Festival of Lights Queen Pageant

  • 2 p.m. Sunday, November 12, 2023
  • Location: Par-A-Dice Hotel ballroom, East Peoria
  • Winner receives college scholarship funds
  • Fill out the online entry form. Entry deadline is Friday, October 27, 2023.

Details

Represent the East Peoria Festival of Lights and win a college scholarship! Entries are being accepted for the 36th annual Festival of Lights Queen Pageant. The pageant winner represents East Peoria at Festival of Lights events and makes community appearances during the year, and also receives college scholarship funds.

Qualifications and Judging Criteria

Contestants must be:

  • Female residents of East Peoria, or East Peoria Community High School students or alumni
  • Single
  • Between the ages of 16 and 20

They will be judged on poise, appearance, personality and answers to their interview questions during the pageant. 

Sponsor Fee

Entry fee is $100 which must be paid by Friday, October 27. The sponsor may be a business, individual, organization, etc. Information about how to pay the sponsor fee will be on the entry form.

Contestant Pre-Pageant Meetings

All contestants must be present for pre-pageant meetings on these dates:

  • Thursday, November 2 - Informational meeting
  • Tuesday, November 7 - All contestants will be given the option to borrow a formal from Cloud Nine Bridal Boutique of Peoria, and will need to attend the dress fitting. 

Other Contestant Information

Each contestant must have an escort to present them at the pageant.

Prizes and Queen's Duties

The queen will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and a package of prizes donated by local businesses. Each contestant will receive a gift bag filled with prizes from local businesses.

The queen, first and second runners-up will ride on a float in the 39th annual Parade of Lights Saturday, November 18, 2023. The queen will also reign over all festivities for the 2023 Festival of Lights, make appearances at community events in 2024 and crown the 2024 queen.

More Information

If there are questions or for more information, send an email to folepiqueens@gmail.com.

Let Your Business Be Part of the Pageant

The Festival of Lights Queen Pageant Committee is seeking donations to the queen pageant scholarship fund and prizes for the queen and contestants which can be gift cards or monetary donations that will be used by the committee to purchase prizes. All donors will be recognized in the Festival of Lights Queen Pageant program.

If a donation is in the form of a check, it should be made out to City of East Peoria. Mail donations to:

Festival of Lights Queen Pageant
Attn.: Kory Brown
1 EastSide Drive
East Peoria, IL 61611

Pageant Tickets

A variety of sweet treats will be available at a dessert bar prior to the pageant. Ticket information for the pageant and dessert bar will be announced soon.