Friday is the deadline to enter the Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival Pageant that will be held on March 17 at 6 p.m. at the Patterson Area Civic Center.

Applications from young women in St. Mary Parish, Assumption Parish and lower St. Martin Parish (Stephensville area), ages 14-16 are being accepted for the Teen Division, and ages 17-22 in the Miss Division.

“The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival prides itself on offering a wonderful experience to its contestants,” said Lisa Rader, Patterson Cypress Sawmill Pageant director. “It is not just another beauty pageant, if fact, it’s not just a beauty pageant at all.”

Contestants all participate in an interview and are judged on poise and stage presence, and the ability to promote the festival.

Once crowned, the reigning queens represent the local festival as spokeswomen by traveling throughout Louisiana for a year attending festival pageants and events.

The new queens’ reigns will conclude with presiding over the Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival held the first full weekend in April 2013.

The festival reimburses travel and a scholarship is awarded to the Miss Queen at the conclusion of her year.

For more information, contact Lisa Rader at 518-4690 or email lrader66@aol.com.

Applications are also available on the festival’s website at www.cypresssawmill.com.