Laurel Queen, King hopefuls bowl to raise funds

WINSTED — A benefit for this year’s 82nd Laurel Festival was held at Laurel Lanes on Friday, May 13.

Almost all of the participants in this year’s Laurel King and Queen Scholarship competition took part in the duckpin bowling benefit.

The event featured raffle prizes from area businesses, including gift certificates from Morsel Munk, Apple Cinemas and R&B Sportsworld.

For the first time ever, this year’s Laurel Festival will include the coronation of both a Laurel Queen and a Laurel King.

The scholarship competition is open to 11th- and 12th-grade students who reside in Winsted.

Festival co-organizer Lisa Steeves said there are 10 entrants for this year’s competition, including six boys and four girls.

“I think this will be exciting because we will have our first-ever community fair as part of the festival,” Steeves said. “We have joined together with the town’s Recreation Department to organize the event. We’re asking community members to come and set up booths and show off what they have. The contestants will each have a booth at the event and will work with their sponsors.”

Steeves said the festival is good for the community.

“The festival gets the community involved,” Steeves said. “Instead of being an event that a certain few people go to, residents all take part in it.”

“This festival is a tradition for Winsted,” co-organizer Holly Cassaday said.”It’s one of our things that makes Winsted unique and helps to bring people together.”

Schedule of events

The Laurel Festival will begin on Friday, June 3, with the annual Laurel Ball, which will be held at Crystal Peak Ballroom, located at 164 Torrington Road, from 6 to 11:30 p.m.

The event will include the introduction of the contestants for Laurel King and Laurel Queen, dinner and music by DJ Rick Hall. Tickets are $40 a person or $350 for a table of 10.

On Saturday, June 4, the  Community Fair will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at East End Park.

The fair will include games, activities and vendor booths.

And finally, the Laurel Parade will be held on Main Street starting at 2 p.m.

The parade, which will include floats showcasing festival entrants, will maneuver the downtown area and end in East End Park with a crowning ceremony for the Laurel King and Queen.

For more information on events, including information on tickets to the Laurel Ball and information for sponsoring a booth at the Community Fair, email Steeves at  winstedlaurel@gmail.com.

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