Screams and cheers rang out through the H.J. Ricks Centre For The Arts Sunday night as Ellie Streveler was named the 2024 Riley Festival Pageant Queen.
Streveler described her reaction to hearing her name called.
“I really couldn’t believe it,” she said. “Everyone today has tried so incredibly hard over the last couple of weeks, and I’m glad that everyone’s hard work was reflected. It really just astonished me.”
Also in the Riley Festival court are Addison Buckley, who was named princess and also won Miss Congeniality, Della Hedge, Alyssa Coffey and Aaliyah Majors.
The Little Miss and Little Mister pageants were held at the intermission of the Queen Pageant. The Little Mister pageant was won by Connor Patton and the Little Miss pageant was won by Nariyah Reid.
The actual pageant process took place over two weeks, with a preliminary judging and rehearsal taking place on Sept. 8 before returning to the Ricks Centre this Sunday, but the preparation process took months.
“It’s nice to work hard doing something and for it to come to fruition, but I had a great time regardless, this is just the cherry on top,” Streveler said.
Streveler went on to say that much of her preparation time was spent working with the other contestants, specifically noting that Majors organized several events for the contestants to get together.
Each member of the court won a cash prize — $1,000 to the queen, $500 to the princess, $250 to the other three court members and an additional $150 for Miss Congeniality, which was voted on by the contestants — and will participate in several events at this year’s Riley Festival, including the Opening Night Ceremony, Children’s Parade of Flowers, James Whitcomb Riley Breakfast, Riley Festival Parade, and the Christmas Parade.
“I’m incredibly excited for the festival,” Streveler said. “I’ve always loved it, and I’m especially excited for the flower parade because it’s something that I’ve always loved and I’m excited to be a bigger part of it this year.”
The crowning moment was the culmination of months of preparation for Streveler, who will now go on to participate in the Indiana State Festivals Association Queen Scholarship Pageant, which is being hosted this year by the Riley Festival and will take place at Greenfield-Central High School in November.
“I’m incredibly excited for another opportunity to do a pageant,” Streveler said. “This was my first time doing one, and I’m excited that I get that opportunity to prepare. I’m just going to do the same thing, just work my hardest, practice as much as I can and just remember to laugh.”
The Riley Festival will take place Oct. 3-6 in downtown Greenfield.
