Blossoms, brews, bikes and more are coming to the Wenatchee Valley from April 27 to May 7. Washington’s oldest major festival is celebrating its 104^th year in 2023. Downtown will be abuzz with a food fair, live music, carnival rides and more.

The Apple Blossom Festival stems from the dedication of Sue Wagner, a Wenatchee transplant from New Zealand. Recognizing Wenatchee as a major apple growing area and the contribution of women to the growth of America, Wagner organized the first Apple Blossom Festival in May of 1920.

Over the last century, the festival has drawn visitors from across the globe to enjoy the family-oriented community celebration that showcases Wenatchee Valley’s people, heritage and fruit industry.

Here are just some of the festival’s events:

Blossoms and Brews Beer Garden, April 27-May 7: Inside Memorial Park at the Entertainment Stage, the Blossoms and Brews Beer Garden serves local beer, wine, seltzers and ciders every day of the festival. It’s a great opportunity to try a variety of different Central Washington made drinks.

Memorial Park Food Fair, April 27-May 7: The Food Fair runs throughout the festival. More than 20 booths feature items such as tasty funnel cakes, hearty barbecue, various ethnic cuisine, crepes, ice cream, espresso, caramel apples, elephant ears, pizza, sandwiches and more.

GESA Credit Union Entertainment Stage, April 27-May 7: Local and national bands will be performing classic rock, country, big band jazz, reggae and more during lunch and dinner hours on weekdays and all day on both weekends.

Funtastic Shows Carnival, April 28-May 7: Funtastic Shows is America's seventh largest carnival, with approximately 25 rides and games for all age groups plus lots of food. The Carnival is located at the Wenatchee Valley Mall, East Wenatchee in the Sportsman’s Warehouse parking lot, 611 Valley Mall Parkway, East Wenatchee.

Apple Blossom Musical, May 3-13: The Numerica Performing Arts Center and Music Theater of Wenatchee production of the Broadway smash hit Shrek The Musical. Tickets are on sale at the Numerica Performing Arts Center or online at numericapac.org.

Classy Chassis Parade & Car Show, May 5-6: The Classy Chassis Parade is at 6 p.m. on May 5, featuring new cars, antique vehicles and more. After the parade, from 8-10 p.m. at Gateway Park, there will be a live band. To get an up-close look at some of the “Classy Chassis”, the car show is on May 6.

Arts & Crafts Fair, May 5-7: This 3-day event in Memorial Park features 140vendors with handcrafted items, including clothing, music, wood, pottery, candles/soap, metal, country, jewelry, leather and more.

Tour de Bloom, May 5-7: This three-day, four race cycling event is organized by the Wenatchee Valley Velo Club. Featuring a Waterville Road Race on Friday, the Palisades Merckx-style Time Trial and the Downtown Wenatchee Criterium on Saturday, and the Plain Road Race with a hilltop finish on Sunday.

Stemilt Grand Parade, May 6: The cannon sounds promptly at 11 a.m. to announce the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival Grand Parade, which has been going strong since the festival's beginning in 1919. More than 100,000spectators watch the parade each year. Starting with the traditional Apple Blossom Fun Run and the daredevil maneuvers of the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill team, the parade lineup is full of bands from throughout the Northwest with colorful floats and equestrian units.

The festival also includes the Art 4 Kidz contest, Youth Day celebration and Youth Parade, the Stand Against Racism: Until Justice Just Is march and more.

More about the festivities can be found on the Apple Blossom Festival Website www.appleblossom.org.

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