Posted: 11/14/06
Winter Royalty to be crowned Saturday
Caledoniaís winter celebration kicks off Saturday evening with the crowning of the Winter Snow Queen and Snow Princess at the CM/HS auditorium.
The Snow Princess pageant will get underway at 7 p.m. with 18 young ladies competing for the title. A first ambassador and second ambassador will also be chosen.
The Snow Queen pageant will follow at 8 p.m. There are 11 girls who will vie for that title. A first and second ambassador will be chosen as well.
The newly-crowned royalty will preside over the Winter Wonderland events December 1-3, and represent Caledonia at celebrations in neighboring communities throughout the year.
Buttons to be sold
Winter Wonderland buttons are currently being sold for $3 at Quillinís, Bank of the West, and Merchants Bank. The buttons will help offset the cost of the festivities. Some local merchants will offer discounts to customers wearing the button the weekend of the celebration.
Balloon Rally
The Bluff and Valley Balloon Rally will once again be a part of the celebration. The Caledonia Area Chamber of Commerce will have a special shaped balloon at the event, December 1-3.
The ìAir Bearî has committed to joining four flights on these three days (weather permitting).
This balloon is owned and flown by Conrad Burgess of Golden Valley, MN and is corporately sponsored by The Bank of the West, which has a branch in Caledonia, MN.
The launch site for roughly 20 balloons is scheduled for the Houston County Airport just south of Caledonia Saturday at 7:30 am and 2 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 am.
A flight for the school children is tentatively scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday December 1, at the Caledonia Elementary School.
In the event that winds are marginal, the launch site may be moved to Joe & Diana Hammellís pasture 1 mile east of Caledonia on County Road 3.
The Argus will be publishing a special Winter Wonderland section on November 29.
Miss Caledonia enjoys
lengthy reign
Miss Caledonia 2005, Nathalie Besse, got a bonus with her reign as Miss Caledonia/Founders Day. Because of a change in committees which prompted a change in the celebration, Nathalie had an extra five months as Caledoniaís reigning queen. On Saturday, she will crown the new ìSnow Queenî for the Winter Wonderland celebration.
The Founders Days Queen and her princesses, Brittany Meyer and Justine Kruckow, spent many hours traveling to and appearing in parades throughout the region. Nathalie estimated that they attended about 10 parades.
One event that stands out in Nathalieís mind is the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Local queens from all over the state participated, and they were shuttled from place to place in buses.
ìWhen you looked around the bus, everyone was wearing a crown,î said Nathalie. ìIt was crazy.î
Nathalie said she was nervous before last yearís pageant, but the nervousness quickly wore off.
ìIt felt like we were just talking,î she said of her interviews with the judges.
After winning the title, she said she was so excited she couldnít sleep. It had been a dream of hers to be Miss Caledonia since she was in the Little Miss pageant, she said.
The experience helped Nathalie get closer to Justine and Brittany, and also presented the opportunity to make other friendships as well. She said she knew Miss La Crescent before the summer events, but became good friends with her after seeing her at so many parades.
Nathalie said she has a new appreciation for all the work that goes into lining up a parade.
ìI understand what goes on behind the scenes,î she said.
The experience of meeting so many new people was helpful, Nathalie said, when she went off to Winona State this fall.
ìIíve never been too shy, but it helped when I went to college,î she said. Nathalie is studying biology/allied health.
Nathalie thanked the previous Founders Days committee for giving her the opportunity to serve as Miss Caledonia, and the new committee for taking on the challenge of a community celebration.
ìIíve had such a fun time, I wanted to hand my crown over to give someone else the same chance,î she said.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com