Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-04-08
APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
DATE WILL BE AROUND MAY I

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom
Festival, the second to be held in
Winchester, will probably be held
about May LIST, it has been announced
by the Committee. This announce
ment was made in view Of the thous-
ands of inquiries coming into VIM
chester asking the date of the Festi-
val
The exact dates will not be an
nounced until it is more or less def
nitely known when the Apple Bios
SONS will arrive. The horficulturists
have way of telling this.
The peach growers of Georgia held
their Peach Blossom festival March
21st. They raised $4,000 to pay the
expenses the elaborate festival. which
was staged at Fort Valley. News of
the event were carried in the New
York papers. Western North Caro-
lima interests are now carrying big
Advertisements in the Florida papers,
inviting the tourists to return by
Western North Carolina in order to
see the miles of peach blossoms in
that state.
The chief event of the Shenandoah
Apple Blossom Festival will be the
allegorical pageant of the discovery
and settlement of the Shenandoah
Valley.
The ceremony is intended to SYM
holize the discovery of the Shenan-
doah Valley by the knights of the
Golden. Horseshoe, and the suhse-
quent occupation of the Valley by
the whites.
Governor Spottswood starting
from Tidewater, Virginia, discovered
the Valley during the explorations
with his Knights of the Golden
Horseshoe. They were enchanted by
its beauty and fertility and after a
few days sojourn returned to Tide
water with wonderful tales of the
richness and beauty of the country.
These tales lured the people of the
Tidewater to invade the Valley. In
the ceremony Princess Shenandoah
symbolizes the Valley and Prince
Tidewater the invading white man.
Prince Tidewater on his first visit
to the Valley has seen Princess Shen-
andoah. he is enamored Of her lowell
ness and beauty, but because he is
white man and she an Indian. he has
returned to his people, unable to
overcome his love for the beautiful
Princess, he organizes a large party
Of knights and Ladies of the Golden
Horr esaoe and returns to the Valley
70 r9ssess himself of the Princess of
his raams.
P1reess Shenandoah. daughter of
the s'al is the ruling spirit of the
Val " &C Virginia before its discov-
cry ~ tAe white man.
i Sic, With her retinue of Indian
ma. SIN waiting, and her body guard
Of Sa Vince braves is discovered Mt
their teyotions on the apex of the
pyramid built by the Shawnees upon
i which to woship the Stars, by the
knights of the Golden Horseshoe who
come trooping into the scene on their
beautiful horses accompanied by n
bevv OF Colonial DANES clad in the
costume Of the day.
Prince Tidewater is in love with
the beautiful Princess Shenandoah
Daughter of the Stars, seizes and Il
about to carry her away when the
braves of her body puard interfere to
prevent the abduction and tear her
{ fom his arms.
The Prince pursued by the braves
attempts to make his escape but the
Princess, breaking away from her
guards. follows the Prince, whose
beauty and fearlessness captured her
fancy.
| She throws her arms about him and
persuades him to stay. and in the
presence Of the dipnitariesof Tribe
and the assembled Knights and
Ladies of the Golden Horseshoe.
Prince Tidewater and Princess Shen-
andoah are married, the kneelinp
both arecrowned with the crown az
the Apple Blossoms.
This will be followed by COM
panv Of Quakers and Quakeresses.
symboiizing the peaceful invasion Of
the Vale yfrom Pennsylvania by the
followers Of William Penn. who came
at about the same time as the imnoi-
grants from Tidewater, Virginia.
These with their quaint costumes.
will form an attractive feature of the
Parade.
The chief value of the Apple Bios
som Festival is seen in the promotion
of good fellowship and co-operation
between all sections of the Shenan-
doah Valley. The petty ieaIousies
and antagonisms that have prevented
the separate communities from ioin-
ing hands and pushing forward with
a united front for the general adj
vancement of the entire valley. are
disappearing.