ABOVE: National Sweetheart Pageant contestant facilitator Michelle Crabtree and Miss Hoopeston Anna Anderson post in front of the new Hoopeston Swweetcorn Festival Mural
The Hoopeston Sweetcorn Festival this year once again includes the National Sweetheart Pageant. Now a part of the Miss Volunteer America Pageant System for the last few years; this year’s Sweetheart Pageant will include Preliminary Competition from 6:30 to 9:30 Saturday evening, and Final Competition and Crowning from 6:30 to 9:30 Sunday evening.
The hostess for all the candidates is this year’s Miss Hoopeston, Anna Anderson. She was crowned Miss Hoopeston back on February 14th of this year, and she took a break next to the new Lindsey Franz mural Thursday morning to chat with CIMG.
AUDIO: There are 21 contestants. They are all absolutely fabulous. They are in a whole bunch of different states of competition. Right now, actually, they’re practicing with their state costumes. That is my favorite part, because so much time and effort is put into those costumes, and they are absolutely stunning.
A full view of the new National Sweetcorn Festival Mural, painted by Lindsey Franz.
Anderson is a 2024 graduate of Hoopeston Area High School, and a 2026 graduate of Danville Area Community College. Her next stop will be esthetician school in Lafayette, Indiana. But before she does that, she’s enjoying making new friends as National Sweetheart Pageant Hostess.
AUDIO: Basically I just help them. I’m basically their tour guide, as I like to call it. It’s not hard at all, to be impartial to them, because they are all just so incredible.
In addition to the Sweetcorn Festival, Hoopeston also has their parade at 10:30 Saturday morning. Danville has their Labor Day Parade Monday morning at 9 AM. And as always, Westville will be very busy. Their parade in 11:30 AM Monday; with additional activities throughout the weekend at St. Mary’s Church, and then the carnival rides, vendors and more this weekend at Zamberletti Park. Anyone heading to the Saturday evening concert at Zamberletti Park can find some parking across the street to the north, at Trinity United Church of Christ.
