Winchester is a city in northern Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley recounts the area’s history, and includes the 1790s Glen Burnie House and landscaped gardens. Old Town Winchester, a shopping and dining hub, is home to Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters Museum, featuring Civil War memorabilia. To the east, vast Jim Barnett Park includes a lake, an arboretum and sports facilities.
Winchester is the location of the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, which has existed since 1924. It is usually held during the first weekend in May. The festival includes a carnival, firework show, parades, several dances and parties, and a coronation where the Apple Blossom Queen is crowned. Local school systems and many businesses close the Friday of Apple Blossom weekend.
Winchester has more than 20 different “artistic” apples that are made of various materials including wood, rubber pipe, plaster, and paint. These apples were created in 2005 by occupants of the city, and were placed at a specific location at the artists’ request after being auctioned off. For example, a bright red apple with a large stethoscope attached to it was placed beside a much-used entrance to the Winchester Medical Center