Freedom Awards Gala

The royalty and I had the privilege of attending the America's Freedom Festival Awards Gala. I have attended the Gala for many years with my family. I always walk away with a renewed sense of patriotism and a urge to make a difference through service. This year was no different. The honorees were all so incredible and have all contributed so much to our world.

Provo City Royalty with all the Freedom Award Recipients

Miss Provo Director, Robyn, and I

Colonial Days

Colonial Days is another great aspect of the America's Freedom Festivities. We were asked to be there for the opening and then returned the next day to perform.

Being Miss Provo is such an adventure. I am learning so many new things and having so many new experiences, such as lighting a cannon.

I am quite the cannon expert now. They let me fire it twice!

With Mayor Curtis and the head of Colonial Days

Provo City Royalty with a Boy Scouts troop

In the stocks...

Up, Up and Away

One of my favorite parts of the Fourth of July in Provo is the Balloon Fest put on by the America's Freedom Festival. Growing up my family would wake up, make breakfast, and watch the balloons fill up the sky.

Kimmy Bramble the 2nd Attendant and her family are very involved in the Balloon Fest and go ballooning all the time. Kimmy's dad, Curt Bramble, generously offered to take Melanie Jones and I up for a balloon ride. It was the first time for both of us.

This was the balloon we went up in!

Melanie and I

It was fascinating to watch all the balloons start to fill up.

Robyn Pulham, the Miss Provo director, Melanie, Brett (Robyn's son) and I

The Provo City Royalty in the balloon basket

This balloon drew a large crowd. People even came dressed up as Star Wars characters. The balloon and its pilot came all the way from Belgium. His balloon got stuck in customs and almost didn't make it, but I am so happy that it did make it because it was incredible.

The view from above.

Children's Parade

The children's parade was our first event for the America's Freedom Festival in Provo. We were asked to judge the entries and hand out the trophies. There were so many creative floats, bikes, wagons and scooters and even more darling babies and kids.

The first entry of the parade. The parade is basically "first come, first serve." So they were there bright and early!

This baby was darling! He was a little sailor riding in style in his own boat! He won his division of the "Cute Baby Contest."

His parents asked me to hold him so they could take a picture for his baby book. His wagon was a little school house. Such a cute theme! People are so creative.

This was the Grand Prize winning float. They had music, cute kids and a massive float all made by a group of mothers. Very impressive!

The Timpview High School band was there. Go T-birds!

Come Fly With Me... From Provo Airport

My first ribbon cutting was a historic one for Provo. Provo Airport is now flying commercial flights by Frontier Airlines to Denver, Colorado. I was able to cut the ribbon and then help open the door of the inaugural flight into Provo from Denver. It was an exciting event and was attended by many happy Provo citizens.

Cutting the ribbon with many of the City Council Members

Kimmy Bramble, 2nd Attendant

Myself

Melanie Jones, 1st Attendant

On the tarmac in front of the Frontier Airlines plane with Mayor John Curtis

Princess Festival

One of my very first events as Miss Provo was at Thanksgiving Point at the Princess Festival. It was so fun. There were so many little princesses running around with autograph books asking for our autographs. One of my favorite things is seeing a little girls eyes light up when I tell her that she is a princess too. It is the best feeling in the world. My attendants, Melanie Jones and Kimmy Bramble, and I loved the Princess Festival so much we were invited to come back for a second day!



These little girls were so excited that they started running from across the parking lot yelling, "Princess! Princess!"

Beautiful Princesses!

L to R: Kimmy Bramble, 2nd Attendant

Meredith Gaufin, Miss Provo

Melanie Jones, 1st Attendant

Parades

Elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, wipe a tear and blow a kiss.

I think I have the pageant wave down now.

This year we went to:
Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days
Lehi Round-Up
American Fork Steel Days
Provo's Freedom Festival Fourth of July
Spanish Fork Fiesta Days
Payson Onion Days
Lindon Days
BYU Homecoming


They were all so much fun. I don't think I will ever tire of the wide eyed look and frantic waves of the little girls that want a special wave from a princess. It is always my goals to make eye contact with all the little girls along the parade route. I want to make them feel special because they are princesses too.

Here are some snapshots from the different parades: