Celebrate the Blossomtime Festival in St. Joseph April 28 - May 4

If you're in the area looking at Saint Joseph homes for sale this spring, you'll definitely want to take a break to enjoy the annual Blossom Festival. This week-long event, which has been happening since the early 1900s, was created to celebrate Southern Michigan's thriving agriculture industry.  

With a wide variety of family-friendly events ranging from pageants and fashion shows to parades and a 5k run, there's truly something for everyone! Check out this guide so you don't miss a thing.  

Opening Ceremony

The Blessing of the Blossoms, which is the opening ceremony for the festival, is a non-denominational celebration. This year's blessing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on April 28th at the Southwest MI Research & Extension Center. It's held outdoors in an orchard and includes music, choirs, and inspirational readings.

Pageants, Tours, and Events

The Blossomtime festival incorporates participants from all of the area's 24 local communities. Beginning in November and continuing into the spring, each community holds a variety of pageants, naming kings and queens to represent them during the festival.

Those lucky enough to be chosen participate in many events including a fashion show, coronation ball, and a visit to the Shriner's hospital in Chicago. The kings and queens also tour area farms and agricultural facilities, visit various schools, tour the Michigan State Police Academy, have lunch with State representatives, and receive keys to their cities during the Mayor's Banquet.   

Shoebox Float & Youth Parades

On April 29th at 4:30 p.m., children in grades one through six participate in a walking parade through downtown St. Joseph. It's always fun to watch them proudly display the creative floats that they've made from shoeboxes.

On May 2nd at 5 p.m. children from toddler to middle-school-age participate in a youth parade featuring decorated bicycles and wagons, non-motorized floats, and costumed pets. Youth marching bands and drill teams also join in on the fun and show off their skills. 

Grand Floral Parade

The Grand Floral Parade is the highlight of the festival and is a favorite among our real estate agents. The 2.5-mile parade is attended by nearly 250,000 spectators every year. It winds through St. Joseph and travels over the Bicentennial Bridge to Benton Harbor.

Attendees are always thrilled with the many extravagantly-decorated floats, antique cars, costumed characters, and performances by equestrian groups, drill teams, unicyclists, bands, and clowns. This year's parade is held on Saturday, May 4th starting at 1 p.m.

Run for the Buds 5k Run/Walk

If you enjoy an active lifestyle, you'll love the opportunity to lace up your sneakers and join your neighbors at the 40th annual Run for the Buds 5k. The chip-timed race begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 4th and follows the same route as the parade. 

Your St. Joseph Real Estate Professionals

St. Joseph is proud to have a close-knit community. This is just one of the many things that make the area a great place to call home. If you're interested in moving here, we would love the opportunity to show you around. Contact Cressy and Everett Real Estate today to schedule an appointment!