PORT HADLOCK – The Hadlock Days organizers have a crisis on their hands.
The Chimacum High School auditorium, 91 West Valley Road, has been reserved for the Hadlock Days Royal Court coronation ceremony at 6 p.m. on April 25.
But not one person has applied to be on the court that would rule over the festival from July 13 to July 15.
“Until we get some girls, we’ve got absolutely nothing,” said Carol Fletcher, president of the board of Hadlock Days.
“If we don’t have any girls, we’re going to cancel everything.”
She doesn’t mean the festival would be canceled – only the coronation.
The show will go on whether it is ruled by a queen and her court or not.
The festival, which has been an annual event since at least the 1970s, was started by the local Lions Club, according to Archie Charwell, who was a member of the club when the festival began.
It was taken over by the Port Hadlock/Tri-Area Chamber of Commerce a few years ago, Fletcher said.
But this year, the chamber opted out.
The Port Hadlock Business Association has picked it up, said Fletcher.
So far, some 50 competitors have been lined up for the lawn mower race, said Fletcher.
Hadlock Building Supply is putting together a car show, she said, and vendors are lined up.
It’s just that there may be no Miss Hadlock this year.
A $500 college scholarship is reserved for the queen and two princesses would each get $250 scholarships.
Fletcher doesn’t understand why no one wants them.
“I can’t for the life of me figure it out,” Fletcher said.
The deadline to apply was Friday, but Fletcher has extended the deadline to Tuesday.
The court is open to any junior or senior high school student in Jefferson County.
There were four candidates for queen last year.
Danielle Davenport of Port Ludlow, who was then 17 years old, served as queen.
She won a $1,000 scholarship.
“She did a beautiful job,” Fletcher said.
The Hadlock Days royalty usually rides on floats in Sequim’s Irrigation Festival Parade, Port Townsend’s Rhody Festival Parade and, of course, in the Hadlock Days Parade.
Also, the queen must crown the next year’s queen.
“They’re not heavy responsibilities,” Fletcher said.
“They’re easy and fun.”
Those interested in contending for the queen’s crown of Hadlock Days can phone Fletcher on her cell phone at 360-301-0174.
