The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® and the MSV are partnering to present a special exhibition celebrating The Bloom! Opening in 2027—the year of the 100th festival—the exhibition will explore the people, history, and art behind Winchester’s iconic pink-and-green tradition.

An open call for exhibition loans will launch later this year. Of particular interest are unique artifacts and objects representing milestone festival moments, as well as items that reflect the diverse individuals and stories that have shaped this beloved event. Details on how to submit objects for consideration will be shared in the months ahead. For updates, refer to this web page or email bloom@themsv.org, and follow the MSV and the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® on social media.

Pictured above: Queen Shenandoah VIII, Patricia Morton of Winchester, England, and her court, May 5, 1931. Photo courtesy private collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

The exhibition will take place from March 6–July 4, 2027, at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, 901 Amherst Street, Winchester, Virginia 22601.

The exhibition is organized in a partnership between the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®.

Yes, this is a community driven exhibition! We are looking for objects and ephemera from the Shenandoah Valley community and beyond that help tell the festival story. This means that most of the items included in the exhibition will be loans from private individuals and organizations. A formal call for objects will take place later in 2025. However, those with additional questions or an object for consideration can submit it via the Item Submission tab or email bloom@themsv.org.

 

Great question! The organizers are brainstorming themes that will guide the exhibition experience. These themes in part will be informed in part by the types of items submitted for inclusion. We are looking for unique items, objects representing milestone festival moments, and items that reflect the diverse people and stories that have shaped the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. Items that were mass produced for the festival may be considered—particularly if they are from the festival’s early days—but more unique items will be given preference.

Before the formal call for objects later this year, those with potential items can submit them using the Item Submission tab or via email at bloom@themsv.org. Please include a clear photograph of the item and any information you may have about it. Useful information includes who might have made and/or owned it and when, how it relates to festival history, how you acquired it, and overall measurements.

Upon submitting an item, you will receive a confirmation email. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience as we consider the item for exhibition. We expect a robust response to the open call later in the year, which will keep us busy! You may be asked to provide additional details or to set up an appointment for MSV staff to examine the item in person to assess condition, how it might be mounted for exhibition, etc. We aim to make final decisions for loan requests by the end of 2025 or very early 2026 (approximately a year before the exhibition opens).

Please email MSV Curator of Collections Nick Powers at bloom@themsv.org. Also make sure to follow the MSV and the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® on social media for more updates.

Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Form

Object submission form

Name(Required)
Address(Required)
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 25 MB.
    What do you know about this item? Who made it? When was it used? How does it relate to the history of the Apple Blossom Festival?
    Please provide height, width, and depth measurements if applicable.
    Do you own this Object/Item?(Required)
    Would you be willing to loan the Object/Item for the duration of the exhibition (March 6–July 4, 2027), as well as slightly before and after for intake and return?(Required)
    Would you be willing to make the Object/Item available for examination and/or photography prior to the exhibition for planning and promotional purposes?(Required)