Capital Lakefair moves up crowning

MATT BATCHELDOR

Olympia’s summer celebration, Capital Lakefair, is making a big break from tradition this year by crowning the queen months before the festival.

Capital Lakefair Executive Director Bob Barnes gave several reasons for moving the coronation of the Lakefair queen up to Feb. 9.

First, an earlier coronation will allow the royal court to participate in festivals for the whole year, instead of only for the last half of the year, because Lakefair is in July. He said its the only festival out of its peers that doesn’t crown a queen near the beginning of the year.

Second, the February event will simplify the judging process during an all-day judging session at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia.

And the new date will allow the royal court to spend more time on community service projects.

Candidates must be a fully enrolled junior in Olympia, Lacey or Tumwater school districts with a 3.3 cumulative GPA and two letters of recommendation.

A queen and five princesses will be selected to represent Lakefair at parades and events statewide. Participants receive a $500 scholarship. Princess receive an additional $2,500 and the queen receives an additional $4,500. Capital Lakefair was awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to more than 250 young women.

The festival, which dates to 1957, will be July 17-23 at Capitol Lake.

Matt Batcheldor: 360-704-6869 mbatcheldor@ theolympian.com @MattBatcheldor