Several of St. Joseph's finest motorcycle officers always lead off the Apple Blossom.

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This Mom and her toddler enjoyed the
parade from a prime spot along Noyes Boulevard.

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This Lafayette High School trombonist was
part of the All-City Band, which won Best Band honors in 2019.

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Our 2019 Apple Blossom royalty (from left) are Queen Kassie Sears, Princess Nealeigh Ziolowski, and Junior Queen Victoria Felder.

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These girls -- along with all those in the
parade from Allison's School of Dance --
sport T-shirts with parade theme logos,
tiaras, and happy faces.

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Dogs have replaced horses as the new favorite parade animal. It has been several years since horses participated in the Apple Blossom -- generally to the relief of any walkers who followed them.

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These two are among the youngest participants in the parade, and they ride in style in a current version of the famed Radio Flyer wagon.

This entry by the Dance Arts Center in the 2019 Apple Blossom Parade was hands down the best of the best, winning it Best of Parade.We're hoping to
see even more of this high quality entry in 2020.

Welcome to the official website of the 2021 Apple Blossom Festival. This site will provide you everything you need to connect to the Apple Blossom Parade.

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Parade theme
Our theme for 2021 is "Telling Our Stories," which we've dusted off from 2020 when the festival was canceled due to the pandemic. As the third oldest Apple Blossom Parade in the nation, we're proud of our heritage and history. And we're anxious to see how parade entries will use the theme to guide their decorations of floats and vehicles.

We chose this theme for two reasons. One, it is a great idea for entries to use in designing their floats and vehicles. Second, it celebrates the St. Joseph News-Press in its 176th year of publication. As our 2021 corporate sponsor, the News-Press joins us also in celebrating St. Joseph and all of Northwest Missouri in our annual rite of spring -- the Apple Blossom Parade!

Deadline for Apple Blossom Parade entries is April 15 for the May 1 parade. Click here to go to the parade page where you'll find lots of information, including tips on decorating your floats and vehicles. The page also includes a link to a downloadable entry form.

IMPORTANT: Click here for instructions for parade entries on the day of the 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 this website. The Apple Blossom phone number is 816.261.0422. Please leave a message. Another option is to email Executive Director Michelle Wolfe by clicking the link 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: