Grassbaugh becomes Antique Festival’s 33rd princess
Outgoing Antique Festival Princess Cambree Garver, who led a very active year in serving her festival as princess, crowns newly selected Princess Gracie Grassbaugh during the Sunday, Oct. 2 festivities in Millersburg.
For many Holmes County contestants who are hopeful to become Holmes County Antique Festival queen, the journey begins in the princess contest, where they can gain experience serving their festival as a representative around the state.
On Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Millersburg Christian Church, a quartet of young ladies vied for Holmes County Antique Festival princess at the festival’s 60th anniversary.
This year marked the 33rd princess contest, and it proved to be an engaging contest.
The four contestants included Sarah Belanger, Gracie Grassbaugh, Audrey Schlabach and Elianna White, and following a spirited competition, Grassbaugh was wearing the princess tiara and the other trio were named to her court.
The girls wore antique dresses, presented short speeches about the Antique Festival and answered a random question so the three judges could determine which they felt would represent the Antique Festival best over the coming year.
For Grassbaugh, the chance to represent her festival and community is something she is looking forward to for the next year.
“I am feeling very excited,” Grassbaugh said. “I’m really happy and proud.”
Grassbaugh said in an effort to overcome her nerves, she kept practicing her speech and kept telling herself to proceed slowly.
She said she now looks forward to getting to better know her fellow princesses and her queen and the court as they travel Ohio together.
She also said there was one other benefit of participating in the event, and that was having fun with her friends over the many weeks they gathered together and practiced.
This was Grassbaugh’s second attempt at running for princess, and she said last year’s experience helped her prepare for this year’ contest.
“Last year was my first time, and I wasn’t as nervous this time because I had more experience,” Grassbaugh said.
She said she enjoys studying math, reading and writing during her time at school.
As outgoing princess, Cambree Garver was prolific in her effort to visit as many festivals and activities as possible during her tenure. Garver visited 35 different venues this past year, well beyond what is required of her to do.
She said she wanted to do everything possible to promote the festival, and while she admitted she wasn’t exactly a wallflower before the princess contest and her ensuing year, the experience only made her more comfortable speaking in public.
“I was really busy and went to festivals about every weekend,” Garver said. “I got a lot of support from my family. I had so much fun traveling, and I thought I was social before I ran, but now I feel like I’m even more social than I ever was. I don’t think I can get any more social.”
She said she will count down the days until she gets to run for the Antique Festival queen’s position, but until then she will bask in the memories she created during her tenure as princess.
Emily Day, princess contest emcee, has had the joy of being crowned both Antique Festival princess and queen, and she said the nerves and excitement make for a mix of emotions.
“I can remember it so vividly, and it’s hard to believe because it was so many years ago, but it seems like only yesterday,” Day said of her princess experience. “I still get a little emotional because I had such an amazing time, and I want these young ladies to experience that same thing.”
She said for many princesses, especially first-timers, there is an unbelievable amount of pressure, and the nerves can become overwhelming, but she said all four girls did a remarkable job of pushing aside any trepidations and looking smooth and confident on stage.
She said she was backstage with the girl before the competition and said they all expressed a nervous tension.
“They handled it well and looked pretty flawless,” Day said.
She went on to say she expects this quartet to represent Holmes County and the Holmes County Antique Festival well as they travel the state visiting festivals.