Apple Blossom Time in Sebastopol!

The 66th Annual Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival will be held this year on April 21 and 22 with the parade on Saturday the 21st.  For the first year in a long time, the parade will NOT coincide with the Petaluma parade, which will allow community members to attend both events.

The theme of the Festival this year will be “Old McBlossom on a Farm” in honor and recognition of the local family farms.  The art chosen for this year’s poster is by Buffie Harris of Design Orbit.

Grand Marshal for the parade will be Rev. Gene Nelson, Sebastopol’s Citizen of the Year.  Everything from school marching bands to dachshunds in costume will delight the youngest to the oldest. Sebastopol comes alive as the flower-adorned floats, high-stepping horses, and five-year-old dancers march proudly down Main Street.

The parade starts at 10:00 Saturday morning, April 21st. The parade route begins at Analy High School and continues south on Main Street ending at Calder Ave. around noon.

After the parade join your neighbors at the Festival:

Festival Hours: Saturday, April 21st   10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday, April 22nd, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Festival Location: Ives Park (on Jewell Ave. and Willow St.) and the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building, 282 High Street.

Admission and Security: General Admission for each day will be $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students 11-17 and FREE for age 10 and under. Ticket sales will be available online prior to the weekend at the Chamber’s website and during the parade on Saturday.

There are just two gates this year, one in front of the Veterans Building on High Street and one at Jewel Avenue.  If you can’t find parking, ride your bikes to the festival and there will be bicycle valet parking on Saturday and Sunday on High Street.

To insure a more enjoyable family friendly event there will be security. All bags will be searched at the gate. No coolers, pets or outside alcohol allowed. Also, please note, the City of Sebastopol has an ordinance in town that prohibits drinking alcohol on the streets of Sebastopol year round.

Applications are now available for vendors, crafts, children’s activities and parade entries.  Sponsorships are also available and warmly encouraged.

For information and applications for this event, call the Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce at 707-823-3032, e-mail sebabf@sebastopol.org , or check the web site: www.sebastopol.org/abf/abf_welcome.html and Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SebastopolChamber.