This year’s Almond Blossom Festival will honor Ripon’s 75th year anniversary of being incorporated as a city.
Kelly Donohue, who is the president and CEO of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, mentioned just that in preparation for Thursday’s Almond Blossom Festival kick-off event inside the Council Chambers at city hall, 259 N. Wilma Ave.
The theme is “Celebrating 75 Years of Service to the Community.”
During that time – starts at 6:30 p.m., with light refreshments being served during the social hour that begins at 6 o’clock – with presentations by the eight princesses vying for the title of Miss Almond Festival/Miss Ripon. They’ll do so by incorporating some aspects of the city in their speech, according to Donohue.
The queen candidates are Zoe Barba, Abigail Laswell, Jordan Machado, Macie McPeak, Sophia Medina, Kelly Nguyen, Maliah Rodriguez, and Madyson Valencia.
Tickets are $10. Seating is limited. Call the Chamber at 209.599.7519.
The grand marshal will also be announced by Mayor Jake Parks during the kick-off event, Donohoe added.
The 58th annual Almond Blossom Festival will be held on Feb. 20 through Feb. 23. Plenty goes into making possible this event, from sponsors, volunteers, parking team, to the support from the City of Ripon.
The first day (Thursday, Feb. 20) will feature the bake-off in the morning and, later that day, the queen coronation at the Ripon Community Center.
Day two (Friday, Feb. 21) includes the craft and bake sale at the Ripon Senior Center along with the Antique Tractor Show at Mistlin Sports Park – the carnival will again be held there throughout the weekend.
The weekend promises to be a busy one with the Grange Pancake Breakfast (Grange Hall), the American Legion Auxiliary Breakfast (American Legion Hall), Breakfast Buffet (Ripon VFW Post 1051), the Fun Run (Mavis Stouffer Park), Craft & Bake Sale (Ripon Senior Center), Bake Sale (Immanuel Christian Reformed Church), Diaper Derby (Ripon High North Gym), the Almond Blossom Parade (downtown), and the Quarterback Club’s Brats & Drinks will take place that Saturday (Feb. 22).
The event will conclude on Sunday (Feb. 23) with the carnival and festival at Mistlin Sports Park.
