Festival Royalty Court Pageant set

TIFFIN—A royal pageant soon will take place in Tiffin. The Heritage Festive Pageant is taking applications for festival royalty, and court winners will be crowned Sept. 18. Holly Nielsen-Rowlett, Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival Royalty Court committee chairperson, said the pageant had always been an annual event, but did not take place during COVID-19, and organizers "are hoping to keep it alive and build it up." "It is definitely a comeback time for it post-Covid," she said. Royalty court will be chosen in the following categories, according to tiffinfestival.com: Queen/King, ages 15-18; Queen's/King's First Attendant, ages 15-18; Princess/Prince, ages 12-14; Junior Princess/Prince ages 9-11; and Petite Princess/Prince, ages 6-8. Contestants ages 9-18 will be required to present a 3-5-minute speech on the evening of the pageant and be prepared for an interview with event judges. Judges for the 2024 pageant are Nikki Distel of Tiffin-Seneca United Way, Susan Wilkinson of Simply Susan's, Donna Gross, Downtown Tiffin Main street manager, Tiffin Police Chief David Pauley, and Tiffin Fire Department Chief Robert Chappell. Victorian, pioneer or historical-themed attire is required for all participants, and contestants will be judged on speech delivery (if applicable), interview responses (if applicable), dress and personality. The 2024 Royalty Court Handbook and eligibility details are available at tiffinfestival.com for review prior to participation. Court winners will have the opportunity to visit festivals around Ohio to represent the Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival. The pageant will begin at 6 p.m., Sept. 18, at the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater East Green, 155 E. Market St. Applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 17.