Spokane Lilac Festival queen coronation will be Sunday

After rounds of speeches and interviews, the Lilac Festival will crown its queen on Sunday.

She will reign with the other six members of the Lilac Court, which was chosen in December.

The seven teens will give one more speech for the crowd on Sunday, as well as receive scholarships, before the coronation.

Being on the Lilac Court means representing and serving the community. The teens have already been doing this through volunteering with such programs as Salvation Army Clothe a Child and a holiday cookie drop for airmen at Fairchild Air Force Base, said Kim Johnson, the Lilac Festival’s vice president of royalty. Their work will continue with visits to hospitals and schools, as well as luncheons and teas.

It’s also been a time of training for the young women. The original 15 candidates for the court participated in a program that covered skills such as resume writing, public speaking, interview techniques and self-defense, Johnson said.

And, of course, there will be parades. The Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade is May 20. And, the festival float and members of the Lilac Court will travel around the region representing Spokane at Seafair in Seattle, the Portland Rose Festival, Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival, Leavenworth Autumn Leaf Festival and other festivals.