Two princesses will be crowned Saturday at the Snowdrop and Snowflake Coronation Pageant.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. at Pottsville Area High School’s Robert W. Wachter Auditorium. Tickets are $6 and available at the door or through any contestant. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., but tickets will be available for sale at 5:45 p.m. at the high school.
The coronation pageant is the culmination of Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival events for the girls competing for Snowdrop Princess and Snowflake Princess. Thirty-three second- and third-graders are vying for the Snowdrop crown, while 21 high school juniors are competing for the Snowflake Princess title.
Carole Lee, coordinator of the Snowdrops, said the girls will be ready to go on Saturday, despite suffering scheduling setbacks due to Winter Storm Jonas. The snowstorm that dumped 2 feet of snow on the county forced the cancellation of a rehearsal, as well as postponing the Royal Tea with the Queen and the Senior Princess Fashion Show.
Lee said the girls would still get two rehearsals this week, including a complete run-through of the program tonight. She said the program should run smoothly, as the Snowdrop contestants are quick to learn their instructions. That includes a dance routine set to “Hoedown Throwdown” by Miley Cyrus.
“It’s very lively. The girls are enjoying it. It’s very cute,” Lee said.
The dance routine corresponds with the theme for the 49th Winter Carnival, “A Little Taste of Country.”
Lee said the Snowdrop and Snowflake contestants rehearse together for the pageant, which is a treat for the younger girls.
“My girls love that because they get to see the Snowflakes and that’s a big deal. They look up to the Snowflakes,” she said.
After the pageant, the girls will party at St. Nicholas Hall, Primrose. While the party is supposed to cap the Winter Carnival, Snowdrop contestants will get to doll up again the next day for the rescheduled Royal Tea with the Queen. The tea party will be held at the Yuengling Mansion, 1440 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Lee said she is glad the tea party will be held because it takes a good deal of planning and preparation.
“I’m really, really happy they can have it because Courtney McCabe puts a lot of work into it,” she said of the event’s organizer.
The turnover for the Snowdrop contestants will be short, as Lee said the girls stay out late for the after-pageant party.
“We will have some tired girls at the tea,” she said.
Remaining Winter Carnival events:
• Senior Princess Fashion Show, 7 p.m. Sunday, former Pottsville Club, 201 S. 26th St., Pottsville.
• Senior Princess Coronation Pageant, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Pottsville Area High School