The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Princesses gather for pair of events
The lead up to the Lorain International Festival Princess Pageant kicked off this weekend with a pair of events.
The first was the Princess Scholarship Dinner which April 28 at St. Clement of Ohris Macedonia Church, 38665 French Creek Road in Avon.
About 150 people attended the dinner which seeks to raise money for the scholarships the pageant’s four winners will receive, according to Lorain International Princess Pageant Chair Natalie Rodriquez.
“This allows us to give scholarships to our girls,” she said. “Pageants often have that ‘beauty component’ but we have a lot more going on with the Lorain International.
“These girls are really involved, especially in the community, and we encourage them to go to college and further their careers,” she said. “So, with the scholarships we’re able to kind of help them out.”
The 23 princesses were tasked with greeting people at the door and mingling amongst the tables all while dressed in their traditional costumes, and once the music started they took to the floor for some fun.
Lorain International Association President Ben Davey said this year’s festival is shaping up well.
“We’re rounding into the home stretch,” he said.
This year’s official festivities will start with the Sacred Music Concert on June 19 at St. Peter Parish, 3655 Oberlin Ave. in Lorain, and the next day will be the kick off breakfast.
“Spotlight nationality this year is the Puerto Rican community, so they’ll be presenting a keynote speaker and our spotlight organization is the Lorain Public Library (System), so they’ll have a speaker as well,” Davey said.
He said the library will present a book documenting the history of the festival which will hopefully be available at the festival bazaar.
On April 29, the princesses were back out again, this time at the Black River Transportation Center, 421 Black River Lane in Lorain, for the Princess Reception.
Whereas the scholarship dinner was open to the public and sought to raise funds, the reception was just for the princesses and their families, Rodriquez said.
“It’s the first time that we really introduce the girls as the International Princesses for this year,” she said.
“It’s just a nice little event for the girls and their parents.”