St. Joseph Mayor Bill Falkner rides with members of the Benton alumni band near the head of the parade.

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Apple Blossom royalty endure the light rain as they greeted spectators along the parade route.

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A couple of bagpipers before the parade gets underway.

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Members of American Legion Post 287 of Savannah, Mo., prepare to roll out from the staging area at Noyes Boulevard.

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The Savannah Savage Marching Band brass strike up a tune as they leave the staging area on Noyes Boulevard. The band captured first place again this year.

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This float, created by St. Joseph Figure Skating, is among those in the 2015 Apple Blossom that harken back to the wonderful floats of yesteryear. The unit was first runner-up for best float.

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If you stand close enough together, one umbrella can take care of keeping a whole family dry.

Rain can't dampen the spirits of these three young women as they ride a fire truck down Frederick Avenue.

Welcome to the official website of the 2016 Apple Blossom Festival. This site will provide you everything you need to connect to the Apple Blossom pageant and parade.

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Parade day instructions
For parade entry instructions, click on this link to download a Microsoft Word file.

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2016 Apple Blossom Grand Marshals
The 2016 state Benton Cardinals girls basketball team has been named the Apple Blossom Parade grand marshals. They represent the best of the best in the state. The undefeated Cardinals, led by head coach Brett Goodwin, finished with 31-0, a perfect record for just the second time in program history.

Also being honored in the VIP section of the parade will be the state champion Central Indian cheerleaders, the 2nd place Lafayette boys basketball team, the 3rd place Lafayette girls softball team and the 3rd place Bishop LeBlond girls volleyball team.

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2016 Apple Blossom Royalty
Congratulations to the 2016 Apple Blossom Royalty: Queen Jessica Janorschke, Junior Queen Carissa Martin and Princess Lillian Carter.

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Parade theme
We're pretty excited about our 2016 theme, "Under the Big Top." It sets the right tone for our parade, our people, and our community.

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Parade Time and Route

The 2016 Apple Blossom will roll out from Noyes Boulevard and Frederick Avenue beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 7. The route runs west on Frederick to 9th Street, then south one block to Felix Street, and finally west to 5th Street.

Staging for the parade: All units form up on Northeast Parkway. To enter the staging area, drive to North Ashland Avenue, at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Northeast Parkway. From there units drive down Northeast Parkway and begin staging, or forming up. The units turn at Corby Pond and come up Northwest Parkway to Ashland and Noyes, then on to Frederick. There is no through traffic around Corby Pond, which is blocked to traffic at both Corby Parkway and 22nd Street on the west.

For expanded information and guidelines on the parade, just click on Parade details/entry form in the upper right of this page.

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Looking back
The 2015 Apple Blossom Parade is history. As occasionally happens, there was more rain than shine in the parade. Yet, both participants and spectators were great sports and took full advantage of being involved with St. Joseph's annual rite of spring.

Winners in the 2015 Parade:
Best of Parade -- Johnson Controls
First Runner-Up -- St. Joseph Figure Skating
Second Runner-Up -- Dance Arts
Best Band -- Savannah Marching Savages
Best Vehicle -- Military Heritage Museum
Best Theme -- First Baptist Church

Several units of St. Joseph's Moila Shriners travel through Downtown. The Shriners are as much a part of the Apple Blossom as royalty and marching bands.

Thanks to all who participated, either with an entry or as a spectator. As usual, the City of St. Joseph was outstanding in its support of the parade — particularly police officers and public works employees. St. Joseph area media did their usual sterling job. We couldn't have done it without all of you.

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2015 Parade Photos
Photos of the 2015 parade -- including those on this page -- have been posted. Click the 2015 and earlier parade pix link at upper right to take you to a slideshow. If you find images you'd like to download and print, just click on the "View all" button below the slideshow.

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The Apple Blossom is St. Joseph's most popular parade. How do we know?

Well, you picked the Apple Blossom as best parade/festival in 2015 Readers' Choice voting, sponsored by the St. Joseph News-Press. In fact, we've won that award 16 years in a row, earning us the Diamond Award several years ago.

Bottom line, this is your award. You're the ones who make the parade what it is — St. Joseph's own rite of spring. We just come along for the ride. The Apple Blossom staff and volunteers are proud to continue to serve you, the citizens of Greater St. Joseph, and to do all we can to keep this St. Joseph's best and your favorite parade.

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Contact us if you are interested in serving on the Apple Blossom Committee or if you have questions not answered on the site. The Apple Blossom phone number is 816.261.0422. Please leave a message. Another option is to email Executive Director Michelle Wolfe or Apple Blossom President Ken Rosenauer by clicking the links at the bottom of this page..

Click on links at the right for pages covering both the pageants and parade, entry forms for both, and photos and information about previous Apple Blossom festivals.

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Special thanks to these local businesses that help make the Apple Blossom better: