Festival of St. Charles holds pageant April 20

Festival of St. Charles will hold its pageant and extravaganza April 20 at the American Legion Hall, 12188 River Road in St. Rose.

A children, teen and miss pageant will be held. Crafts, music and food also will be featured.

The code for the children's pageant is Sunday's best clothes, natural hair and makeup with no glitz.

Winners and alternates will be selected in each age division. The entry fee is $40 by April 19, and $45 cash at the door.

Doors open at 9 a.m.

Times and divisions are: boys 7-11 months, 10 a.m.; boys 12-23 months, 10:15 a.m.; girls 0-7 months, 10:30 a.m.; girls 8-14 months, 10:45 a.m.; girls 15-23 months, 11 a.m.; girls 2-3 years, 11:15 a.m.; girls 4-5 years, 11:30 a.m.; girls 6-7 years, 11:45 a.m.; girls 8-9 years, noon; girls 10-11 years, 12:15 a.m.; and girls 12-13 years, 12:30 a.m.

A modeling seminar will held April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Dance Unlimited Studio, 4 Eric Lawrence Drive in Ormond Estates in Destrehan. The cost is $5. Proceeds will benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Greater New Orleans.

The teen and miss pageant will be held at 6 p.m. The teen pageant is open to girls ages 14-16; and miss is open to girls ages 18-23.

The Miss Queen will have the option to compete at the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen of Queens pageant in February 2009 in Baton Rouge.

The entry fee is $60 for the teen pageant and $75 for the miss, which covers photogenic.

Girls will participate in interview, an opening number and introduction, evening gown, and on-stage question and answer.

The deadline to enter the teen and miss pageant is April 16 at 6 p.m. A mandatory meeting and practice will be held April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Dance Unlimited in Destrehan.

For entry forms or information call Nancy Whann at 504-400-0289 or Denise Lirette at 985-785-9553.

Each year, the St. Charles Spring Festival/Festival of Charities, a nonprofit organization, selects a charity to recognize. Proceeds will be donated to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater New Orleans.