Ciarra Berry

After a year of uncertainty, several COVID-19 safety measures, and canceling last year’s Apple Blossom event, Shenandoah University is preparing for a comeback of its annual Apple Blossom celebration. 

On Wednesday, March 3, at 3 p.m., a committee of 10 people met over Zoom to begin planning for this year’s Apple Blossom. There were four departments represented on the committee: Office of Student Leadership and Development (OSLD); Residence Life; Office of Alumni Affairs; and Campus Recreation and Wellness. Four clubs and organizations were also represented: Campus Activities Network (CAN); Student Government Association (SGA); Pep Band; and The Sting, a club that builds excitement and participation at athletic events.

Two separate university Apple Blossom celebrations are currently being planned, along with others to be dated. The first celebration is Club Carnival, which will take place tentatively on April 17. This event will have games, food and will provide the opportunity for students to learn more about the clubs offered on campus. The second celebration will be Blossom Bash, which will take place on April 30. Both events allow students to participate in events without leaving campus.

Blossom Bash will be hosted by Residence Life, which will collaborate with the other departments and clubs/organizations that are also on the Apple Blossom Committee. The Sting will collaborate with SGA and Campus Recreation and Wellness for Club Carnival. 

Events that students could potentially see at the celebrations are: carnival games; Dash N Dye; tie dyeing; therapy dogs; a Chillin in the Quad event, with hammocks and food; food trucks; a rock climbing wall; caricature artists; DJ Georgie; soccer darts; juice pong; fireworks; pre-recorded Zoom skits; Drunk Goggles Driving and much more.

Many of these events are similar to those held at the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester.

“Mirroring Apple Blossom events on campus could be fun,” said Tina Stowell, the assistant director of Donor and Alumni Affairs, at the Apple Blossom Committee Zoom meeting. 

Events the committee is planning will take place on campus. There are many Apple Blossom events taking place in the Winchester community, as well. Some of these include Wine Fest, Winchester Ciderworks Tasting and Tour, Fairgrounds Midway (games, food, and entertainment), the carnival, and Bloomin’ Sunday. You can find out more about these events at the official website for Apple Blossom.

“I love the conversation and the ideas that are flowing,” said Pedro Flor, the director of finance for SGA, at the Apple Blossom Committee Zoom meeting. “I love all of this and I can’t wait!”

Another university Apple Blossom committee meeting will be scheduled within the next few weeks. Maggie McCampbell Lien, the head of the university’s Apple Blossom Committee, will discuss which department and clubs/organizations will be assigned to each event, and further planning will take place.

Many other non-Apple Blossom events are also taking place throughout the semester on campus, such as SU sporting events, Tasty Treat Tuesdays, tournaments in the Game Room, and Bingo. You can find these events and more on Engage.

Last semester, over 67 events took place throughout the fall semester. Of the 67 events, eight were held virtually.

“A total of 89 student clubs/organizations were active in Fall 2020,” said Amanda Tintaya, in an email. “Nine of which were new clubs and organizations.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Screenshot taken of the Apple Blossom Committee planning meeting on Wednesday, March 3 at 3 p.m. Top row left to right: Maggie McCampbell Lien (OSLD), Ciarra Berry (OSLD), Madison Shand (SGA), and Tina Stowell (Office of Alumni Affairs). Middle row left to right: Kendall Kolk (CAN), Cera Graves (The Sting), Matt Levy (Campus Recreation and Wellness), and Hailee Wick (CAN and Pep Band). Bottom row left to right: Brittany Burton (Residence Life) and Pedro Flor (SGA).