2023 Krewe of Erin Celtic Heritage Festival Visiting Queens (left to right) Junior Miss Washington Parish Watermelon Festival Queen Logan Jenkins, Deb Miss Louisiana Mardi Gras Queen Ana Smith, Teen Pirates of the Pontchartrain Queen Bailey Miller, Miss Queen of Erin Madison Kiss, Deb Miss KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Queen Addelyn Wilson, Maid of Erin Elizabeth Newton, Junior Celtic KOE Heritage Festival Queen Sydney Michelli, Teen Celtic KOE Heritage Queen Jolie Derks, KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Mini Dragon Slayer Myles Domingue, KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Queen Abigail Knight, KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Master Dragon Slayer Kade Babin (young man in front), Ms. KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Queen Victoria Derks, Miss Washington Parish Watermelon Festival Queen Zoey Etheridge, Teen Washington Parish Balloon Festival Queen Lillian Belle, Miss Bogalusa Paper Queen Elise Goode, Toddler Miss KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Queen Malia Moore (holding bear), Miss Louisiana Pirate Queen McKinley Cobb, Little Miss KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Queen Patience Tanner, Ms. Bayou Voice for Autism Queen Kish Ahles, Deb Italian Festival Queen Isla Roberts, Miss Washington Parish Balloon Festival Queen Ashlyn Vining, Teen Italian Festival Queen Bryelle Guzzardo, Ms. Hope for Equality Queen Madeline Lanier.
Visiting queens from across Louisiana attend a fun filled day of events showcasing a bit of Celtic culture during the 2nd Annual Krewe of Erin Celtic Heritage Festival in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Hostesses for the day included 2023 Celtic Heritage Festival Queens: Miss Queen Abigail Knight, Ms. Queen Victoria Derks, Teen Queen Jolie Derks, and Junior Queen Sydney Michelli.
Following the opening ceremony, featuring the Kilts of Many Colours Pipes and Drums and sunrise service, the queens introduced themselves with unique descriptions about themselves and their festivals, cultural events, or causes. The royals then assemble for several photo opportunities before going on a scavenger hunt throughout the festival grounds at Kiwanis Park.
The young ladies teamed up for the scavenger hunt which included the wee lads and lasses, who added an extra bit of excitement. Thematically decorated blarney stones were hidden across the Celtic Festival grounds and teams scored extra points for collecting them. Winners of the events are Most Blarney Stones - KOE Toddler Miss Malia Moore; and Scavenger Hunt Winning Team - Miss KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Queen’s team. Miss Queen Abigail Knight’s team included Toddle Miss KOE Celtic Heritage Festival Queen, Malia Moore; Miss Bogalusa Paper Queen, Elise Goode; and Ms. Hope for Equality, Madeline Lanier.
Another royal treat included pumpkin painting under the tutelage of local artist, Rebecca Willoughby. Demonstrated designs are the tree of life on white pumpkins with the royalty adding images on the opposite side to represent their festivals, cultural events, or causes.
A cultural aspect of the event is the shillelagh, which is a walking stick associated with Ireland and Irish folklore. Shillelaghs often include a knob on top and have become artistically embellished over the years from the practical object of origin. Visiting queens arrived with shillelaghs symbolic of their events and causes. Miss Krewe of Erin Madison Kiss was the winner of 2023 Queen’s Day Best Shillelagh.
Throughout the day, the visiting queens also enjoyed the music, performances, shopping, and photo ops, of course.
The 3rd Annual Krewe of Erin Celtic Heritage Festival is scheduled for September 2024. For more information, please visit the Krewe of Erin Facebook page or the KOE website, www.kreweoferin.com.