To Represent Western in 1957 Festival, College Heights Herald, Jan. 18, 1957, Phyllis Robinson Harlan High Schools Lily Clare Dickenson was crowned the 2022 Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Princess from a field of 18 candidates, becoming the eighth Green Dragon to win the crown. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. I dont think there is a better example of getting back to normal than getting to resume one of Kentuckys oldest festivals where we celebrate time-honored traditions and things that are so unique to us as Kentuckians, Gov. WKU Student Crowned Park City Daily News, May 28, 1984, Melodye Hughes Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. All rights reserved. There are so many opportunities to represent all areas of the Commonwealth at the upcoming state finals in Lexington this fall! If we can get out of the red and the governor continues to lift restrictions, then we feel like there is a slim chance that we could get back to a normal festival, Roan said. Beshear also crowned the 2021 Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Queen, Abigail Ray Canter of Western Kentucky University. Grand Ball in Honor of 1980 Kentucky Mountain Laurel festival Queen. Weekday broadcast of WYMT Mountain News at 5:30. Williams in Mountain Laurel Festival, Park City Daily News, March 13, 1988, Elizabeth Williams, Home | Tourism Related Information. Deborah Lynn Pardue to Represent Western in May in Pineville, College Heights Herald, Feb. 15, 1977 He said the board has been working with Bell County Health Department Director Teresa Hunter to develop alternative plans so that the festival can move forward. See for yourself, You may be seeing more coyotes out and about in Kentucky this time of year. The fair attracts tourists from all across the United States. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Dianne Turner Kentucky Festival Pageants 859-625-8490 Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through TimesMachine. 8 . Message. Since that time, the devotion and hospitality of so many, along with the resonant history of the festival . Laurel Cove Amphitheater. Seven students representing each of the SKCTC campuses at Harlan, Bell and Letcher counties competed for the title. The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival is among Kentuckys oldest festivals, beginning in 1931. . You can support your local Princess candidates by visiting Pineville, Kentucky May 27-29, as the candidates participate in the 90th Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. Its going to look different but we are committed to keeping the tradition of the festival and the prestige of the festival in tact, even during a pandemic, Roan said. This years festival signaled another step in returning to a pre-pandemic state of society for many. Just click on the event to find out more, contact the director, or enter online- information and processes for entering vary according to each local director. Admission to band concert and Coronation pageant. The Mountain Laurel Festival would be one of the first larger events, after the Kentucky Derby, to return. An Eastern Kentucky tradition stretching back 90 years, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival has been held since 1931. Latest News The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival blooms again. Last year was weird, not having the festival and it being a part of my life for the past 21 years., When asked to describe the festival, the 2019 queen Lauren Bohl said One word, tradition. Carey Elizabeth Smith, the daughter of Jerry and Wendy Smith, is a senior at South Laurel High School. Fridays activities consisted of the Queens Reception, as well as Princess Coronation and the KMLF Lip Sync Battle. By. Her original purpose was to honor Dr. T . The event is set to have crafts, concessions and carnival rides. Elegant Supremes Lake Cumberland Sweeties. World Chicken Festival. Each May, colleges and universities from Kentucky select one representative to participate in the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival which is held over Memorial Day weekend. The exact plans are not being shared yet because so much can change between now the end of May. The popular four-day festival named after the plant Kalmia latifolia, a shrub that yields tiny pink and white flowers drew nearly 9,000 people for a pageant, carnival rides, arts and crafts, a 5K run, a parade through downtown and a grand ball. Coronation of 1980 Kentucky Mountain Laurel festival Queen. She was Valedictorian of her class, was voted Miss Coal Bowl 2021, was a 2022 . We have everything for everybody of all ages, said Shelby. The winner will receive a tuition scholarship of $1,000 and will represent the college <a href . This Memorial Day weekend marks the 20th anniversary of Kristy Nelson Burnett being crowned the Queen of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. As far as we have been able to ascertain, the Festival is the oldest continuous event of its kind in the United States. var username = "info"; Intricate marches involving all the candidates and their escorts are rehearsed before the festival. WKU Royalty Festival organizers said the biggest hurdle to overcome this weekend is the weather. 2018-19 UK BASKETBALL; 2018 UK FOOTBALL; 2018 KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN LAUREL FESTIVAL; . Being in this cove, it really feels normal again and I cant tell you how good normal feels, General Chairman Jacob Roan said. October 2023- Miss Fall Fest and Miss Tri-County, November 10-12 2023- Kentucky State Finals, Events Produced by Kentucky Festival Pageant Association, August 2023- Miss Richmond, Miss Madison County, Miss Bourbon Jam, September 2023- Miss Spoonbread Festival and Miss Berea. Canter represented Western Kentucky University in the pageant and said that the two-year wait was well worth it. Gov. The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival celebration will bring thousands of visitors to Pineville, Kentucky for 3 days of beautiful arts and crafts, delicious food, family fun, and a rousing parade. "Always be yourself," she said. Each university in the Commonwealth is invited to send a representative to the annual festival. Each year since 1931, the participating candidates attend the festival, held in Pineville, Ky. During the coronation ceremony, each candidate is expected to perform an original and elaborate 15 second curtsey to the current Kentucky governor, who later crowns the queen. Ring in the New Year with Ballistix- 1/14/23, Miss/Mr. The 90th Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival returns from the coronavirus pandemic. Adults 92, children 91. An Eastern Kentucky tradition stretching back 90 years, theKentucky Mountain Laurel Festivalhas been held since 1931. Our ultimate goal is to have as normal as a festival as possible. Some of our favorite shots at Queen's Coronation Pageant in 2017 Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival . Cherry to Represent WKU, Park City Daily News, March 21, 1993, Ellen Cherry Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival | Pineville KY Western's Queen Candidate Busy Preparing for Trip, Park City Daily News, April 30, 1964, Sandra Stuart Were focused on every event that would normally take place during the festival weekend and making sure that we have created a plan that would allow those events to operate within the parameters of the guidelines through the Bell County Health Department, the CDC and the state, Roan said. This is a special day: Gov. Location: London Laurel Optimist Sports Complex. It was built in the early 1950s and stands in the center of the city. One of the many long-established events put on pause by the coronavirus pandemic. Each May, colleges and universities from Kentucky select one representative to participate in the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival which is held over Memorial Day weekend. Time: Registration 3pm and Pageant Starts 4pm Location: London Laurel County Optimist Club . It is also ranked as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast for September. September 2023- Black Gold Festival and Miss Perry County. Thursday-Opening Night Concert at Bill Adams Stadium-Pineville High School Football Field will feature Award Winning artists Maddie and Tae. Is this your event? **Please keep visiting this site to see more preliminary pageants as we regularly update when new ones are scheduled. The festival is in Pineville, May 27-29. Many events are free. Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Join Festivalnet.com now to unlock additional details,