Members of past Osoyoos Royalty dating back to the first Cherry Fiesta in 1949 have been invited to participate in this year’s Miss Osoyoos Pageant Sunday night.

As of late last week, about 30 past royalty members were confirmed, said organizer Cathie Baskett.

The past royalty members have been invited this year to commemorate the 65th Cherry Fiesta.

The pageant will lead to the crowning of this year’s Miss Osoyoos, Baskett said.

The show starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Osoyoos Mini Theatre at Osoyoos Secondary School and doors open at 6 p.m.

There are three contestants for this year’s royalty: Gina Pereira (Miss Knights of Columbus), Carmen Olsen (Miss Elks Lodge #436) and Viveka Jensen (Miss Kemp Harvey Kemp).

Although the two runners up could be crowned as princesses, Baskett said the girls were told from the start that just because there are only three of them, it doesn’t mean they’ll receive positions automatically.

“You have to earn it and you have to be given your title by the judges,” Baskett said.

Royalty members serve one-year terms where they participate in numerous events, often helping to run them.

Past royalty will appear on stage and be introduced and many of them will also take part in the following day’s Cherry Fiesta Parade, Baskett said.

During the introductions, a screen will show images from their time in the program, she added.

The event will also feature dozens of visiting royalty bringing greetings from other communities.

Prior to the crowning of the new royalty, the contestants must go through their final judged events.

In the morning they have lunch with the judges and this is followed by a personal interview with the judges. At the pageant itself, the contestants do a gown walk, and they answer impromptu questions.

Contestants have younger “Little Buddies” who were chosen at a Princess Party in March for girls in Grades 1 and 2 and they will be taking part in the pageant as well.

The format for the pageant is changed from earlier years when a dinner was provided in order to keep admission costs down, Baskett said.

This year there is a reception with some food afterwards, so tickets are being sold for $15 for adults and $8 for children aged six to 12. Tickets will be available at the door.

BY RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times