Killbuck filled with royalty, despite rainy conditions
Gurley was the only candidate competing for queen, but she still had to deliver an inspiring performance. Gurley's talent was to sing a song for the judges and onlookers.
"The girls did great," said queen advisor Margaret Hurayt about the queen, three junior queens, two little princesses and five little misses who worked hard in this year's pageant. The competing girls must give a speech, perform a talent and answer a fish bowl question as part of the judging ceremony.
Now that Gurley has been named the Killbuck Early American Days Queen, she has duties to accompany that honor. She and her court will spend the year touring the state and informing other festivals' royalty about the Killbuck Early American Days.
"The queen will have to travel to the other festivals that she's invited to and promote our festival," said Hurayt.
But before the members of the court take off to other festivals, the queen and her attendants held the Queen's Luncheon at Killbuck Elementary where the local and visiting royalty ate, socialized and gave speeches.
This year, there were many more royals in attendance as the festival luncheon set the record for the most visiting royalty with 75 queens present. "There were more than ever before," said Hurayt. "There were 190 people at our luncheon with the royalty and their chaperones. We had to scramble to get more things when the count kept going and going."
The queen and her attendants were scheduled to appear in the Grand Parade along with the visiting royalty who came from all across the state. Although the day's royal festivities were cancelled, Killbuck was still filled with young ladies donning elaborate dresses, sashes and tiaras. Erica Galloway, the queen first attendant visiting from Coshocton, said that even though the parade was cancelled, she was still excited to walk around and explore the museum with her brother Cody, the junior king from Coshocton.
The visitors were invited to participate in all the festival had to offer, including free admission to the museum. "It's all part of being invited to Killbuck to represent our own festival," said Amy Galloway, the mother of Erica and Cody.
Although the Grand Parade was cancelled and the rain sent some visiting royalty back to their hometowns, many members of the court still rode in a small parade of police vehicles and fire trucks in front of spectators that withstood the rain. "I still got to ride on top of a fire truck, I got soaked!" said Leah Armbrust, a junior queen from Killbuck.
However, the court was a little disappointed about the cancellation of the Grand Parade, especially with the absence of the West Holmes Marching Band, for the girls had a royal show planned for the parade. According to Hurayt, when the marching band began to play the Apache song, the girls had intended to do an Apache flash mob dance through the streets.
Such a performance will have to wait until next year, when the royal court will return to Killbuck for the annual festival. Until then, Queen Jillian Gurley and her attendants will be singing the praises of the Killbuck Early American Days across Ohio at various fairs and festivals as they represent their town.
Published: September 6, 2011
