WELLSBORO - The Wellsboro community is again inviting the public to join in the week-long Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival celebration beginning Saturday. This family-friendly event includes the Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen competition.
This year, Lisa Darrup will represent Mount Carmel Area Junior-Senior High School and her community as a candidate for the title of Laurel Queen.
Darrup, a daughter of Jim and Ann Darrup, has been a cheerleader for football and wrestling. She has participated in Odyssey of the Mind, Interact Club, Envirothon, Haunted High, Chemistry Club, Spanish club, pep club and peer mediation. She was on the yearbook staff, has earned the school board merit award and placement on the National Honor Society. She was named Rotary Student of the Month and Elks Teenager of the Year. She plans to attend Misericordia University to major in speech-language pathology.
The queen candidates gather at noon Friday, June 14, on the steps of the Tioga County Courthouse for the official welcome. That evening, the queen's preview and concert at the Wellsboro High School auditorium will feature musical entertainment by the Brothers Callahan.
Saturday afternoon, the young ladies will ride on professionally designed floats during the Laurel Festival parade which features the theme, "What Dreams Are Made Of." At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the candidates return to the high school for the coronation.
The 72nd Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival kicks off Saturday with Family Day on the Green in downtown Wellsboro and continues throughout the week with a pet parade, music, a juried arts and crafts fair, the International Street of Foods and a carnival.
The eagerly-anticipated Laurel Festival parade starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15, and features high school bands, bagpipers, firetrucks, horses, floats and more. The festival concludes Sunday morning with a Union Church service on The Green.
For more information about the Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 724-1926 or visit www.wellsboropa.com.