Evening star., 1947-05-02
By Horriet Griffiths
s.nr ssrff ceuespondent

WINCHESTER, Vas May A.
Apple Blossom Festival visitors
refused to allow q rain this morning
to interfere seriously with the gen
eral holiday spirit.
AS the showers fell, many people
congregated in doorways or sat in
their cars but most merely covered
their heads with newspapers or
scarfs, and Continued the celebration.
The weather forecast was for oc-
casional showers during the day but
festival officials planned to stage the
scheduled activities, so far as
possible.
Chester A. Hobert, director of the
grand feature parade scheduled for
2 pm, said it would 60 on despite
the weather. One festival Official
observed, We've never lost a parade
yet"
At Handley School an estimated
one-third of yesterdays more than
10000 spectators assembled despite
the dampness for repeat perform
ance of the pageant
Visitors continued to pour into
town. Festival officials expect that
125,000 will have attended the two
day ceremony by tonight.
A carnival spirit prevailed as visi-
tors attended the busy street fair,
listened to band concerts and visited
the blooming orchards.
In two roped-off street sections
downtown are all the features OF
q county fair-pink cotton candy
and hot dogs. card trick artists,
weight and age guessers. trick nov
elites and Ferris wheel.
Groups of Boy Scouts and uni
formed bands and marching units,
in town for the grand festival pa
rade, add color to the scene.
The parade was to include more
than 80 floats, more than SO bands,
and drum and hugle corps units
from as far away as Miami, Fla, and
other marching units, led by Queen
Shenandoah and her court. Gen.
Jacob L. Devers. commander of the
Army Ground Forces. is grand mar
shal of the parade, and DIR. L. M.
Allen Of Winchester, chief marshal.
20 Bands to Mass.
A mass band concert will follow
the parade, with 20 bands partici-
patlng on the Handley School
grounds. Another band concert will
be held at City Hall pavilion, with
others to follow.
The queens ball at the Armory
at 10 o'clock tonight, with music
by Jan CARRIER and his Orchestra,
viii complete the scheduled festivi-
ties.
Yesterday. Gov. Tuck of Virginia
crowned Miss Jean Cartwright Lane
queen of the festival at ceremonies
In the Handley School Bowl, wit
messed by more than 10000 persons.
A bright sun shone on the scene
before the stately Colonial-style
school. where spectators filled the
reserved .seat sections, lined the
grassy slopes of the bowl and pushed
against the ropes bordering the
grounds
Gas balloons escaped their own
ers and drifted into the sky as
buglers from Massanutten Acad-
erny announced the arrival of the
queen, gowned in white flowing
robes. She was preceded by the
80 princesses, wearing long green
Aaid dresses with hooped skirts
Kisses of Congratulation.
After the coronation, the queen
was congratulated with kiss from
Coy. Lane. another by Gen. Devers.
Gov. Tuck bestowed the final kiss
after inquiring. rs 1t my turn
now"
The two Governors who recently
met at Mount Vernon to iron out
differences between the two States
on Potomac River fishing problems,
had renewed acquaintances earlier
at a stag luncheon for distinguished
guests at the Winchester Country
Club.
Seated on her throne and sur
rounded by the members OF her
court, Miss Lane watched the color
full Pageant of Spring presented by
the school children under the direc-
ton of Garland. r. Quarles. super
intendent of Winchester Schools.
Near the throne 8-year-oId Ellen
Mitchell Kalbach, the crown bear
e4, enjoyed . cfocolata -ire cream
2If& s+s "