Gatorfest Pageant headlines opening weekend

ANAHUAC–– You can almost hear the sounds of live music and smell the food cooking as everyone's favorite event is back, kicking off this weekend.

This weekend, the Texas Gatorfest starts with a few festivities, including the annual Kick-Off Street Dance, BBQ Cookoff, 5K Gator Run and of course the Texas Gatorfest Pageant.

Cookoff teams will begin to move in at noon on Thursday, as they prepare for the big weekend. A mandatory cook's meeting is set for Friday at 3 p.m.

The cookoff is set for Friday and Saturday, with categories including cocktail, kids' burger, dessert, oysters, rice, Bloody Mary, chicken, ribs, gator, and brisket. So, there should be plenty of good grub for everyone, with a big jackpot for the winners.

The opening weekend will feature two nights of entertainment, as the annual street dance returns. On Friday, DJ C-Rock (Corey Whittington) will be on hand from 7 p.m. to midnight. Saturday night will kick off with the cookoff awards at 6 p.m. and the dance will begin shortly after, running until midnight.

The Gatorfest Twilight 5K Run and Walk is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m., with check-in beginning at 5 p.m. The registration fee is $30. For more information, contact Janet Gallaway at 409-267-9337 or Sandra Dequeant at 409-277-3926.

The pageant, set for Saturday, Sept. 6, will again include Miss/ Mr. Tot, Little Queen/ King, Princess, Junior Queen and Queen. Winners will serve as ambassadors for Gatorfest, the chamber and the Anahuac community.

It will be a full day of contests at the Anahuac Middle School Auditorium, with cash-only admission. Prices are $2 per pageant, or $10 for an all-day wristband, and programs will be available for $5.

The pageant committee, led by Kristan Anderson, welcomes everyone to attend and support the Chambers County contestants. The newly crowned royalty will begin their reign the following weekend, Friday, Sept. 12, to Sunday, Sept. 14, and will continue throughout the year at various events.

Starting the day at 9 a.m. will be the Mr. Gator Tot Pageant, chaired by Samantha Humphrey. The contestants are Brody Ball, Breylen Cooley, Tarik Cooper, Emmanuel Fernandez, Treyson Finnex, Everett Godshalk, Jensen LaFrance, Legend LaRonda, Chance Loxterman, Kolter Pender, Amir St. Andre, Matias Sustaita, Rhaiel Wells, Cooper Williams and Ford Yazinski.

Next up at 9:30 a.m. will be the Miss Gator Tot Pageant, also chaired by Samantha Humphrey. Contestants are Kamwryn Brewer, Dana Cooper, Lucy Jackson, Bailey Johnson, Blakelynn Kahla, Kirby Knupple, Cora Leger, Parker McDaniel, Tatum Perry, Dylan Reeser, MadiLynne Rogers, Honey Teran, Naomi Thomas, Harper Till and Carmen Williams.

The Little Gator Queen Pageant, chaired by La'Shebia Raymond, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Contestants include Caroline Boyer, Eden Camey, Valerie Evita Casas, Amelia Childress, Maila Coates, Lyrika Wright, Claire Ewing, Ava Flores, Everleigh Fugere, Camille Hardy, Adalyn Hill, Bowie Jones, Isla Kucera, Maizie Lancon, River Koetter, Riley Moreno, Layla Perry, Austin Smith, Millie Tovar and Camilla Williams.

The Little Gator King Pageant will follow at 11:00 a.m., also chaired by La'Shebia Raymond. Contestants include Allen Lawson, Weston Booze, Lance Burnett, Cylas Carrington, Elijah Casas, Jesse Darris, Abraham Fernandez, Max Humphrey, Casen Loxterman, Asa Rutland, Kase Tanner and Eli Wendel.

The Princess Pageant, chaired by Maci Teran, will be at 2 p.m. Contestants include Oaklynn Allen, Callyn Carrington, Brynn Darlington, Talia Finnex, Aria Foster, Wylie Humphrey, Bristol Hyatt, Liberty Jones, Texas Jones, Cadian Lancon, Rainey Patterson, Jaxyn Phillips, Arianna Rivas, Khaslee Rogers, Ellie Vincent, Ramsey Wilcox, Karsyn Williams, Tevyn Williams, Piper Wischnewsky and Lydia Zotti.

The Junior Queen Pageant, chaired by Jordan Edwards, will be at 4 p.m. Contestants are Brooklynn Armentor, Lacy Byrom, McKynlea Byrom, Aubrey Chandler, Brynlee Clowes, Cadence Dugat, Kyler Garrison, Aubrey Garza, Aubrey Hill, Gemma Kucera, Cambri McDaniel, Irelynn Milligan, Abigail Munoz, Daisy Rutherford, Destinee Sanders, Rebecca Sandoval, Sawyer Smith, Finley Threadgill, Madelyn Wison-Crump and Presley Wischnewsky.

Finishing off the day at 7 p.m. will be the Senior Queen Pageant, chaired by Amanda Abshier. Contestants are Jade Blanscet, Lana Bogue, Cadence Cardwell, Kayden Dequeant, Monica Garza, Phoenix Garza, Kendall Hutchins, Tammy Ly, Lanecia Schonberg, Story Thistle, McKenzie Tinkle, Hannah Vribes, Peyton Noack, Brailey Watts and Tegan Zachry.

The title of Senior Queen comes with the honor of representing the Gatorfest and a $5,000 academic scholarship.

The pageant committee wished to thank all the sponsors and volunteers who helped make this year's pageants possible.

For more information, contact the Gatofest office at 409-267-4190 or email katelynn@texasgatorfest.com.

Next week's edition of The Progress will have all the highlights and details for weekend two.