the Commercial Club took over. This club later became the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce. They helped the festival grow even more.
New Name and Growth
The festival stopped for a few years during World War II. When it started again, it got a new name. It became the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival. This new name showed how important the apple growing industry was in central Washington.
In 1967, Wenatchee made a special connection. They became a sister city with Aomori, Japan. Aomori also has an apple blossom festival. This connection helps people from both cities learn about each other.
Festival Cancellations
Sometimes, big events can cause festivals to be canceled. The Apple Blossom Festival was canceled from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II. In 2020, the festival was supposed to celebrate its 100th year. However, it was canceled again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next year, in 2021, the festival happened a bit later, in early June.
