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55th Annual Valley of Flowers
Sunny Skies Were in Order After Wet Week;
New Queen Crowned For Valley of Flowers
By Nichole Richardson
This year’s 55th annual Valley of Flowers Festival queen coronation, held at the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Knights of Columbus Pavilion #2951, was a beautiful and refreshing change from the past week of gloom and doom rain the city had seen.
The 2017 theme was “Valley of Flowers Celebrates…The Wonders of the World,” and the “first festival of spring” was held May 5-7 in Old Town Florissant.
Dozens of high school girls competed for the titles of VOF Queen, first runner-up, or special maid. Mayor Thomas Schneider was back on deck this year to announce winners and even joked with the excited crowd that Steve Harvey and Warren Betty were unavailable for the job.
2016 Queen Katie Wissler spoke her closing comments as Queen and then handed off the crown to Incarnate Word student Megan Pilla, who was sponsored by the Locker Room.
Wissler’s advice to the newly crowned Pilla, was “to always have a smile on her face and to always be thankful and gracious.” An innocent-looking Megan was shocked to have won and stood out in her baby-girl pink and sequins floor-length gown.
“I am just so surprised,” chirped Pilla, “I can’t wait to experience all the new things here in Florissant and grow closer to the Court!”
Her first official event was Monday night at the annual Queen’s Dinner hosted by Commerce Bank and held at the Detrick’s Center at Christian Hospital Northeast.
Valley of Flowers candidates are sponsored by local businesses and organizations and are then chosen by a panel of judges.
Prior to the ceremony, many awards are also given out for numerous contests such as Pretty Baby, sponsors, and parade units.
