Saturday, young women from Pearl River County competed in the 32nd annual Miss Blueberry Pageant in Poplarville.
The event is held one week before the city’s “social event of the year,” the Blueberry Jubilee, Blueberry Jubilee Council member Tammy Krutzfeldt said.
The pageant has been a main attraction since the beginning of the Jubilee in 1983, Krutzfeldt said.
“The Jubilee was created by Mimi Monthieth and Mary Hough and their intent was to showcase Pearl River County and the blueberry, the jewel of south Mississippi,” Krutzfeldt said.
Young women up to 18-years of age competed in Saturday’s pageant.
The younger girls waltz across the stage in their pretty dresses, Krutzfeldt said.
That morning, the teens and Miss Blueberry contestants participated in a five to eight minute interview, Krutzfeldt said.
They are asked questions based on their biographies, the blueberry industry, Pearl River County and how they feel about their community. They also participate in a stage performance to display their poise and personality, she said.
Pageant judges are selected from a judging form and others travel from out of state to select the winners, Krutzfeldt said.
There are seven titles up for grabs during the festivities.
Mercedes Mayfield was named Miss Blueberry 2015. The title of Miss Teen Blueberry was awarded to Gabrielle Lewis and Kaydence Grace Smith was named Junior Miss Blueberry.
This year’s Little Miss Blueberry is Harley Holder and Tiny Miss Blueberry is Kamryn Cate Smith.
Bentley Richard was named Wee Miss Blueberry and Barkley Lynn Dunnam was named Toddler Miss Blueberry.
The 2015 Baby Miss Blueberry was Stella Kate Smith.
The Jubilee’s festivities begin this Friday night at 7 p.m. at the main stage by the Pearl River County Courthouse with performances by the Poplarville Storytellers Guild and musical acts Cross Ties and Jordan River Band, Krutzfeldt said.
This Saturday, more than 200 commercial and arts and crafts vendors are expected to line the streets of Poplarville, Krutzfeldt said.
The day begins with a one-mile children’s fun run at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K begins at 8 a.m., Krutzfeldt said. The 2015 entertainment schedule includes Studio Rhythms Dance Studio, Jubilee Promenaders Square Dancers, Cartwheels School of Gymnastics, Piney Woods Cloggers, “Malachi,” Caitlyn Lee, PRCC “JazzCats,” Alexes Aiken and Shane Prather.
The event will take place in downtown Poplarville and lasts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Signage will be placed throughout town directing visitors to parking, which will be in the Poplarville Lower Elementary parking lot and underneath the water tower, Krutzfeldt said.
Learn more about the Blueberry Jubilee through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and visit the website at www.blueberryjubilee.org.
“This is the social event of the year,” Krutzfeldt said. “All the locals come back to attend the event. Pre-Hurricane Katrina, more than 20,000 people attended and last year, there were more than 15,000 in attendance. The numbers are getting back up there. Our community is wonderful and this is a great opportunity to show off our city.”