It's APPLE BLOSSOM time in St. Joseph, Missouri!

 If there was ever a weekend jam-packed with more exciting things to do than the first weekend in May, it's been erased from present

memory.  St. Joseph IS the place to be May 4-6th.

The Apple Blossom Festival is the official St. Joseph rite of Spring.

Apple Blossom Court

The festival began 88 years ago and each year continues to grow, having evolved into a weekend-long celebration including a barbecue contest with a combined $10,000 in prize money, live music, great food, and of course, spotlight event: The Annual Apple Blossom Parade, Saturday, May 5th. 

Sound of Speed Show

This year Apple Blossom will also share the spotlight with the Sound of Speed Air Show. The city of St. Joseph, Buchanan County, 139th Airlift Wing and the St. Joseph Metro Chamber of Commerce are excited to present the Sound of Speed Airshow "International Edition" on May 5th and 6th, 2012 at Rosecrans Memorial Airport.  

The "barbecued" fun kicks off on Friday, May 4th at Civic Center Park, at City Hall grounds in downtown St. Joseph. The official Northern Missouri Grand Championship begins Friday evening and continues through Saturday afternoon. The Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest has again teamed up with the BBQ on the River Contest in Excelsior Springs, Missouri to present a combined Grand and Reserve Northern Missouri Champion.

Apple Blossom B-BQ

At 5pm, Friday, the barbecue event is open to public and beer sales will be available. At 6:30pm the People's Choice Tent opens for public judging.  From 7-9pm on Friday stop by for the official "meet and greet" with the Air Show performers and special guests. Under the Influence, a regional St. Joseph favorite rock band for 20 years will be performing that evening at 8pm.

Saturday, May 5th, the annual Apple Blossom Parade will begin at Noyes Boulevard and Frederick Avenue at 9:30am and proceed West down Frederick into downtown. Find a comfortable spot along Frederick and watch the numerous parade floats and entries pass by, and be sure to bring a bag to collect all that candy. The Sound of Speed Air Show gates will open at 10am, with the opening  

Apple Blossom Parade

ceremonies at noon and flying presentations until 4pm. Acts include US NAVY Leap Frogs, The Canadian SkyHawks, and the F-22 Raptor, the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft, among many other acts. (Full list.)

The grounds at the barbecue contest open at 9am Sunday, May 6th, and barbecue turn-ins begin at noon with awards at 3pm. This annual BBQ competition is sponsored by the Ancient Order of the Hibernian's in St. Joseph. The Sound of Speed Air Show will again open at 10am on Sunday, with performances from noon-4pm.   

Better Block St. Joe

Also on the same weekend, a new event showcasing downtown St. Joseph, Better Block St. Joe, will transform the 500 block of Felix Street the weekend of May 4 and 5 with facade improvements, "pop-up" businesses and street performers in hopes of showing the public and visitors the true potential of the downtown area. The "Pop-Up" businesses will be there selling merchandise including coffees, screen-printed T-shirts, vintage clothing, flowers, bicycles, local produce, food, art exhibits and others. Better Block will be Friday, May 4th from 11-7:00pm and Saturday, May 5th from 11-4:00pm.

Don't miss this unprecedented weekend of incredible entertainment!  Email cvb@stjomo.com  for more information or call us at 800-785-0360 or 816-233-6688.