Hantsport: Apple Blossom Festival's Birthplace

If you think the Valley Apple Blossom Festival started in Kentville, you are mistaken. So are most people! 

In fact, it started in Hantsport in one of the three apple warehouses owned by Laurie Sanford in 1927.

His idea was to hold an Apple Blossom Dance in his large warehouse on Station Street. Sanford's men cut down an apple tree in full bloom, cut the limbs off carefully, then drilled the tree and reassembled the branches. 

Sanford arranged for four young women called princesses to complete for Queen of the Festival. At the dance, each man paid 25 cents to vote for their favourite princess. 

Kay Anslow of Windsor, Katharine Yeaton, Jean Tattery, and Jean Shankle of Hantsport competed for the title.
Kay Anslow became the first queen. 

In 1928, Katharine Yeaton was crowned queen. 

In 1929, the year of the Great Depression, the festival was cancelled.

It began again in 1930 and Jean Tattery won.

The festival was held again in 1931 and 1932. By now, this festival was so popular that Hantsport could not contain it. 

Hantsport School Principal B.C. Silver was appointed supervisor of the Valley schools and he moved the Kentville. He took with him the idea of the Apple Blossom Festival. And Kentville gladly accepted it. 

The Apple Blossom Festival evolved with time and is now a major event in the valley festivities.  

In 1946, former Hantsport mayor and  current chairman of the Festival Committee B.T. Smith described these events in the Kentville Ball Park  before a large crowd. 

My parents, Clarence R. Riley (b.1895) and Mrs. Stella J. (Taylor) Riley (b.1898) were there and told me the story.

Very truly yours,
Captain Ray C. Riley (ret'd)

PS I have heard that there were many apple blossom festivals held in the United States prior to our festival but this is the first in our province.