Queen’s Tradition: Coronation Kicks Off 56th Annual Festival
Blisse Beardsley To Wear Crown Through 2005 Events

At right:Mayor Margaret Doud assists 2004 Lilac Queen Jennifer Wightman in passing the crown to the newly coronated Blisse Beardsley.

The 56th Annual Lilac Festival officially began Friday, June 10, with the coronation of the 2005 Lilac Queen. Weekend rain and clouds held back long enough for the coronation ceremony, when 2004 Lilac Queen Jennifer Wightman officially relinquished her crown to the recently graduated Blisse Beardsley, who will assume all of the duties of the Lilac Queen until next year.

Present for the crowning of the new Queen were Mayor Margaret Doud, Father Rey Garcia of Ste. Anne’s Catholic Church, Tourism Bureau Director Mary Slevin, and School Board member Jason St. Onge.

The 2005 Lilac Court with Miss Teen Michigan and 2004 Lilac Queen (from left): Miss Teen Michigan Catherine Laurion, Emily St. Onge, Kristi Kamphuis, 2005 Lilac Queen Blisse Beardsley, 2004 Lilac Queen Jennifer Wightman, Christina McLean, Karlena Mosley, and, in front, Lilac Princess Shelbie Mosley.

Also present at this year’s coronation was 2005 Miss Teen Michigan Catherine Laurion of West Branch. Miss Laurion was invited to the coronation by Ms. Slevin and also attended the Queen’s Rave in the evening. Accompanying her to the Island as a combined vacation and appearance were her mother, the pageant coordinator, and her best friend.

“I like doing fun things like this,” said Miss Laurion. “A lot of girls don’t do much with the crown.”

Miss Laurion came up Friday to attend the two events and returned home Saturday, June 11. While on the Island, she stayed at Lilac Tree Hotel and enjoyed walking around the Island and taking a carriage tour. She will be competing in the national Miss Teen USA contest in August.

The duties of the Lilac Queen, while not excessive, do entail some effort, according to coordinator Candace Smith. They begin with appearances during Lilac Festival at A Taste of Mackinac and at the Grand Parade and do not conclude until the following year with the opening of Fort Mackinac and the coronation of a new queen to open Lilac festivities.

In addition to the duties of the previous queen, each successive queen usually has one more event to attend, as Ms. Smith tries to add something new to the queen’s schedule every year. Because there is a certain responsibility in accepting the crown, special effort is taken to reward girls who run for queen.

Each year the queen and her court receive a gift bag from Island businesses. This year the Princess and the Queen will each receive savings bonds from First National Bank, a gift from Island Book Store, and flowers from Petals on Mackinac. The Queen also received dinner at Grand Hotel.

The entire court received flowers from Weber’s Flowers for the coronation ceremony and from Mackinac Island Florist for the Lilac Parade, and 7th Heaven Salon and Spa did their hair. The girls receive a free game at the Mission Point Resort putting greens, breakfast or lunch at Jesse’s Chuckwagon, lunch at French Outpost, a case of pop from Harrisonville General Store, and a gift bag from Ty & Ling’s.

2005 Lilac Court

2005 Lilac Queen

Blisse Beardsley

Lilac Princess

Shelbie Mosley

Emily St. Onge

Kristi Kamphuis

Christina McLean

Karlena Mosley