🍏🌸THE BLOOM IS HERE 🍏🌸

Hey ya’ll!

Apple Blossom starts this weekend and there’s a lot see and do! A lot of the events have already sold out so I’m including events that are still open as of Wednesday midday. All official Apple Blossom events are marked with 🍏🌸

As I mentioned last week, I was going to include some recipes in this week’s newsletter so let’s dive right in!

Apple Garden Sangria 🌸🍏

This is going to be a great beverage for any backyard party. Light, crisp and refreshing! And to top it off, it’s pink so it matches with the official colors of Apple Blossom.

Start by picking your favorite Rosé. You can’t really go wrong on this recipe no matter what bottle you choose.

🍾What You’ll Need:

• 1 bottle of your go-to Rosé wine

• 1 cup orange liqueur (like Cointreau)

• Juice from one lemon

• 1 lemon, sliced into ½-inch rounds

• 2 apples, thinly sliced + 1 extra for garnish

• 1 bottle of sparkling water

• A splash of St. Germain elderflower liqueur

• Apple spheres or slices for decoration

🎊How to Make It:

1. Prep the Base:
   In a large pitcher, combine your lemon slices, apple slices, and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

2. Add the Good Stuff:
   Pour in the Rosé and orange liqueur. Stir to mix all the flavors together.

3. Let It Infuse:
   Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours—or longer, if time allows—for a deeper infusion of fruity, floral flavor.

4. Finish with Fizz:
   Just before serving, top off with sparkling water and a splash of St. Germain for that extra lift.

5. Garnish Game:
   Use a melon baller to carve out apple spheres. Toss them in lemon juice to keep them fresh, then skewer and use them to garnish each glass.

If you want a mocktail version, swap out the Rosé with something like Welch’s Sparkling Rosé Grape Juice.

Sweet & Smoky Apple Butter BBQ Sauce 🌸🍏

This rich and tangy barbecue sauce gets a twist from smooth apple butter and a hint of spice. Perfect for slathering on grilled meats, pulled pork, or even drizzling over roasted veggies, this sauce is your go-to for backyard flavor with apple orchard charm.

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon neutral oil (like canola or olive)

• ½ small onion, finely chopped

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 1¼ cups apple butter (store-bought or homemade)

• 1 cup tomato ketchup

• ½ cup apple cider vinegar

• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon chili powder (or more to taste)

🔧 Directions

1. Sauté the Base: Warm the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Toss in the garlic and stir for another minute until fragrant.

2. Mix the Sauce: Add the apple butter, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Stir everything together until smooth and well combined.

3. Simmer to Perfection: Bring the sauce to a gentle bubble, then lower the heat and let it simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching and to help it thicken.

4. Cool & Store: Once thickened to your liking, take the pot off the heat and let the sauce cool. Pour it into a clean glass jar or container with a lid.

5. Keep It Fresh: Refrigerate the sauce—it’ll keep for several weeks and the flavor just gets better over time.

You’ll need the Apple Butter BBQ Sauce for…

🍗 Smoky Grilled Chicken with Apple Butter BBQ Sauce🌸🍏

This smoky grilled chicken glazed in the Apple Butter BBQ Sauce you just made will be a crowd-pleaser. The mix of char-grilled meat with warm apple notes makes it perfect for an outdoor get-together at Apple Blossom.

🌟 Why It Works

• The apple glaze brings a comforting hint of sweetness and spice, balancing beautifully with the smokiness from the grill.

• It’s a hands-on, backyard-friendly dish that feels festive without being fussy.

🍽️ Ingredients

• 4 lbs boneless chicken breasts or thighs, pounded to even thickness

• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar or dry rosé

• 4 cloves garlic, crushed

• 1½ tsp kosher salt

• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

• 1 cup apple butter (store-bought or homemade)

• Optional: 1 tsp smoked paprika or a dash of cayenne for a spicy kick

🔥 How to Make It

1. Marinate – In a large bowl or zip-top bag, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.

2. Prep the Grill – Preheat your grill to medium-high. Oil the grates to prevent sticking.

3. Grill It Up – Remove chicken from marinade and shake off excess. Grill each piece for 6–8 minutes per side, until juices run clear and internal temperature hits 165°F (74°C).

4. Glaze – In the final 2–3 minutes of grilling, brush the chicken generously with apple butter on both sides. Let the sugars caramelize slightly for that irresistible sticky finish.

5. Serve – Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

Events and Happenings in Winchester and the surrounding territories:

Wednesday, April 23rd

Dirt Farm Brewing, Bluemont - Happy Hour 3pm-5pm

West Oaks Farm Market, Winchester - Music Bingo 6:30-8:30pm

The Pub, Bunker Hill WV, - Trivia Night 7pm

Shenandoah Axe Company, Front Royal - Family Night 5-8pm

Thursday, April 24th

50/50 Taphouse, Winchester - Trivia Night, 8:30pm

West Oaks Farm Market, Winchester - Cornhole Blind Tournament, 6:30-9:30pm

Bright Box Theater, Winchester - Will Moseley (American Idol Season 22 Finalist) and James Tamelcoff 8pm

Chilly Hollow Brewing Co., Berryville - Live Music: Bluegrass Jams 5:30pm

Friday, April 25th

🍏🌸 Apple Blossom Carnival (all week): https://www.thebloom.com/carnival-powers--thomas-midway-entertainment.html

 🍏🌸 Apple Blossom Wine Festival: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/bloomin-wine-fest

Feltner Stage
Rock Bottom Band 3pm-6pm
Chad Laughlin Band 7pm-10pm

Taylor Pavilion
Ryan Jewel Band 3pm-6pm
Mojo Mothership 7pm-10pm

Courthouse Stage
Jimmy Lee 3pm-5pm
Ryan Thomas 5:30pm-7:30pm
Gary Smallwood 8pm-10pm

 🍏🌸 Apple Blossom Comedy, ft. Pete Buchbauer, Chip Nicholson & Jessica Keenan 8pm: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/comedy-show

Vibrissa, Front Royal - Pub Crawl (Rotary Club Fundraiser) starts at Vibrissa in Front Royal at 6pm

Vibrissa, Winchester - First Responder Friday, 20% off food and beverages for all responders

The Monument, Winchester - Here’s To The Night (90s and 2000s throwback party) 8pm

West Oaks Farm Market, Winchester - Paint and Sip Party, Terracotta Pot

Saturday, April 26th

 🍏🌸 Apple Blossom Wine Festival: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/bloomin-wine-fest

Feltner Lot
Promising Leith 11am-2pm
Sons of Liberty 3pm-6pm

Taylor Pavilion
Train Wreck 11am-2pm
Ronnie Wolford & 50 West 3pm-6pm

Courthouse Stage
Mark Clay 11am-1pm
Six Strings and Bourbon~Adam Phelps 1:30pm-3:30pm
Ellis Griffin 4pm-6pm

 🍏🌸Apple Blossom Air Show: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/apple-blossom-airshow

🍏🌸 WVU Medicine Pickleball Tournament Men’s and Women’s Doubles, (2 day event) register: https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/9f003ee9-1470-4422-8c66-9e3327bff29f

🍏🌸 Breakfast With Miss Apple Blossom: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/breakfast-with-miss-apple-blossom

🍏🌸 Blossom Artisan & Faire (2 day event): https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/blossom-artisan-faire

The Monument, Winchester - Motorcycle Drive By (90s and 2000s cover band) 7pm

Browntown Community Center, Browntown VA - Redbud Festival (crafts, arts, food trucks, live music, antique car show and more) 9am-3pm

Lost Barrel Brewing, Middleburg - Live Music with Chris Ellinghaus 5:30-8:30pm

Locke Store, Millwood - Wine tasting, noon-3pm

Chilly Hollow Brewing Co., - Berryville - Billy Sous Food Truck (awesome sandwiches!) 11am-3pm

Backseat Events, Winchester - Luau Night with live music from Amulet and ZBTB (Zac Brown Tribute Band) 8pm

Rotary Club of Warren County, Front Royal - Ride With Rotary (bike riding fundraiser) 8 am

Sunday, April 27th

🍏🌸 McDonald’s eSports Tournament, register: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/esports-tournament

🍏🌸 Fiesta Latina: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/fiesta-latina

Glenwood Park, Middleburg - 2025 Middleburg Point-to-Point Races, gates open at 10 am, first race at 1pm.

Dirt Farm Brewing, Bluemont - Dirt Don’t Hurt Hike (3.5 mile hike at Dirt Farm Brewing) 9:30 am - 11 am.

Chilly Hollow Brewing Co., Berryville - Live Music: Barker & Schuster

Lost Barrel Brewing, Middleburg - Hat Bar and Cowboy Boot Branding 11am-5pm

Monday, April 28th

🍏🌸 Pumps & Pearls Ladies Party: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/pumps-pearls-ladies-party

Winchester Brew Works, Winchester - Game of Thrones Trivia Night, 6:30 pm

Tuesday, April 29th

🍏🌸 Valley Pediatric Dentistry Family Fun Party: https://thebloom.ticketspice.com/pumps-pearls-ladies-party

Vibrissa, Winchester - Trivia Night, 6:30pm

Wanted!

Locke Store in Millwood is one of my favorite places. Great wine/beer selection, sandwiches, AMAZING COOKIES and so much more. They also have an excellent restaurant next door called The Buttery.

Locke Store is hiring so if you’re interested in working at a cool place with fun people, check out their ad below. Stop by the store to pick up an application or send an email to [email protected]

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Have fun out there!