The History of the Apple Blossom Festival

Early Years: A Look into the Past

Although the sweet scent of apple blossoms has wafted over the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia for almost 400 years, it was only in the early 1930s that it was recognized as a resource, and that something should be done to exploit it.

A plaque attached to a reconstructed grist mill in Lequille, Annapolis County, which also was the site of the first farming by the colonizers of North America, notes that grain, certain vegetables and some fruits were planted there in apple seeds brought from France.

It was a few years later before there were blossoms, but from the 1620s forth, there have always been apples in the Annapolis Valley. It was not until the Planters, and later the Loyalists, arrived from New England that apple production was taken seriously.

Soon, orchards were springing up everywhere, and in a peak year, crops of nearly 3 million barrels were harvested. The aroma of the blossoms in May and June, along with the natural beauty of the bloom, made spring a season to be yearned for, long before the snows of winter had melted.

Boards of trade and councils had talked about a spring carnival at blossom time, but it was 1933 before talk was translated into action.

The first festival was held with Reg Caldwell as President. Other committee members were the late Mayor G. W. Lyons, H. O. Bishop, C. C. Eidt, G. R. Palmeter, R. W. Harris, M. A. Girvan, Dr. J. P. McGrath, T. P. Stent, G. L. Calkin and R. D. L. Bligh, all of Kentville.

The committee had convinced the provincial government of a blossom festival's value as a tourist attraction, and the government provided some financial assistance.

The provincial government continues to support the festival, but for many years a Booster Club has solicited support from participating communities, and in 1986 a Patrons Program was developed to encourage business firms and organizations to become festival sponsors.

Original objectives of the festival were to make the Valley's apple industry better known throughout North America and Europe; to publicize the scenic beauty of the area and the historic background of Longfellow's Land of Evangeline; and to provide an opportunity to foster and develop local talent through participation in festival events.

The format of the first festival was quite similar to all of those in succeeding years. There was a contest involving selection of a blossom queen from among princesses representing several apple growing communities. The queen was chosen by a panel of judges who based their decision on character, poise and personality of the young ladies. Mary Armour, of Middleton, was Queen Annapolisa I. Her coronation took place at the Dominion Experimental Station in Kentville, and on hand to cover the event was the Associated Screen News of Montreal, making newsreels to be shown in motion picture theatres throughout Canada and the United States.

Two years later, the Festival was incorporated by the provincial legislature.

By the time World War II began, the festival had become a three-day event and by this time, too, it had become internationally-renowned. A large press corps was present for these occasions, and a suite was set aside in the Cornwallis Inn as a working area for the newsmen.

In 1945, James Fitzpatrick, whose newsreels were syndicated as Voice of the Globe, and sold around the world, was on hand with a crew of cameramen, script writers and make-up artists for the filming of the coronation. For this occasion, the coronation took place in a Port Williams orchard.

On another occasion, a motion picture was made of "an apple blossom wedding" with Miss Gladys Wade portraying the bride, and Philip Donat, the groom. Miss Wade was a member of a well-known Kentville family. Mr. Donat was a brother of British film star Robert Donat, and the father of Peter Donat, a movie and television actor who is now a major figure in the Atlantic Theatre Festival in Wolfville.

Mr. Donat, possessed of a fine baritone voice, was also a member of a male quartet which entertained at many of the early festivals.

For many years, an historical pageant formed part of the blossom festival program. Directed by Miss Daisy Foster of Halifax, local people made up the cast. Two of them, J. Lorimer Ilsley and George C. Nowlan, later became ministers of finance in the Canadian government. Mr. Nowlan played the lead role of Glooscap in one of these pageants.

To the Present

The Apple Blossom Festival, which annually opens Nova Scotia's tourist season, continues to enjoy national and international recognition. In 1988 and 1991, it was selected by the American Bus Association as one of the Top 100 tourist events in North America. In 2001 Canada Post named the Festival as one of the top 10 tourist attractions in Canada. With this announcment they released the Apple Blossom Festival Stamp in 2001 for the 69th Festival. In 2002 the Royal Canadian Mint presented the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival - 2002 50-Cent Sterling Silver Coin.

Right from the start, children have been part of the festivals. Prior to the war, school choirs were prominently featured, and school bands from all over the province also took part. Present-day festivals have a large children's parade on Saturday morning.

