The 2024 Mapleton Pageants were hosted April 28 by the Mapleton Daze Committee.
The coronations were as follows: Princess Mapleton, Skylaya Darrell, daughter of Collin and Kirsten Darrell; Little Miss Mapleton, Adelyn Grace Elliott, and Miss Preteen Mapleton, Aiva Dawn Elliott, daughters of Matthew and Elizabeth Elliott; Junior Miss Mapleton, Molly Kinney, daughter of Kevin and LeRae Kinney; Miss Teen Mapleton, Carrlyn Buck , daughter of Barry and Martha Buck; and Miss Mapleton, Olivia Locke, daughter of Chris and Sherry Locke.
Elizabeth Corey, daughter of Brian and Melinda Corey, was selected as first runner-up for the Junior Miss crown.
Lynnette Foster, Mapleton Daze president, welcomed the full-house crowd. Wendy Maple, mistress of ceremonies, introduced and interviewed contestants.
Judges were Casey Blackstone, Dannielle Clark and Rachel Ellis. Norma Levesque was the auditor.
The 2023 Mapleton queens spoke about their experiences and entertained the audience, including Little Miss Vivienne Pelletier, Pre-Teen Miss Charlotte Wardwell, Teen Miss Alice Corey and Junior Miss Emily Collins. Evelynn Wardwell, 2023 Little Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen, attended. Rossalyn Buck, 2023 Miss Mapleton who went on to become the 2023 Maine Potato Blossom Queen, was not able to attend but sent a video message.
Contestants were judged on personal interviews, casual and evening wear and talent routines.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Adelyn Elliott, 8, danced to the song, “Beautiful Things.” Darrell, 7, danced to the tune “John Deere Green”. Aiva Dawn Elliott, 11, danced to “I Can Only Imagine.”
Contestant Kinney danced to ”Jai Ho” and Corey sang “Never Enough.” Both are 14. Buck, 15, accompanied herself on the piano as she sang “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Locke performed a comedy monologue that she had prepared entitled “No Talent, Talent.”
As judges tallied scores, the 2023 queens, escorted by their fathers, completed farewell walks.
Darrell was chosen Miss Congeniality. The contestant with the highest ticket sales was Locke. The Elliott sisters tied for highest sponsorships. The final award was the People’s Choice Award, based on donations, which went to Molly Kinney.
Breakfast fundraiser
The Mapleton Daze Committee will hold a spring breakfast fundraiser from 7 to 10 a.m. this Saturday, May 11, at the Lions Hall.
The suggested donation is $10 per person for the breakfast buffet.
All proceeds and donations will go toward Mapleton Daze 2024.
Auction is May 18
Lions President Rick Fowler announced the club’s 62nd annual auction will be held Saturday, May 18, at the Lions Hall.
Dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. with the auction starting at 7. Auctioneers will be Matt Gregg and Ron Leonard.
The hybrid auction consists of an online portion, where starting bids for items will be taken. The ending online bids will become the starting bids for the in-person event.
Readers can view items at greggauctions.com.
Nearly 300 items, gift certificates and services will be auctioned. The auction is one of the two largest fundraisers and brings in about 30 percent of the club’s annual income.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
