Spanish royalty

Outgoing court takes a final bow

Spring has become the time to celebrate the La Asociación Española de Nueva Iberia Spanish Festival, but to continue with the tradition of crowning its royalty annually — and to keep the Spanish heritage alive throughout the year —the King’s Ball and Children’s & Queen’s Pageants remain in the fall. The new Spanish Festival King will be crowned Friday. The Children & Queen’s Pageants are Saturday.

Pageant director Brinkley S. Lopez said she approached the board of LAENI in 2014 with the idea of instituting the royalty as ambassadors and promoters of the festival throughout the state. She was the 2007 Frog Festival Queen and 2009 Cajun Hot Sauce Queen and knows what it means to represent her hometown. The adult queens were first crowned in 2015. The younger divisions, king and a Ms. division for women over the age of 24 or married, was added in 2016. As part of the commitment to represent the festival, the applicants are required to attend recommended events across the state.

Spanish heritage is not a requirement. All females within an age category can enter. For the king, nominations were made and a drawing will be held at the annual King’s Ball, to be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Cyr-Gates Community Center in New Iberia City Park.

This year the nominees include James Migues, Tracy Migues, Michael Parich, Darren Romero and James Viator. They will be Festival Ambassadors for the 2019 Festival.

Tickets for the reveal at the 3rd annual Spanish King’s Ball are $35 per person which includes music by 5 O’clock Shadows, food and a cash bar. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Clementine On Main or at NewIberiaSpanishFestival.com.

The 2018 Spanish Festival Children’s & Queen’s Pageants take place Saturday at the Cyr-Gates Community Center in New Iberia City Park. The Children’s Pageant, admission $5, will be held at 2 p.m. with divisions for Baby Miss ages 2 to 4, Baby Mr. ages 2 to 4, Little Miss ages 5 to 7, Petite Miss ages 8 to 10 and Deb Miss ages 11 to 12. All ages are as of Oct. 1.

The 2018 Spanish Festival Queen’s Pageant, admission $10, is at 6 p.m. and includes Junior ages 13 to 15, Teen ages 16 to 17, Miss ages 18 to 23 and Ms. 24 and up, also as of Oct. 1. Deadline to enter the Children’s or Queen’s pageant is Oct. 3. No door entries will be accepted.

The newly crowned 2018 Spanish Royalty are required to attend the 7th annual El Festival Español de Nueva Iberia April 26 through 28, 2019. Festival activities including Opening Ceremony & Royalty Presentation, Walking Parade and a Thanksgiving Mass for the founding Spanish Families. The 2018 Spanish Royalty also are required to attend the Annual Spanish King’s Ball October 2019.

For complete rules and registration, visit NewIberiaSpanishFestival.com. Spanish decent is not required to participate, rather a heart for celebrating one of the cultures that helped establish the Teche Area.

La Asociacion Español de Nueva Iberia is a nonprofit, volunteer organization incorporated in the city of New Iberia to serve as a vehicle for the recognition and promotion of the Spanish ancestry and culture in New Iberia and throughout Louisiana. LAENI encourages, supports and directs Student Exchange programs and activities involving educational, culinary, music and art exchanges while creating awareness and deeper understanding of the local Spanish heritage. Founding Spanish Families of New Iberia include Gary, Lopez, Migues(z), Prados, Romero, Segura and Viator. The 2019 El Festival Español de Nueva Iberia will be held April 26-28.