Thirty-nine contestants vied for the title of Marion Popcorn Festival’s 2012 Little Wee Pop Prince and Princess at Marion Harding High School Saturday morning. Little Wee Pop is designed for children aged 0 – 23 months.
The 2012 Prince is Lincoln Blankenship, who also captured the Overall Photogenic Award. He is the 13-month old son of Jeb and Tiffany Blankenship.
The 2012 Princess is KimberLinn Butler who is the 15-month old daughter of Trinity and Tiffany Butler. Butler won her age division in both Formalwear and Photogenic.
Receiving Runner-Up awards were Brayden Blevins for prince and Isabella Albright for princess. Blevins is the 17 month old son of Brittany Price, and 18-month old Albright is the daughter of Sarah & George Albright.
The 2012 Little Wee Pops will be featured on the Main Stage of the Marion Popcorn Festival. They will also ride in the Festival’s Orville Redenbacher Parade, and represent the Marion Popcorn Festival at various parades and events throughout the state.
Division winners included:
-
0 – 12 months:
Formalwear: Reese Weller
Photogenic: Reese Weller -
13 – 18 months:
Formalwear: KimberLinn Butler
Photogenic: KimberLinn Butler -
19 – 23 months:
Formalwear: Lily Callis
Photogenic: Khloe McGary - Overall Formalwear: Briley Mustard
- Overall Photogenic Lincoln Blankenship
Receiving honorable mention awards were: Raiden Jowers, Reign Shewmaker, Macie Kearns, Lillian Oswald, Easton Metz, Savannah Marks, Avery Jackson, Summer Gullett, Bryanna Thompson, Evelene Hopper, Brayden Liggett, Alexandra Russell, Payson Gay, Josie Beard, Lia Wise, Amayhia Mustard, Lilyana Jenkins, Karlee Price, Abigail Sears, Cobra Jackson, Brooklyn Adams, Lyrik Mullins, Maddisyn Meade, Izabel Castillo, Liam Garcia, Jocelynn Pfeiffer, Alaysha Carter, Nataliah Gaines, Cambree Temple, Isabella Williams, and Kytanna Clark.
Businesses responsible for sponsoring the event and many of the Little Wee Pop gifts and awards were: Ideal Printing Service, Marion Auto Sales, Seismic Drilling, Precision Auto, Goldrush Jewelers, Wal-Mart, Jerzee Drive Thur, McDonalds (Vince Ebner), Dolfin Music Service, Greenwood Floor Center, Georgia Mills Carpet, Ready-To-Rent, The Dance Factory, Candel’s Renovations, Sears Portrait Studio, and Burger King.
Also contributing were BlueFusion Entertainment, The Columbus Zoo, Blue Streek Car Wash, Godfathers, PaPa John’s Pizza, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, LA Tan, Donatos, L & P Cade, Zoombezie Bay, Ralphies, Stumpo’s, Tubby’s Pizza, Marion Centre Cinema, and House of Hunan.
Currently celebrating its 32nd year, the Marion Popcorn Festival is the largest popcorn festival in the world with an annual attendance estimated in excess of 250,000 over the three-day festival. Other events include a popcorn cooking contest, a fine art show, crafts, Popcorn 5000 5K run, Popcorn 100 bike tour, a community showcase stage, and more.
Main stage entertainment for 2012 includes The Ultimate Journey Xperience, a Journey tribute band on Thursday, September 6; country sensation Josh Thompson on Friday, September 7; and Boyz II Men on Saturday, September 8. For more information on the full slate of activities, or if you are interested in obtaining Kernel Seats for the entertainment, visit www.popcornfestival.com or call 740-387-FEST. The Marion Popcorn Festival is sponsored in part by the City of Marion.
Photo: In Festivities by the MarionPopcorn Festival at Grant Middle School Saturday, KimberLinnBulter (left) was named Little Wee Pop Princess and Lincoln Blankenship wasnamed Little Wee Pop Prince. Notpictured are runner’s up Isabella Albright and Brayden Blevins. The complete wrap-up story will run laterthis week.
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