Lovefest – A 'Royal Celebration'

Royal Court – Back row: Bryson Franklin, Charles Wiley, James Gatlin, Oscar Sutton, Seth Enos, and Conner Martinez. Second row: Zoe Burdett, D’Janyah Simpson, Libby Ray, Aaliyah Jones, Courteney Spoerle, and Magali Castillo. Front row: Hayes Davidson and Ariel Bird. JAN WHITE|HCC

By Jan White
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LOVELADY – The City of Lovelady will commence its 40th annual Lovefest celebration by crowning the Lovefest Queen at a coronation ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. 

The 2022 Royal Court includes princesses from the seventh and eighth grade, and young ladies from ninth through 12 grade competing for the title of Lovefest Queen. 

When asked if they were either nervous or excited about the event, one-hundred percent of the contestants said they were excited. The young ladies each admitted surprise when they found out they’d been chosen but were also humbled by the experience, saying they were honored to represent their class. 

Zoe Burdett was voted seventh grade princess, and her escort is Bryson Franklin. The eighth grade princess is D’Janyah Simpson, and her escort is Charles Wiley.

The Lovefest Queen will be chosen based on a written essay and an impromptu speech, the topic of which is not known in advance. Queen contestants include ninth grade Libby Ray, escorted by James Gatlin; tenth grader Aaliyah Jones escorted by Oscar Sutton; junior Courteney Spoerle escorted by Seth Enos and senior Magali Castillo accompanied by Conner Martinez. Ariel Bird and Hayes Davidson round out the Court as Pre-K representatives. The 2022 Lovefest Queen will be crowned by last year’s Queen, Kyra Rogers.

Tickets for the Coronation can be purchased on the night of the event. Adult tickets cost $4, and student tickets are $2. 

On Saturday, Feb. 12, the 40th Annual Lovefest will kick off its celebration with a parade that begins at 10 a.m., followed by a jam-packed day of activities. There will be arts and crafts exhibits, food vendors, beauty pageants for babies and toddlers, a Little Miss and Mister Pageant, the annual Chili Cookoff and a baking contest sponsored by the Weldon Civic Club. 

The celebration culminates with the Lovefest Dance on Saturday night at the Lovelady Old Gym, where the Loose Gravel Band will perform. Adult admission is $15 per person or $20 per couple, with a $10 cooler charge. Children accompanied by an adult will be charged $5.