2024 Grand Parade Theme:"70 years of Apple -achian Traditions"

2024 Parade Marshalls: Barbara Sturgill, Richard Walker, and Laura Etta Wilkinson, the three remaining original signers of the by-laws for the newly created Apple Festival Committee in 1965.

Read about the 2024 Parade Marshals and their memories of the Festivals over the past 70 years.

2024 Honorary Parade Marshal: Angela Mountain

Read about the 2024 Honorary Parade Marshal and her love of the Chilhowie community.

"70 years of Apple -achian Traditions" is the theme for the 70th Chilhowie Community Apple Festival's Grand Parade.

• The parade will begin at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the west end of Chilhowie on Highway 11.
• All participants in the parade must begin lining up at 8:00 a.m. and will be lined up in the designated staging areas by 9:00 a.m.
• Floats will be judged before the parade beginning promptly at 9:00 am.
• The parade will travel on Highway 11 through town to Chilhowie High School, where it will disperse.
• All Parade participants are asked to use I-81 Exit 32 or 39. Please do not use I-81 Exit 35.

Rules for parade participants:

1. No fruit, candy or other articles may be thrown from vehicles or floats or by marchers. Participants are to arrange for representatives to walk beside their units and hand items directly to spectators.
2. No horns or sirens may be blown.
3. No mini-bikes, three wheelers, or four wheelers will be permitted in the parade.
4. Any marching or twirling groups with younger children must have a follow-up vehicle in which the children may ride if they become too tired to continue.
5. A current negative Coggins Test is required for each horse in the Parade and test papers will be checked before the parade begins. Per Health Department Regulations.

Floats

All area businesses, civic groups, schools and churches are encouraged to enter floats in the parade, observing the theme, "70 years of Apple -achian Traditions."

• Floats are judged before the parade at 9am in the lineup on the west end of Chilhowie. Float winners will be announced prior to the crowning of the festival queen in the Chilhowie Hih School Stadiun before the beginning of the band competition.
• The floats are judged in four categories:
  1. Commercial
  2. Youth
  3. Civic
  4. Religious
• First, second and third place ribbons will be awarded in each of the four categories.
• Ribbons will be placed on both sides of the float to be displayed as the floats travel the parade route.
• Monetary prizes will be awarded in each category, with 1st place $100, 2nd place $75, and 3rd place $50.

Floats will be judged based on the following criteria:

• Depiction of Theme - 25 points
• Originality and Creativity - 25 points
• General Appearance - 10 points
• Workmanship - 10 points
• Balance - 10 points
• Color Coordination - 10 points
• Complexity of Design - 10 points

Winning floats in the 2022 Parade are as follows:

Commercial*

• 1st Place - Chilhowie Drug
• 2nd Place - Eller Taxi
• 3rd Place - Martins Garage
• * Berry Home Center float is not judged. It is an exhibition only.

Youth

• 1st Place - Chilhowie Elementary School
• 2nd Place - Chilhowie Little League
• 3rd Place - Northwood Little League

Civic

• 1st Place - Tony and Melanie Jones (Civic Group Representing Unknown)
• 2nd Place - Iron Mountain AntiqueTractor and Engine Club
• 3rd Place - Southwest Virginia Tractor Club

Religious

• 1st Place - Calvary Church
• 2nd Place - Grosses Creek Church
• 3rd Place - Church of Gennesaret

Further information may be obtained by emailing chilhowieapplefestival@gmail.com

Parade Bands

Berry Home Centers is proud to continue be a part of this year's Chilhowie Community Apple Festival tradition. As part of last year's festivities, Berry's donated $750 to each high school marching band that participated in the festival's parade. They are following the same practice this year with one exception. Due to the current price of fuel, the contribution has been raised to $1,250 per band that marches in the parade!. Please join us as we celebrate the town we call home and the 69th year of the Chilhowie Community Apple Festival. Band parade participation is coordinated by the Chilhowie High School Band Director and the Apple Festival Outside Chairperson.