Royalty pageant goes online Feb. 27

Irrigation Festival contest features four contestants

With last year’s pageant held right before the pandemic hit the nation, organizers of the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s Royalty Pageant moved the annual event online this year.

One of four teens will be crowned queen at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, in the virtual event.

Participants include:

• Allie Gale; sponsors: Scott Koenigsaecker and Jennifer Gillis of Sequim Community Church; platform: support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

• Hannah Hampton; sponsor: Solar City; platform: support the Olympic Peninsula Autism Center

• Zoee Kuperus; sponsor: Jose’s Famous Salsa; platform: support the Welfare of Animals Guild (WAG)

• Sydney VanProyen; sponsor Obria PNW; platform: support Captain Joseph’s House

A videographer will record the pageant on Saturday, Feb. 20, and edit for the showing a week later.

Contestants will learn who is selected queen while watching from their homes, organizers said.

To view the pageant, visit facebook.com/Sequim IrrigationFestival, search for the festival’s channel on YouTube, and/or visit irrigationfestival.com.

Last year, royalty were unable to travel or participate in events because of COVID-19 restrictions, but this year’s contestants are optimistic, they said.

If possible, they’ll travel throughout Western Washington to represent Sequim at community festivals and events in 2021.

The pageant corresponds with the festival’s 126th year as Washington’s longest continuous running festival.

For participating, the queen receives $1,250 and other royalty members $1,000 in scholarships after their year of service.

Look for interviews with the royalty candidates prior to the pageant in print and online.