Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1496782
16 • 2023 Dogwood Festival 4650 Highway 412 E. Siloam Springs (479) 524-6605 CYCLING MOTION in Come by when you are in town for Dogwood Festival and see how we can get you on the biking trails 2023 Dogwood Festival pageant One of the fan favorites of the Dogwood Festival weekend is the annual pageant in which young girls and women compete to wear the coveted crown. Young boys up to nine years of age have their own competition as well. It's a great community effort where proud parents and family friends come out to cheer on their favor- ite contestant. The festival pageant is de- signed for girls and young wom- en from newborn up to 25 years of age, divided into nine different divisions. The boys compete in three different divisions that cover ages newborn to 9 years old. "Division Winners will receive a crown. They will also be asked to ride in the Siloam Springs Christ- mas Parade on the first Saturday in December," said Toni Lindsey, who runs the Miss Dogwood Festival competition "Division Alternates will receive certifi- cates. Junior Miss, Teen Miss and Miss will also receive their entry fee paid to compete in the Miss Dogwood and Dogwood Teen Pageants (if eligible) to be held in the Fall of 2023. These are official preliminaries to Miss Arkansas and Miss Arkansas Teen." The applications themselves make a point of saying "This is NOT a Glitz Pageant!" The or- ganizers of the Miss Dogwood Festival Pageant encourage every contestant to remain as natu- ral as possible. If a girl or young woman chooses to wear makeup, it should be understated and fea- ture enhancing. The attire worn during the competition should be their "Sunday Best" or an outfit that they would wear to a nice event. Their outfit should compli- ment their personality. No flashy, expensive dresses or outfits. Lindsey feels the festival pag- eant is a very positive thing for the participants. "Any time a young person can be on stage and get that expo- sure and confidence building experience it's a good thing," she said. "Just getting out of your comfort zone is really character building. You get to compete and maybe win a title and ride in the Christmas parade, it's a really fun and growing experience." Lindsey, herself, participated in pageants when she was young and feels it helped build her confidence and grow into a more self-assured adult. "The tangible and intangible things you gain from participating in a pageant, on any level, you just can't put a price on it," she said. "For job interviews or public speaking, I think this sort of thing really helps prepare our young men and women for life." The Dogwood Pageant is on Saturday, April 29, at 10:00 a.m. in the American Legion Community Building. Check in no later than 9:45 a.m. This year's competition will feature Miss Arkansas 2022 and former Miss Dogwood Ebony Mitchell, Miss Dogwood 2023 Kennedy Holland, Miss Dog- wood's Teen 2023 Lauren Watt, Miss Northwest Arkansas 2023 McKenzie Gomez, Miss University of Arkansas 2023 Starling Ledbet- ter and Miss UA's Teen 2023 Ella Reynolds who will be serving as emcees and hosts of the compe- tition.