Pre-Fair Festivities - Run/Walk & Parade

A 6:45 AM alarm clock has nothing on these ladies! An early Saturday wake up call, the queens came ready and eager to start the morning off right with some exercise at the Run/Walk event. After the 10K and 5K runners hit the route, the queen committee and contestants jumped in with the 5K walkers. I decided to join in on the fun, walking with the queens for the event. Let me tell you, 3.1 miles has never gone by faster! The most enthusiastic participants of the morning, you could hear these girls talking, laughing, and cheering on all the other contestants from just about anywhere on the route. :) I also had the opportunity to get to know some of the girls better, and to hear some of their thoughts as their incredible queen contestant experience comes to a close. 
 
“I’m just counting down the days!” one of the girls told me. “Excited would be an understatement!”
“It’s just gone by way too fast,” said another one of the queens, “I’m not ready for this experience to be over!”
 
After we had finished the 5K walk, the girls grabbed some snacks and refreshments before lending a hand with the Kids’ Fun Run. It was such a great way to spend the morning and kick off the crazy, amazing week ahead!

It was all smiles, sashes, and stoked queens for Fair Parade Sunday! Our contestants arrived in style, just about an hour before the parade began so that they could put posters on their convertibles and situate themselves in the parade lineup. The girls had gotten together the day prior to make their posters for the parade, which turned out beautifully! After the pre-parade prep was complete, the girls waited for the clock to strike four, signaling for the parade to begin.
 
Soon enough it was go-time, and the 2022 Washington Town & Country Fair Parade was in full swing! I positioned myself along the route so I could capture the queens as they passed by and after various floats, cars, firetrucks, and people paraded by, I could see the convertibles coming my way. :) Smiling and waving as they rode by in style, all the queens looked AMAZING! The crowd thought so too, loudly cheering each time a pair of queens passed by.
 
A beautiful weekend for the walk/run and parade, the queen contestants are now closer than ever to contest day.  These ladies have been preparing all summer, so you will not want to miss the big finale on Wednesday evening at 8 pm on the Main Stage! Stay tuned for a behind the scenes of their final stage rehearsal taking place this Monday, as we look forward to their big day.
 
Until next time,
 
Emma Duncan