During the war years, it was quite natural that the festival would assume a new role, that of raising funds for war-related activities. More than $4,000 was donated to the Queen's Fund, Red Cross and other such organizations.

With the declaration of peace, the festival was expanded to a four-day event with Monday being added for a "royal tour" of participating communities, usually from Windsor to Digby. Instituted by the late C. W. Fairn, of Wolfville, the tour included a short ceremony at each stop. The local princess, as well as the queen, would be featured, and there would be a band on hand to play during the stop. The princess found this stop an ideal opportunity to express her appreciation to the residents for selecting her to represent them.

Dates of the early festivals were fixed after consultation between the festival committee and one of the Valley's horticultural experts. For the first 30 or more years, Fred Hockey, head of the plant pathology division of the Kentville Experimental Station, named the dates.

Because of the need to plan further ahead, and to schedule entertainers and special guests, dates for the festival are now set five years in advance. This is done at each annual meeting, using the last Thursday in May as the starting time.

The Apple Blossom Festival became more decentralized as it grew. The coronation is now held in University Hall in Wolfville, and for many years the Queen's Ball was held at Acadia.

The Festival opens with a Volunteer Recognition Night in New Minas, to honor the contributions and dedication of volunteers who serve on major Festival committees, or who organize events in Valley communities.

The reigning Queen Annapolisa and new princesses are special guests at a formal tea held in a Valley community on Friday afternoon. It is there that each princess speaks on her interpretation of the festival theme as an important part of the pageant judging procedure.

The grand street parade on Saturday afternoon is held in Kentville, but for a few years it was moved to Kingston, Wolfville and Windsor.

Family Showcase, a major outdoor concert in Memorial Park in Kentville, was added in 1995, replacing the official opening event that had been held on Thursday nights for many years. Family Showcase includes a children's program, as well as entertainment by major regional or national entertainers. A spectacular fireworks display concludes the evening.

The Festival Art Show is hosted by a community artists group each year.

Headquarters for the early festivals was the Cornwallis Inn in Kentville, but for many years now it has been based at the Old Orchard Inn in Greenwich. Princesses arrive there on Thursday, and travel to festival events throughout the Valley.

The honour of crowning the new Queen Annapolisa goes each year to a local or visiting dignitary or special guest of the festival, assisted by the retiring queen.

Saturday is still a day given over to parades, the Children's Parade in the morning and the Grand Street Parade in the afternoon.

Entries for the Grand Street Parade assemble in New Minas and at Kentville Agricultural Centre and proceed to Kentville Memorial Park. The 150 entries that make up one of Canada's largest street parades include bands, marching units, equestrian entries, princess floats from participating communities, and floats representing business firms and organizations.

At various times, entertainment has been provided at Memorial Park following the parade, and the time after the parade also gives an opportunity for visitors to travel the roads of the Valley, enjoying the display of blossoms in apple orchards.

On Sunday morning, the festival party, led by Queen Annapolisa and princesses, worships at a Valley church. The afternoon schedule has included visits to Armed Forces Day at CFB Greenwood, and to Grand Pre National Historic Park, where children and adults present an outdoor concert.

The Festival concludes on Monday with a Valley-wide royal tour.

Over the years, festival queens have been called on to act as goodwill ambassadors for the Valley and the province, at functions such as the Imperial Fruit Show at Cardiff, Wales, which Queen Annapolisa III Margaret Messenger attended in 1935. Great Britain reciprocated the following year when Florence Small of London represented the Farmers' Union at the Apple Blossom Festival. The 1937 queen, Babs Harris, Wolfville, was guest of honour at the Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia. Enroute, she made public appearances in New York and Washington. Janet Kinsman, Queen Annapolisa XXVII, represented the Valley on a New England tour, as did Queen Annapolisa XXX Carol Kerr, in 1962.

The Valley always enjoys fair weather for its festival. No parade has ever been cancelled or postponed because of inclement weather, nor have many other outdoor events.

There have been many changes in apple production since the first festival was held in 1933. Old orchards have been uprooted, and newer varieties of apple trees planted. Most trees now are smaller than the traditional umbrella-shaped trees, but there are more to the acre.

One thing that hasn't changed is the spectacle and the scent of fruit trees in bloom, luring visitors from near and far. Apple blossom time signals the end of another winter, and offers the promise of a new growing season.