By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
No Apple Blossom Parade or Pageant this year.
Organizers have announced social distancing and coronavirus guidelines have forced the cancellation of both this year.
“This has been a difficult decision, but we have to take the safety of all participants in the parade and pageant. into account,” Executive Director Michelle Wolfe said in a written statement released by the Apple Blossom Festival. “This is the first time in my 20 years with the Apple Blossom that I wasn’t starting a parade at 9:30 a.m. the first Saturday in May.”
Apple Blossom President Ken Rosenauer said that the parade has been on the first Saturday in May for as long as he can recall, at least 50 years.
The pageant had been scheduled for March 21st and then rescheduled for May 15th. The parade had been scheduled for May 2nd and then rescheduled for June 6th.
Apple Blossom leaders have decided to move the annual pageant to crown the 2021 royalty of November 14th, with the rehearsal the day before on Friday, November 13th.
“Moving the pageant to the fall will give our royalty and their attendants a better chance to participate in some community service and some great community events and to promote the Apple Blossom Parade for about six months,” Wolfe said.
The new pageant deadline will be November 1st. Click here for the Apple Blossom Festival website for entry forms and additional information.