Annual pageant is festival highlight

TIFFIN - Royalty will be crowned in Tiffin this September. The Royal Pageant, a popular tradition of the Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival, will take place Sept. 13, 2025, the weekend before the festival. Holly Nielsen-Rowlett, organizer of the pageant, said some changes have been made since last year's event and more options are available for participants and parents. The ages for different titles have been modified, and two new categories have been added. Crowns this year will include: Queen and King, ages 16-18, Princess and Prince, ages 13-15, Junior Princess and Prince, ages 9-12, Petite Princess and Prince, ages 5-8, Mini Princess and Prince, ages 3-4 and Tiny Princess and Prince, ages 0-2. The modifications were due to community feedback and details received about the age categories of similar pageants in other towns. Nielsen-Rowlett hopes for an increase in participation in the heritage pageant this year. The expanded categories help "get everyone involved," she said. In addition, alternate attendants will be named this year for each title, providing backup if a court member cannot attend an event to represent Tiffin. Contestants for princess/prince and queen/king again will be required to give a speech at the pageant, Nielsen-Rowlett said, and younger contestants will participate in "a short little interview about themselves." Another change this year includes contestants choosing a platform for a cause they represent. For example, community service and fundraising could be platforms supported by contestants. Group service activities are also planned for the 2025 season, before the new royalty is crowned in September. Current court members will host Storytime with the Tiffin-Seneca Royal Court at the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library and royals may also assist Amvets to place flags for Memorial Day. These events likely will become yearly requirements for royalty, Nielsen-Rowlett said. This year's pageant, instead of taking place at the amphitheater on the East Green, will be at Tiffin Middle School from 10 a.m. to noon, Nielsen-Rowlett said and former royal court members are being invited back to participate in the pageant and other festival activities. The weekend of the festival, she said, past, current and newly crowned royalty will participate in the Heritage Parade and the social event that follows, in addition to the parade and social event at the Clyde Fair, which is the same weekend as the festival. This year, to help offset the cost of the pageant, sponsors specific to the event are being accepted, she said, and several local businesses already have given their support. Companies and organizations interested in sponsoring the pageant should contact pageant@tiffinfestival.com. Managing the Royalty Pageant is a substantial undertaking, and Nielsen-Rowlett said royalty parents have stepped up to help. "It's a group effort," she said. Registration for the royal pageant is open through September 12 at midnight. There is a $10 charge to participate. Forms should be available on June 1 and will be found online at tiffinfestival.com and on the royalty court's Facebook page.