Paul Buckner installs a light fixture on the Wacky Worm roller coaster at the carnival on Tuesday. Dennis Grundman/Daily Organizers, vendors prepare for anticipated crowds, celebrities
By Alex Bridges - abridges@nvdaily.com
WINCHESTER -- The Bloom may have found some magic this year after all, organizers say.
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival signed some famous people to serve as guests and kept most of its popular events for its 83rd year -- all despite a bad economy and a slim budget, according to Executive Director John Rosenberger.
Movie actor Val Kilmer, TV star Randolph Mantooth and former Washington Redskin John Riggins top the roster of guests for this year's festival. Rosenberger noted that Kilmer is one of the festival's most high-profile celebrities in years.
But the festival won't feature any major new events this year.
"We're kind of in a bit of a holding because of the economy," Rosenberger said. "We're trying to hold our own and trying to put on as good a festival as we possibly can given the economy, but the economy certainly had an effect. It's just undeniable."
"We just have to work with it but, in a lot of ways, I don't think it shows."
The festival's Thursday Night Fever Disco Dance Party, the Westminster-Canterbury Breakfast Walk and the Prayer Brunch have sold out, Rosenberger said. Tickets are still available for other events, such as the Friday luncheons.
WINCHESTER -- The Bloom may have found some magic this year after all, organizers say.
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival signed some famous people to serve as guests and kept most of its popular events for its 83rd year -- all despite a bad economy and a slim budget, according to Executive Director John Rosenberger.
Movie actor Val Kilmer, TV star Randolph Mantooth and former Washington Redskin John Riggins top the roster of guests for this year's festival. Rosenberger noted that Kilmer is one of the festival's most high-profile celebrities in years.
But the festival won't feature any major new events this year.
"We're kind of in a bit of a holding because of the economy," Rosenberger said. "We're trying to hold our own and trying to put on as good a festival as we possibly can given the economy, but the economy certainly had an effect. It's just undeniable."
"We just have to work with it but, in a lot of ways, I don't think it shows."
The festival's Thursday Night Fever Disco Dance Party, the Westminster-Canterbury Breakfast Walk and the Prayer Brunch have sold out, Rosenberger said. Tickets are still available for other events, such as the Friday luncheons.
Luke Russell pumps up basketballs at a hoops game at the carnival on Tuesday. Dennis Grundman/DailyThe unit count of Saturday's Grand Feature Parade has passed 200, a number Rosenberger said could be one of the largest in years. Likewise, Friday's Firefighters' Parade will feature more vehicles than usual, despite some local complaints about a ban on sirens, Rosenberger said. Rules for each parade, such as the ban on sirens, are imposed by the organizers of each event. The local volunteer fire and rescue associations placed the ban on sirens for their parade, he said.
The Kids' Mile and the 10K also have increased, Rosenberger said.
Fireworks will return to the festival after a year off for construction on the field at John Handley High School. Rosenberger said he was happy to see this event return, but noted that organizers have to work around construction barriers to have the show go on and allow people to watch.
"And next year, it'll be great," he said. "We can have the whole campus and set it up right."
The absence of the Rock Harbor Tent meant festival organizers had to move events to other locations. The Firefighter's Reception on Thursday will be held at the Greenwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue station on Greenwood Road. The Young at Heart Dance returns to the Sprint Tent on the Winchester Medical Center, and the Queen's Ball will be held at Shenandoah University.
Many of the changes may go unnoticed by festival-goers, Rosenberger said. Some of the changes made last year to events held at Jim Barnett Park went unnoticed then because of the rain that Sunday, he recalled.
"Nobody went so nobody saw the changes," Rosenberger said. "It must've rained 2 inches."
Those changes and more will be in effect this year, including the layout, parking and traffic flow.
Vertigo, a new attraction at the Apple Blossom Carnival, is 109 feet tall. Riders will have their feet 86 feet off the ground. Dennis Grundman/Daily"Hopefully, we'll get some decent weather and everyone can get out there and see all the changes to Weekend in the Park," Rosenberger said.
The festival has started to schedule some activities inside the War Memorial Building as well as outside, he said. These include cooking demonstrations and a challenge between two local Italian chefs, according to Rosenberger.
Festival organizers already have next year in mind.
"As things unfold you can see where it could be changed or improved, so you're already thinking 'Well, I know what we'll do next year,' so we're already creating the list of things we're going to talk about this summer for next year," Rosenberger said. "During the ongoing festival it might be some of the best times to plan for next festival. That's when you can see what's working and what isn't."The Kids' Mile and the
The festival has started to schedule some activities inside the War Memorial Building as well as outside, he said. These include cooking demonstrations and a challenge between two local Italian chefs, according to Rosenberger.
Festival organizers already have next year in mind.
"As things unfold you can see where it could be changed or improved, so you're already thinking 'Well, I know what we'll do next year,' so we're already creating the list of things we're going to talk about this summer for next year," Rosenberger said. "During the ongoing festival it might be some of the best times to plan for next festival. That's when you can see what's working and what isn't."The Kids' Mile and the
Adam Pritchard and Jimi Tesar deliver food at the carnival. Dennis Grundman/Daily
No comments:
Post a Comment