Show Blossom T gain t Festival Is Attuned io to QI Season ason I W Features WINCHESTER VA v VA- VA A- A Nestled In the grandeur of historic Shenandoah valley Winchester will play host to thousands of visitors May 1 Arid and 2 at the th Shenandoah Apple Blossom festival f Held Held annually during apple blossom time the festival of of- of offers fers two gala ala days of festivities ties featuring parades band concerts colorful pageants street dancing and glittering ballroom parties Although the color and pageantry of the tho festival are the main lures festival guests guest also aJao take advantage of the occasion to browse around a countryside studded with histo histo- tie tic sites cite Long recognized at a a the apple ppl capital Of ot Virginia Winchester also tao 1 i is rich In American history A As Aa headquarters headquarter for or both the union sales and anti confederate forces Winchester played a prominent part art In ID the tile War Between the State Stake During Daring Darin the course coarse of that Out strife the Ule town reputedly changed hands hand no less Ie than 70 times time More Mora than Civil CIvill war engagements engagement were fought within a radius radio of ot M 5 mile mUe miles of the town Among the military leaden leaders estai lishing their headquarters here were Phillip Sheridan and Stonewall Jackson Jacklon Sheridan Sheridan's ride from Win Win- WinChester Winchester Chester t tit 05 Cedar Creek provided the Inspiration for the poem Sheri Sherl dan dana Ride by Thomas Buchanan I Read High Battle Toll Ton Indicative of ot the toll taken by va- va va various rlou rious Civil war battles battle in the area both a national cemetery and a con con- confederate confederate federate cemetery are located here In the national cemetery are in In- In Interred interred union soldiers soldier of whom 1881 2281 were unidentified The con can confederate federate cemetery named for lor Stone Stone- Stonewall wall wan Jackson Jacklon 1 is In the final resting place pl c for lor nearly soldiers from the 11 confederate tate states and Mary Mary- Maryland land and Kentucky A tall shaft hatt In Inthe inthe the cemetery is le I the monument to the confederate unknown dead In tracing its Ita historic significance however Winchester can ean hearken back far beyond Civil war days daYI It was during the French and Indian war wars near after alter General Braddock de di- di feat teat near Fort Duquesne Duquene In July Jul 1755 that George Georee Washington then thena a lieutenant colonel was teas wa given livan corn com mand mend of ot colonial forces force on the fron fron- frontier frontier tier Washington then built For Fort Loudon at Winchester maintaining his hil headquarters here bere In lu 1758 87 I r T Te visitor Iter whose Interest Is b I focused on on oa scenic attractions attraction Winchester offer olter the charm harm and aad exhilarating r springtime atmos amo phere pher of et verdant Shenandoah valley waDer a as aa well a as aa the Ibe world world-re r f q 9 s f m i ie c e Q Qc R Rr r n 4 3 sus p In a colorful setting ot of blossom blossom- hag 1111 apple tree trees Winchester Va ar stages Its Ita annual Apple Blossom t t r festival Typical scenes Include the queens queen's float a school childrens children's pageant and authentic mountaineer entertainers a as shown above skyline drive which la in It Its Ita mile t mUe loop over the lofty crest of 0 the Blue Blae Ridge moun moms twins provides a spectacular view of the valley below bel as a wen well a II as of 0 majestic majeaU peaks Imposing Impe waterfall waterfalls and lash huh virgin tim Um- timberlands berland berlands Origin of 01 the Apple Blossom fee fes fe dates date back to 1924 when whets it was instituted as u a local affair In la connection with a drive to publicize historic Shenandoah valley vaDer Sus Sun Suspended from 1942 through 1945 1845 th the festival wa was wal revived last year ear and attracted more mow thin visitors to Winchester 1 h Parade arade I Is II Highlight Highlight of th the two day tw two y affair 1 Is 11 Isa a parade heralded ill a as on one of the most moat colorful In America Included In the Ule procession lasting approximately two hours hour are crack band bands and nd bugle bUlle corps corpa smartly uniformed military school cadet corps decorated decorated ed floats float marching units and other features feature Another dramatic spec spec- spectacle tide Is the torchlight parade staged on the first night Our Heritage a pageant of time springtime and aid depicting local his his his- historical events event 1 I Is staged by app 1000 Winchester school chU- chU dren a as a highlight of ot tie h open open- tog ing In day days dIa program Coronation of Queen Shenandoah tour tours of th the blossoming 1 apple or or- or orchards orchards automobile aut races fireworks display receptions for lor the queen and her princesses band concerts street dances and the queens queen's ball are among other ether festival attractions |