The Merced County Spring Fair in Los Banos is fast approaching, and along with the warmer weather and sunshine comes the return of time-honored traditions: the May Day Queen and Tiny Princess Pageants.
The queen is selected from among the young women who have applied for the pageant; the tiny princess from among girls ages 5 to 8.
This year both events are coordinated by Linda Teixeira, a lifelong supporter of the fair.
The deadline to apply for both the queen and princess events is Wednesday, March 12. Applicants can visit the Merced County web site or reach out to Teixeira at (209) 402-8305.
There will also be a $75 entry fee that May Day Queen applicants will have to cover prior to taking part in the event.
The first runner up will receive a $250 scholarship, while the queen herself will take home a $500 scholarship.
After being involved with livestock and 4-H showings, Teixeira is applying over 50 years of experience to make this year’s competition a significant event. “It’s a really fun week for the girls,” Teixeira said. “The past few years have been great and we’re hoping this year is even better!”
With the first May day queen being crowned nearly 75 years ago in 1951, Teixeira and this year’s contestants are carrying on a lifetime of tradition that still shows no signs of stopping.
The fair committee will meet this year’s contestants on March 12, a date that marks both the deadline to apply for the event as well as the first meeting the women will have with each other. Those participating in the event will take to the stage and participate in various events throughout the day.
The winner will be crowned next month following an interview portion of the competition. Three judges from around the Central Valley will be meeting individually with the contestants to determine the final scores, with the winner being announced on April 12.
Just after the queen pageant, the tiny princess pageant will follow on March 12. While much less competitive than its sister event, the stage will be just as full of costumes, music and fun and will showcase the talents and energy of the girls.
Foregoing the interview portion of the previous event, the tiny princess pageant is focused far more on simply having fun and giving young girls take part in one of the biggest community events of the year.
The Merced County Spring Fair (aka May Day) will take place this year from April 30 to May 4.
