Briel Kilham topped the coronation charts Saturday night, March 3, as queen of the 77th Rhododendron Festival.
Princess Krista Hathaway joins Kilham on a Rhody Royalty journey representing Port …
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Outgoing Queen Emma King (left) and Princess Carley Lundgren drape 2012 Queen Briel Kilham in her first moments of representing the 77th Rhododendron Festival.
2012 Rhody Junior Royalty (from left) are Sage Arce, Grant Street Elementary; Madison Burgess, Chimacum Creek Primary; Natalie Lont, Quilcene Elementary; Mason Beal, Grant Street Elementary; Anastazja Gossett, Quilcene Elementary; and Madison Harris, Grant Street Elementary.
Briel Kilham topped the coronation charts Saturday night, March 3, as queen of the 77th Rhododendron Festival.
Princess Krista Hathaway joins Kilham on a Rhody Royalty journey representing Port Townsend and Jefferson County on the Pacific Northwest parade and festival circuit. Kilham is a senior at Port Townsend High School and Hathaway is a junior at Chimacum High.
Post-event, Queen Kilham said she began crying when escorted into the ceremony while a letter from her mom was being read. The letter was about Kilham becoming a woman and an inspiration to younger girls.
The Miss Congeniality award went to Kilham. Hathaway earned the pin sale award (based on pre-sales because the Rhody booster pins have not yet actually arrived), and she won the past Rhody Royalty award for having the highest interview scores.
The Rhody program, emceed by Patrick Kane, PTHS assistant principal, was well received by friends, family and Rhody supporters, who gathered Saturday at the Chimacum High School auditorium.
The festival’s official start has been moved up to the weekend of May 12-13, which includes the Crafts by the Dock fair, the official “Dude Looks Like a Lady” male fashion show and fundraiser, and the 20th Rhody Bike Tour. Festival kids' events begin May 16 and the Grand Parade is May 19. The Rhody Run is Sunday, May 20.
Downtown parade routes are still being evaluated due to the Taylor Street construction, and some changes are possible.
In terms of the Funtastic Carnival being here May 17-19, “We’re in good shape,” said Rhododendron Festival Association co-president Melanie Bozak. “We’re OK with Memorial Field if it holds up.”
Junior Royalty
Junior Royalty participants this year are five first-grade princesses and one prince: Anastazja Gossett and Natalie Lont from Quilcene, Madison Burgess from Chimacum Creek Primary, and Madison Harris, Sage Arce and Mason Deal from Port Townsend’s Grant Street Elementary.
Queen's Court
The Queen’s Court comprises Greta Gamble, 13, from Port Townsend’s Blue Heron Middle School.
Senior Royalty
There are two pairs of senior royalty: Bill and Sandy Dengler represent the Port Townsend Senior Association, and Louise Barcellou and Harold Rennick represent the Tri-Area Community Center. The quartet was crowned by Steve and Melanie Bozak, outgoing PT Senior Association royalty.
Help our Rhody Fest
The Rhododendron Festival Association acknowledges the services and donations from First Federal Auditing Services, Lehani's Deli & Coffee, Hadlock Building Supply, Manresa Castle, Holly’s Fine Flowers, Petals Flower Boutique, Lisa’s Jewelry, Neu Images Photography and Port Townsend Paper Corp.
Donations and other support are welcome in the all-volunteer Rhododendron Festival Association effort. Contact 2012 co-presidents Melanie Bozak at 531-1329 or Christie Hensley at 301-0783, or go to rhodyfestival.org.
