105th Manson Apple Blossom Festival to celebrate “Legends of the Lake”

MANSON — The 105th annual Manson Apple Blossom Festival returns to the Lake Chelan Valley this weekend, with a full slate of community events set for Friday and Saturday, May 10–11.

Themed “Legends of the Lake,” this year’s celebration will feature a grand parade, art exhibits, sports tournaments, a new community swim event, and the coronation of the 2025 royalty.

Manson High School senior Genesis Torres was crowned Queen for the festival. She will reign alongside Princesses Brynn Williams and Isabella Alexander. The three will lead festivities throughout the weekend. Their official proclamation, read by Queen Torres, invites the public to “celebrate the legends, honor our past, and create new stories that will echo for years to come – right here in the community we’re proud to call home"

The coronation pageant is scheduled for Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Manson High School Gym. Saturday’s events begin early with the Apple Blossom Pancake Breakfast at the Manson Grange, followed by a fun run and the annual grand parade at 11 a.m. on Main Street.

New to the schedule this year is the “Petal Plunge,” a community dip in the lake at Manson Bay Park at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The event honors 2025 Grand Marshal Viki Downey, who dedicated 27 summers to overseeing Manson Bay Park and launched a free swim lesson initiative that taught more than 500 children and adults annually.

Downey is recognized for her long-standing leadership at the park, her work in water safety, and her lasting influence on generations of local families. In 2025, she received the Red Cross Hero Award for Community Impact.

The festival also includes an art show, quilt exhibit, street and food fairs, and a coed community soccer and softball game. Local children are featured in the Junior Court and as arch bearers, continuing a tradition that dates back to the festival’s early years.

The Manson Apple Blossom Festival was first held in 1921 and introduced its first parade in 1947. It has continued annually with a few exceptions, including a combined royal court celebration in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on event times and locations, visit mansonappleblossom.com.