The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Queen’s Pageant takes center stage
The 51st edition of the Vermilion Festival of the Fish kicked off on June 16 in a local tradition that will welcome thousands to historic downtown Vermilion at Victory Park on Father’s Day weekend.
Hosted by the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, the festival features numerous vendors and local food staples such as walleye and perch in their various forms as an ode to the lore. The three-day festival runs through Father’s Day on June 18.
Vermilion’s own Gabrielle Martin was crowned Miss Vermilion in the Queen’s Pageant held at the festival’s main stage in Victory Park. Martin, 17, is a senior at Vermilion High School, and after winning first attendant in last year’s pageant she will represent Vermilion at festivals around the state along with receiving a $300 scholarship.
As first attendant in 2016-17, Martin traveled to 30 festivals around the state of Ohio along with 2016 Miss Vermilion Maya Dayhuff, who had the honor of crowning Martin.
After an opening performance by students from the Harbourtown Dance Studio, the six contestants vying for the title of Miss Vermilion went through the formal wear portion and the “fish bowl question” segment of the evening where contestants were asked some thought provoking questions. All six contestants were interviewed by the pageant’s four judges earlier in the day.
Pageant director Sarah Jasinski is a former Miss Vermilion who won the title in 2010 and is currently a student at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry.
Jasinski said competing in pageants played a role in giving her the confidence to speak in front of people including her admissions interviews for dental school.
“Without that opportunity I do not believe that my
interviews for dental would have gone as smoothly as they were,” Jasinski said.
The opening day of the festival also welcomed legendary Fox 8 meteorologist Dick Goddard and Greg Wiley of Friendship APL, who hosted a pet parade on
the main in addition to an evening fireworks display.
Saturday events include a 5K run in addition to a sand castle contest and wooden boat races. The festival concludes with the Father’s Day parade down Liberty Avenue.