Parade to highlight end of festival in Lehigh
MEL TOADVINE Little Miss Princess Lehigh is Akyrah Stone, center, at left is Trinity Goss, first runner-up, and Gemma-Lee Welman is second runner-up.
While the Lehigh Spring Festival is in the middle of its activities and events today, all are awaiting the grand parade Saturday that will begin at 11 a.m. and wind its way down Homestead Road past the judges’ stand onto Ashlar Avenue, where it will disband.
Judy Carter and Vicki Culver will emcee the parade entrants as they pass in front of the SunTrust Bank where the judges’ stand will be set up.
New at the parade this year is a first, a bicycling decorating contest that precedes the parade by 15 meaning parade activities will actually begin at 10:45 a.m., said Andy Reisinger, parade chairman. He also said unlike last year, he expects at least two high school bands to participate and march.
“Last year was bad timing because it was spring break and the kids who played in the bands were out of town,” Reisinger said.
Saturday morning’s pancake breakfast, four-mile run in Veterans Park, the grand parade and a full day of activities for everyone will conclude the 40th annual Spring Festival.
MEL TOADVINE Interviewing Gemma-Lee Welman, the second runner-up of the Festival Princess Contest is Andy Reisinger, chairman of the board that put on the nine-day festival.
The nine-day festival began this past Friday evening with sponsors and dignitaries being introduced followed by the Junior and adult Festival Idol Contest beginning, and a live Latin concert that night at Veterans Park.
The festival continued over the weekend with all types of events with a big crowd each night, according to Judy Carter, a member of the board and active chairman of events at the festival and its activities.
On Sunday, the festival crowned its Little Miss Spring Festival and judges selected two runners-up before a cheering crowd.
This year’s Little Miss Spring Festival was Akyrah Stone, who received her crown, sash, a trophy and flowers. She posed with runners-up,
Trinity Goss and Gemma-Lee Welman. Trinity Goss won the costume category and Akyrah Stone, the new princess, won in the talent contest. She did acrobatic jumps and tumbles.
JUDY CARTER The new Miss Lehigh Spring Festival, chosen Sunday, is shown on the right, Brandy Brister, with Junior Miss Lexie James.
The new Spring Festival Princess, Akyrah Stone is the daughter of Natasha and Adrian Stone of Lehigh. There were seven contestants in the Junior Miss Spring Festival Princess Pageant.
Carter said there were no entrants this year in the little prince category.
In the Miss Spring Festival Pageant on Sunday afternoon, the following contestants were selected, according to Judy Carter. For Queen, Brandy Brister; first runner-up, Cassandra Browning; and second runner-up, Amber Warren.
In the Junior Miss Lehigh Spring Festival, Lexie James was the winner. First runner-up was Fayth Carter and the second runner-up was Brooke Gareiss.
Also, Miss Congeniality, Cassandra Browning; Queen Talent winner, Cassandra Browning; Junior Miss Talent winner, Matrasa Bess; and Costume winner, Kenzie McKinney.
Earlier on Sunday, proud moms and dads took their babies to the giant outside stage to compete in the Baby/Toddler Pageant.
Little Lilly Rocco was the winner with Stella Sarmiento as runner-up. In the Toddler Pageant, the winner was Bella Renee Perkins with Kara Gonzalez as first runner-up and Kinsly Greene as second runner-up.
Other actives, including musical programs also took place over the weekend.
Judging began for the Festival Idol contests on Monday as the ever-popular horseshoe tournament continued.
On Tuesday, judging was held for the baking contest and other events.
Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m., the Susan Katz Dance Studio will present a program. At 7:30 p.m., there will be judging for the Chili Contest.
Look for more excitement on Thursday and Friday with judging for the best flowers, fruit and vegetable contests and other contests.
The American Legion Pancake Breakfast at 1124 Ashlar Ave. just behind Burger King takes place at 8 a.m. with a 5K race following in Veterans Park.
Following the 90-minute parade Saturday morning, a full day of events are planned at Veterans Park with a concert at 5 p.m., featuring Brooke Huffmaster and the Moccasin River Band, performed in memory of Danny Stephenson, a longtime supporter of the festival. Karen Hoppe was also honored during the week in a special pictorial presentation. She died a few weeks ago. She and her husband William Hoppe have been long-time workers behind the scenes of the festival.
A midway with fast food vendors and several rides are available all week.
Saturday night’s final musical presentations will be at 7 p.m. with Dani Dease and at 8 p.m., the upcoming country music star, Tim Charron and his band will perform.
The following is the rest of the schedule of events at the festival from Wednesday to Saturday.
Wednesday, March 18
– 6:30 p.m.: Registration begins for Chili Contest (contest tent); Horseshoe Tournament behind the Beer Garden
– 6:30 p.m.: Audience participation games
– 7 p.m.: Susan Katz Dance Studio sponsored by Danny Davis Handyman
– 7:30 p.m.: Judging begins for Chili Contest (in Beer Garden)
– 8 p.m.: Idol Junior sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship
– 9 p.m.: Idol Adults sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship
Thursday, March 19
Dress Like a Pirate Night
– 6:30 p.m.: Registration begins for Flowers, Fruit, and Vegetable Contests (contest tent); Horseshoe Tournament behind the Beer Garden
– 6:30 p.m.: The Calendar Girls sponsored by Connecting Technologies Group.
– 7:30 p.m.: Footnotes Dance and Music sponsored by Lehigh Shopping Center Association; Judging begins for contests
– 8:30 p.m.: Lehigh’s Got Talent sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship
Friday, March 20
– 6:30 p.m.: Idol Junior Finals sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship; Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours (in Beer Garden); Horseshoe Tournament behind the Beer Garden
– 7:30 p.m.: Idol Adult Finals sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship
– 8:30 p.m.: Live ‘N Learn, Lehigh’s Rock Band sponsored by Dr. Magnant, The Vein Specialist
Saturday, March 21
Parade Day
– 8 a.m.: American Legion Pancake Breakfast (1124 Ashler Avenue); Lehigh Regional Medical Center 5K Race in the Park
– 10:45 a.m.: Decorating Contest (along parade route, finish at judge’s stand)
– 11 a.m.: Lehigh Spring Festival Grand Parade (Homestead Road) sponsored by Winn-Dixie
– 12:30 p.m.: Showtime Cloggers sponsored by China Star
– 1:30 p.m.: Jay Frost & 3 Below sponsored by Majestic Golf and Country Club
– 2:30 p.m.: Certified Band sponsored by Perkins
– 3:30 p.m.: Unforgiven sponsored by Frog’s Auto Repair
– 5 p.m.: Brooke Huffmaster and the Moccasin River Band sponsored by DJ Judy and her parents Don and Joyce Artis – in memory of Danny Stephenson
– 6 p.m.: Sound check
– 7 p.m.: Dani Dease sponsored by Coldwell Banker
– 8 p.m.: Tim Charron sponsored by Caliber Collision
-
- MEL TOADVINE Interviewing Gemma-Lee Welman, the second runner-up of the Festival Princess Contest is Andy Reisinger, chairman of the board that put on the nine-day festival.
-
- JUDY CARTER The new Miss Lehigh Spring Festival, chosen Sunday, is shown on the right, Brandy Brister, with Junior Miss Lexie James.
Parade to highlight end of festival in Lehigh
MEL TOADVINE Little Miss Princess Lehigh is Akyrah Stone, center, at left is Trinity Goss, first runner-up, and Gemma-Lee Welman is second runner-up.
While the Lehigh Spring Festival is in the middle of its activities and events today, all are awaiting the grand parade Saturday that will begin at 11 a.m. and wind its way down Homestead Road past the judges’ stand onto Ashlar Avenue, where it will disband.
Judy Carter and Vicki Culver will emcee the parade entrants as they pass in front of the SunTrust Bank where the judges’ stand will be set up.
New at the parade this year is a first, a bicycling decorating contest that precedes the parade by 15 meaning parade activities will actually begin at 10:45 a.m., said Andy Reisinger, parade chairman. He also said unlike last year, he expects at least two high school bands to participate and march.
“Last year was bad timing because it was spring break and the kids who played in the bands were out of town,” Reisinger said.
Saturday morning’s pancake breakfast, four-mile run in Veterans Park, the grand parade and a full day of activities for everyone will conclude the 40th annual Spring Festival.
MEL TOADVINE Interviewing Gemma-Lee Welman, the second runner-up of the Festival Princess Contest is Andy Reisinger, chairman of the board that put on the nine-day festival.
The nine-day festival began this past Friday evening with sponsors and dignitaries being introduced followed by the Junior and adult Festival Idol Contest beginning, and a live Latin concert that night at Veterans Park.
The festival continued over the weekend with all types of events with a big crowd each night, according to Judy Carter, a member of the board and active chairman of events at the festival and its activities.
On Sunday, the festival crowned its Little Miss Spring Festival and judges selected two runners-up before a cheering crowd.
This year’s Little Miss Spring Festival was Akyrah Stone, who received her crown, sash, a trophy and flowers. She posed with runners-up,
Trinity Goss and Gemma-Lee Welman. Trinity Goss won the costume category and Akyrah Stone, the new princess, won in the talent contest. She did acrobatic jumps and tumbles.
JUDY CARTER The new Miss Lehigh Spring Festival, chosen Sunday, is shown on the right, Brandy Brister, with Junior Miss Lexie James.
The new Spring Festival Princess, Akyrah Stone is the daughter of Natasha and Adrian Stone of Lehigh. There were seven contestants in the Junior Miss Spring Festival Princess Pageant.
Carter said there were no entrants this year in the little prince category.
In the Miss Spring Festival Pageant on Sunday afternoon, the following contestants were selected, according to Judy Carter. For Queen, Brandy Brister; first runner-up, Cassandra Browning; and second runner-up, Amber Warren.
