This mini-float deserves recognition as a patriotic tour de force.

---

Military bearing, spit and polish are evident in this young ROTC cadet.

---

This young parade participant is traveling in comfort and style — with a sucker to boot.

---

Colorful seems to be the order of the day, at least with this bowser pulling its owner down Frederick Avenue with the Darcee's dance entry.

---

Another young miss enjoys her parade moments in this fringed wagon.

---

Entrants traveled the parade route in all kinds of conveyances, including this hoverboard with the Johnson Controls unit.

---

Smiles all around seemed the order of the day at the 2017 parade -- matching the theme "Miles of Smiles." Certainly that's true for these girls and moms with Darcee's Dance Studio.

Parade entries come and parade entries go, but seldom will you see the likes of this unit from the 2017 parade.

 

Welcome to the official website of the 2018 Apple Blossom Festival. This site will provide you everything you need to connect to the Apple Blossom pageant and parade.

---

Time's a waistin', and the deadline is just around the corner to submit your entry for the 2018 Apple Blossom Parade.

Standard deadline for entries was April 18.
Now, a late fee of $25 applies to all entries April 19-28.
Entries received April 29 to May 2 will pay a $50 late fee.
No entries accepted after May 2.

Just click here to go to the parade page here and find all the information you need plus your downloadable entry form.

---

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 2017 Readers' Choice voting, sponsored by the St. Joseph News-Press. In fact, we've won that award 18 years in a row, earning us the Diamond Award several years ago.

Help us to continue this legacy of quality by voting today for the Apple Blossom as your favorite parade. Just go to http://offers.newspressnow.com/ReadersChoice/ and follow instructions.

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.

---

Apple Blossom Grand Marshals
Two men who represent St. Joseph’s first families of Mexican descent will lead the 2018 Apple Blossom Parade.

Joe Canchola and Faustino Barbosa are second-generation members of families who immigrated here from Mexico in the early 1920s. Other Mexican family names are widely familiar and remain a big part of St. Joseph history: Cruz, Rocha, Guardado, Hernandez, Lopez, Cortez, Carillo, Martinez, Jimenez and Montemayor. In fact, some families can claim fifth and sixth generation descendants in St. Joseph.

Interestingly, two recent Apple Blossom queens are from the Jimenez family, Candace (2012) and Cassandra (2017).

The focus on St. Joseph’s Mexican families is a connection to this year’s Apple Blossom theme, “Viva St. Joseph: Apple Blossom Parade Celebrates Cinco de Mayo.” Cinquo de Mayo has become the traditional date in the United States to celebrate Mexican-American culture.

Plans call for other descendants of St. Joseph’s Mexican first families to ride in and walk alongside a float following the grand marshals. They will pass out information about the annual Fiesta along with candy.

---

Apple Blossom Pageant
Stephanie Kirk, daughter of Jodalyn and Robert Gadwood, was crowned 2018 Apple Blossom Queen at the Missouri Theater on March 10. Winning the title of Junior Queen was McKenzie Black, daughter of Shea and Yvonne Black. The Princess crown went to Gwendolyn Oswald, daughter of Heather and Jay Oswald.

The three -- along with their attendants -- will ride on floats in the Apple Blossom Parade on May 5.

Congratulations to the winning royalty and to all the young women and girls who competed.

 

---

Parade theme
Our theme for 2018 is "Viva St. Joseph: Apple Blossom Parade celebrates Cinco de Mayo." “The theme this year celebrates Cinco de Mayo, which is fitting since the parade falls on May 5, the date on which many in the United States honor Mexican-American culture,” Executive Director Michelle Wolfe said. And we're anxious to see how parade entries will use the theme to guide their decorations of floats and vehicles.

---

Parade time and route
The 2018 Apple Blossom will roll out from Noyes Boulevard and Frederick Avenue beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 5.

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.

---

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

Click here for a map of the parade route.

---

New folks running the Apple Blossom Barbecue
The 2018 Apple Blossom BBQ is now being led by the Made with Uncommon Character team. Early word is that all the fan favorites from previous barbecues are still on tap (including the beer tent, of course).

To find out more, just click here.

---

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.

---

Contact us if you are interested in serving on the Apple Blossom Committee or if you have questions not answered on this website. 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.

---

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