The Marion Popcorn Festival will again be having a full slate of pageant opportunities for all age groups, newborn to 100 or more.
The Wee Pop and Little Wee Pop pageants are set to be held on Saturday, August 3, at Harding High School. There will be an informational meeting for parents interested in entering their children at Bluefusion located in the Plaza Shopping Center on Route 95 East on Sunday, June 30. The Little Wee Pop meeting is at 2:00 p.m., and Wee Pop is set for 2:30 p.m. Both meetings are located in the Venue room.
The Wee Pop event is for boys and girls aged 2 through 5; and the Little Wee Pop is for children 0 to 23 months. Wee Pop compete in formalwear, costume with a popcorn or storybook land theme, and swimwear with a popcorn or storybook land theme. Cost is $75 for the main pageant, and there will be a separate photogenic contest with a $10 entry fee. Participants may enter one or both contests, but the results of each have no bearing on the other. Little Wee Pops compete in formalwear and photogenic, with a fee of $45 to enter.
Deadline for registrations is July 21. Parents who cannot make the meeting but have questions may call Linda Candel at 740-225-3147 for Wee Pop and Jamie Williams 740-244-1961 for Little Wee Pop.
The 2013 Miss Teeny Pop will be chosen Saturday, August 17, at River Valley High School. Competition begins at 9:30 a.m. An informational meeting has been set for those interested in entering this event for 1:00 p.m. Sunday, June 30, also in the Venue at Bluefusion. Parents of those interested are urged to attend this meeting. Parents who cannot attend are encouraged to contact pageant coordinator Morgan Schwartz at 740-341-8266.
Participants must be aged 6 – 12. Each contestant will compete in modeling, talent, and the commercial categories. The final deadline is July 27, with a $75 fee. There will again be a separate photogenic contest with a $10 entry fee. Participants may enter one or both contests, but the results of each have no bearing on the other.
Miss Teen Popcorn, for contestants aged 13 to a senior in high school, will take place in the River Valley High School auditorium on Saturday, August 17, at 7:00 p.m. The informational meeting for this event will be on Sunday, July 7, at 2:00 at Bluefusion. Contestants will be judged on talent, evening gown, an “Anything Popcorn” category, and an on-stage question. There will also be a separate photogenic contest. For more information, call Kay Gwinner at 740-382-6560 or Vikki Danner 740-386-5452 (evenings).
Miss Marion Popcorn Festival is for contestants 17 – 23 who have graduated high school. Ms. Marion Popcorn Festival, for contestants 24 and older, will be held in conjunction with the Miss Marion Popcorn Festival. The date for both events will be Saturday, August 3, at 7:00 p.m. at Harding High School.
Miss Marion Popcorn Festival will compete in talent, evening gown, popcorn wear, interview and an on-stage question. Ms Marion Popcorn Festival will compete in evening gown, popcorn wear, interview and an on-stage question. There will be also be a separate photogenic contest for each pageant that has no bearing on the outcome of the main event.
Although there will not be a formal informational meeting for either the Miss Marion Popcorn Festival or Ms. Marion Popcorn Festival, those wishing to learn more may contact Lynnell Jamison at 614-205-9349. The deadline to enter these events is Friday, July 12.
Entry forms for all pageants are available online at www.popcornfestival.com. Contestants must live or go to school in Marion, Crawford, Delaware, Harding, Morrow, Union, or Wyandot counties. All 2013 Marion Popcorn Festival pageant winners will receive prizes, be highlighted on the Festival’s main stage, take part in the Orville Redenbacher Parade, and represent the Marion Popcorn Festival at local and statewide events throughout the coming year.
Main stage entertainment for 2013 includes WANTED: The Bon Jovi Tribute Band on Thursday, September 5; iconic group The Village People on Friday, September 6, and country artist Jo Dee Messina on Saturday, September 7. All performances on the Festival’s main stage begin at 8:30 p.m. and are free of charge. A limited number of Kernel sponsorship seats are available for any of the main stage performances by calling 740-383-2076.
The Marion Popcorn Festival is the largest popcorn festival in the world with an annual attendance estimated in excess of 250,000 over the three-day festival. Other events include the Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Parade with over 300 units, a Poppin’ Pooch Pageant, a popcorn cooking contest, a fine art show, crafts, Popcorn 5000 5K run, Popcorn 100 bike tour, a community showcase stage, and more.
For more information on the full slate of activities, visit www.popcornfestival.com or call 740-387-FEST.
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