The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, the mountain festival of pageantry is in a class all by itself. There is absolutely no other event like it in Kentucky. The City of Pineville in Bell County is filled with selected candidates from the area high schools whom the festival recognizes as her Princess Candidates. These beautiful young teens represent their high schools, family and friends which fills each of their lives with the memories of a life time that only leaves them waiting for the most unique opportunity to be selected by their attending college or university as a Queen Candidate to Kentucky’s Oldest Festival, second only to the Kentucky Derby.
The Festival is lead by local citizens who work tirelessly year round in making contacts, setting up schedules, arranging for performances, and managing details that provide each individual who attends the KMLF as an attendant, participant or just a visitor taking in the parade or other events that have filled the week. The Festival is managed by Directors who oversee the general planning and funding through their contributions and ambassador representation of the festival throughout their travels, associations and personal promotions.
For children no doubt the memories of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival are filled with the activities of the carnival, musical showcases, street events and the parade of course. The dream participation is experienced by the Princess and Queen candidates and their escorts. The private receptions, teas, dinners, meets and greet alone provide experiences that will never be forgotten and even greater highlights through the introductions of people representing not just locations from across Kentucky but throughout the United States and even the world. One of the unique aspects of the festival each year is the gathering of people who return each year to unite with friends, and enjoy the beautiful of Bell County as the Home of the Mountain Laurel.
The Queen Candidates and their escorts have unique moments too as they represent they respective colleges and universities. As an official representative and Queen, their selection for some involved interviews and panels from representatives of all areas of leadership within their academic communities. The real beauty seen in each of these participates is their characteristics witnessed as they mix and mingle among the directors, the families that host them, and their reactions to the events and practice that make the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival the special pageant it is.
To all who will be traveling to the festival I want to say Welcome to the Gate Way to the West, Cumberland Gap and the Narrows of Pineville. I pray you will experience the beauty of the mountains and see the crown gem of God’s creation, you and I.
Until then
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