Hempstead Chamber of Commerce

 23rd Annual Watermelon Festival

2012 Hempstead Watermelon Festival Rules and Application

2012 Hempstead Watermelon Festival Rules
for the Watermelon Royalty Contestants

Queens Application

  1. I.                   Eligibility:
    1. a.     Contestants must be an unmarried female without children.
    2. b.     Contestants must be residents of a Waller County School District enrolled in school in a Waller County School District. (Hempstead, Royal, or Waller ISD’s)
    3. c.      The following requirements are for the upcoming school year (2012-2013)
      1. 1.     Queen Candidates must be entering grades 9th through 12th
      2. 2.     Princess Candidates must be entering grades 6th through 8th
      3. 3.     Duchess Candidates must be entering grades 3th through 5th
      4. 4.     Little Miss Candidates must be entering grades Kindergarten through 2rd
    4. d.     All contestants must prove that they have a “C” or better average for the preceding school semester.
    5. e.     Past Queens are not eligible to participate. Past Princess, Duchess, and Little Miss are allowed to participate when they reach the next age level.
    6. f.       All contestants must provide a current photo with your application.
  2. II.                 Contestant Responsibility
    1. a.     The contestant must sell tickets (details in Section IV of these rules)
    2. b.     The contestant must also get a minimum $100.00 sponsorship prior to being judged. All sponsorships will be counted as ticket sales for final determination of winners. 
    3. c.      The contestant must ride in the Watermelon Festival Parade, attend the Queen’s Luncheon, the rehearsal, decoration of the coronation area, and be at open ceremonies.
    4. d.     You must be available for the next year’s festival to present sashes and crowns to the Queen and her court. Each contestant is expected to where her crown, sash, and pin at all times during the Festival.
    5. e.     The new court is required to attend and assist at the watermelon auction, awards ceremony and bbq cook-off winners. They must be in full view of the public throughout the entire day.
    6. f.       The contestants are to wear sun dresses. NO FORMALS or evening gowns will be allowed. The dresses must be approved by the committee on the day of the luncheon. Any contestant that does not comply with this rule will be judged.
    7. g.     Each contestant must have an escort for the coronation ceremony. The escorts are to wear solid color button downed collared shirts and clean pressed jeans. Please no suits, ties, or stripped shirts. Their names are to be submitted with the initial application.
  3. III.              Court’s Responsibilities:
    1. a.     The queen and her court will reign from the Day they are crowned till the crowning of their predecessors the following year.
    2. b.     All contestant’s will ride on the Queen’s float at the next Watermelon Festival and will be required to represent the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce in numerous parades throughout the year.
    3. c.      The new court must remain unmarried without children and a full time student during their reign. Failure to fulfill all eligibility requirements will result in the relinquishment of the title and scholarship to the first runner-up in their category.
    4. d.     The queen and her court will purchase a dress (chosen by the committee) immediately following her July crowning using the money from the sponsorship.
    5. e.     The Queen and her court must be available and agree to represent the Watermelon Festival and The Hempstead Chamber of Commerce in various functions during their reign. If the Queen fails to cooperate with the committee in any of the functions, she will be penalized $500.00 of her scholarship. In the event the Queen is unavailable to fulfill 2 or more scheduled events, the first runner-up will step in and carry out her duties. If anyone from the court misses more than one scheduled appearance they will be asked to step down and the first runner up will step in and resume their duties.
    6. f.       The Queen and her court need to be aware of the many parades and events that they will be required to attend such as Fair Parades, Festivial of Lights, May Fest, etc). They may also be asked to attend some Chamber of Commerce functions as requested. The Queen will introduce the band on Saturday night.
    7. g.     The Queen and her court must carry out their community service project. This project must be approved by the committee.
  4. IV.              Ticket Sales
    1. a.     Each contestant will be issued 300 tickets upon receipt of their completed application. The contestant may pick up additional tickets from The Hotline Press or Keri Houston.
    2. b.     All proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorship are to be turned into The Hotline Press. The first 300 tickets must be turned into The Hotline Press on Friday June 22, 2024 by noon. Failure to do so will disqualify you from the competition. The last day to turn in tickets and moneys is July 7, 2024 at the Queens Luncheon.
    3. c.      Each Contestant will be responsible for turning in the total amount due from the sales of tickets or the amount collected from a portion of tickets sold along with the remaining tickets. In the event that the tickets are lost or stolen, it is the responsibility of the contestant and parent to pay for them.
    4. d.     Once a contestant has turned in her 300 tickets and $100.00 sponsorship to The Hotline Press, she will be considered eligible to run for the Court.
  5. V.                Court Selection Process
    1. a.     Each contestant will be judged for appearance, poise, and personality before a panel of judges. Please remember this is not a beauty pageant. The judges will consider your overall application as well as your personal interview. Tickets sales and judging scores will determine the winners.
  6. VI.              Awards
    1. a.     Top Ticket Seller will receive a $100.00 Savings Bond
    2. b.     The Queen will be presented $1000.00 scholarship to be administered by HISD. (up to $500.00 per semester).
    3. c.      The Princess will receive a $500.00 savings bond.
    4. d.     The Duchess will receive a $250.00 savings bond.
    5. e.     The Little Miss will receive $100.00 savings bond.
    6. f.       All winners will receive a crown, sash, flowers, and a monetary prize.
  7. VII.           Raffle Prizes
    1. a.     1st place: $500.00
    2. b.     2nd place: $250.00
    3. c.      3rd place: $100.00
    4. d.     The drawing will take place at the Festival and you need not be present to win.
  8. VIII.         Important Dates
    1. a.     Thursday, April 12, 2024, Community Informational Meeting, Hempstead Recreation Center at 6:00pm
    2. b.     Friday, June 22, 2024, First 300 hundred tickets due, to be turned into The Hotline Press (979)826-8777 by 12:00pm (noon)
    3. c.      Saturday, July 7, 2024, Queens Luncheon at 11:00am, The Garden Café. (All ticket and sponsorship money must be turned in)
    4. d.     Friday, July 20, 2024, Decoration of Coronation Area at 6:00pm
    5. e.     Saturday, July 21, 2024, Watermelon Festival

 If you have any questions please contact:               Keri Houston at 832-256-5863 or kmdavis1422@gmail.com