The 2013 grand marshal was Jeff Hinton, director of bands at Missouri Western State University. He is riding with his wife, Kayla.

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Queen attendants Lilly Tighe (left) and Cassandra Jiminez shoot a selfie before the parade.

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St. Joseph Councilwoman Pat Jones waves a flag at spectators as the vintage fire truck rolls out from the parade staging area.

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A parade participant with National Beef Leathers sports one of the more interesting caps of the day.

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A pair of Moila clowns chat while waiting to join the parade marching down Frederick Avenue.

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The Heider family, stationed once again at the northwest corner of Noyes Boulevard and Frederick Avenue, where our photographs have captured them since at least 2008.

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Welcome bright spots on a damp, gray morning:
The wonderful expression (at left) accompanying the wild outfit, and the broad smile and raised glove of the female boxer.

Welcome to the official website of the Apple Blossom Festival -- including the pageant and the parade. Here you'll find everything you need to connect to the Apple Blossom.

Just click on one of the links at the right to find what you're looking for.

Parade theme
The theme for the 2014 Apple Blossom Festival is "Celebrating 90 Years." 1st Street Graphics once again designed a strong logo to support that theme. We encourage all parade participants to design their entries to reflect the theme. We're snatching up photos of old parade floats, especially those from the heyday of the Apple Blossom, such as some displayed on the Parade details/entry form link above right. Find one that you'd like to use as a model for your 2014 entry.

Seeking nonagenarians to be Grand Marshal
Since the Apple Blossom is celebrating 90 years, organizers are seeking resident who is 90-99 years old to be the 2014 Grand Marshal. Any person who would like to be considered must submit his or her name, phone number, address, and birth date to the Apple Blossom Committee by phone at 816-261-0422, by email to smbw00@stjoelive.com or by surface mail to The Apple Blossom, P.O. Box 34, St. Joseph, MO. 64502. Deadline is March 21.

Looking back
The 2013 Apple Blossom Parade is history. The weather was lousy. It was cold and damp. Yet, the Apple Blossom featured some of the best floats we've seen in many years.

This long shot looking west on Frederick Avenue late in the morning shows how gloomy the day was.

An Apple Blossom Facebook post from Michele Janorschke on the morning of the parade said it well:
"Apple Blossom 2013, ah, in a few years we will look back and say, 'Remember that year when it snowed a few days before and the queen and her court wore long johns? Seemed more like a Christmas parade.' Remember folks, the day is yours to enjoy, I hope you enjoy it!"

Thanks to all who participated, either with an entry or as a spectator. St. Joseph area media were wonderfully supportive; we needed you, and you came through. And we especially appreciate the police officers and the public works employees of the city of St. Joseph. We couldn't have done it without all of you.

2013 Parade Winners
While we believe all our entries are winners, the judges chose the following. Congratulations!

Best of Parade: Allison's School of Dance

First Runner-Up: Johnson Controls

Second Runner-Up: St. Joseph Figure Skating Club

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Best Theme: Freidel's Lawn and Landscaping

Best Band: Savannah Marching Savages

2013 Parade Photos
Photos of the 2013 parade -- including those on this page -- have been posted. Use the 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 2013 Readers' Choice voting, sponsored by the St. Joseph News-Press. In fact, we've won that award 14 years in a row, making us eligible for the Diamond Award.

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 at the addresses below.

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:

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