In the Junior Miss Lehigh Spring Festival, Lexie James was the winner. First runner-up was Fayth Carter and the second runner-up was Brooke Gareiss.
Also, Miss Congeniality, Cassandra Browning; Queen Talent winner, Cassandra Browning; Junior Miss Talent winner, Matrasa Bess; and Costume winner, Kenzie McKinney.
Earlier on Sunday, proud moms and dads took their babies to the giant outside stage to compete in the Baby/Toddler Pageant.
Little Lilly Rocco was the winner with Stella Sarmiento as runner-up. In the Toddler Pageant, the winner was Bella Renee Perkins with Kara Gonzalez as first runner-up and Kinsly Greene as second runner-up.
Other actives, including musical programs also took place over the weekend.
Judging began for the Festival Idol contests on Monday as the ever-popular horseshoe tournament continued.
On Tuesday, judging was held for the baking contest and other events.
Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m., the Susan Katz Dance Studio will present a program. At 7:30 p.m., there will be judging for the Chili Contest.
Look for more excitement on Thursday and Friday with judging for the best flowers, fruit and vegetable contests and other contests.
The American Legion Pancake Breakfast at 1124 Ashlar Ave. just behind Burger King takes place at 8 a.m. with a 5K race following in Veterans Park.
Following the 90-minute parade Saturday morning, a full day of events are planned at Veterans Park with a concert at 5 p.m., featuring Brooke Huffmaster and the Moccasin River Band, performed in memory of Danny Stephenson, a longtime supporter of the festival. Karen Hoppe was also honored during the week in a special pictorial presentation. She died a few weeks ago. She and her husband William Hoppe have been long-time workers behind the scenes of the festival.
A midway with fast food vendors and several rides are available all week.
Saturday night’s final musical presentations will be at 7 p.m. with Dani Dease and at 8 p.m., the upcoming country music star, Tim Charron and his band will perform.
The following is the rest of the schedule of events at the festival from Wednesday to Saturday.
Wednesday, March 18
– 6:30 p.m.: Registration begins for Chili Contest (contest tent); Horseshoe Tournament behind the Beer Garden
– 6:30 p.m.: Audience participation games
– 7 p.m.: Susan Katz Dance Studio sponsored by Danny Davis Handyman
– 7:30 p.m.: Judging begins for Chili Contest (in Beer Garden)
– 8 p.m.: Idol Junior sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship
– 9 p.m.: Idol Adults sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship
Thursday, March 19
Dress Like a Pirate Night
– 6:30 p.m.: Registration begins for Flowers, Fruit, and Vegetable Contests (contest tent); Horseshoe Tournament behind the Beer Garden
– 6:30 p.m.: The Calendar Girls sponsored by Connecting Technologies Group.
– 7:30 p.m.: Footnotes Dance and Music sponsored by Lehigh Shopping Center Association; Judging begins for contests
– 8:30 p.m.: Lehigh’s Got Talent sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship
Friday, March 20
– 6:30 p.m.: Idol Junior Finals sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship; Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours (in Beer Garden); Horseshoe Tournament behind the Beer Garden
– 7:30 p.m.: Idol Adult Finals sponsored by East Side Print, Fax, and Ship
– 8:30 p.m.: Live ‘N Learn, Lehigh’s Rock Band sponsored by Dr. Magnant, The Vein Specialist
Saturday, March 21
Parade Day
– 8 a.m.: American Legion Pancake Breakfast (1124 Ashler Avenue); Lehigh Regional Medical Center 5K Race in the Park
– 10:45 a.m.: Decorating Contest (along parade route, finish at judge’s stand)
– 11 a.m.: Lehigh Spring Festival Grand Parade (Homestead Road) sponsored by Winn-Dixie
– 12:30 p.m.: Showtime Cloggers sponsored by China Star
– 1:30 p.m.: Jay Frost & 3 Below sponsored by Majestic Golf and Country Club
– 2:30 p.m.: Certified Band sponsored by Perkins
– 3:30 p.m.: Unforgiven sponsored by Frog’s Auto Repair
– 5 p.m.: Brooke Huffmaster and the Moccasin River Band sponsored by DJ Judy and her parents Don and Joyce Artis – in memory of Danny Stephenson
– 6 p.m.: Sound check
– 7 p.m.: Dani Dease sponsored by Coldwell Banker
– 8 p.m.: Tim Charron sponsored by Caliber Collision
-
- MEL TOADVINE Interviewing Gemma-Lee Welman, the second runner-up of the Festival Princess Contest is Andy Reisinger, chairman of the board that put on the nine-day festival.
-
- JUDY CARTER The new Miss Lehigh Spring Festival, chosen Sunday, is shown on the right, Brandy Brister, with Junior Miss Lexie James.
Lehigh News
Lehigh man convicted in case involving sex crimes against a child , human trafficking
Bond set at $5.1 million for teacher accused of possession of child pornography
