Are you a lover of apple pie? Mulled apple cider? Apple fritters? Apples are about as synonymous with autumn as pumpkins, and Washington is the nation’s largest producer of this classic fruit. Though apple trees are common across the state, pound for pound, the Chelan, Okanogan, and Methow valleys grow the most, and fruit production has become a vital part of their local economies. Since 1919, the Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee has celebrated Washington’s apples. So, as we come into peak apple-eating season, consider planning ahead to visit one of Washington’s oldest festivals in the spring!
Wenatchee self-identifies as the "Apple Capital of the World." Though we can't be sure if this is true, they certainly have a reasonable claim to the title. The first man documented to plant an apple tree in the city was Philip Miller in 1872. Nowadays, Chelan County dedicates over 14,000 acres to rolling apple orchards.
Originally called "Blossom Days," the Ladies Musical Club developed the festival to celebrate the fruit's local significance. One of the original organizers, Sue Callahan, was possibly inspired by festivals she attended in her home country of New Zealand.
These women couldn't have foreseen how the Apple Blossom Festival would balloon since its inception. Over 100 years later, the event draws crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
Of the festival's numerous attractions, the Grand Parade has been a fixture since the start. Yet the ranks of those participating in this tradition have swelled. Recently, the Grand Parade had over 5,500 people taking part!
In addition to a fun run, an expo of exciting maneuvers from the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team, a fancy-footed equestrian unit, umpteen youth groups, and various vibrant floats, the parade introduces the year's Apple Blossom Queen to the festival's spectators.
Annually recognizing this stand-out citizen calls back to the Apple Blossom Festival's feminist roots. Founders like Sue Callahan were deeply invested in women's suffrage and hoped the celebration would highlight women's contributions to the Wenatchee community.
There's something miraculous about an apple. At its core, each of its seeds has the potential to grow into something beautiful and generative. The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is no different. Its original organizers would be very proud of what their celebration became.
