Decorated Strollers? Balloons with numbers? A wagon and stroller unit in the Heritage Festival Parade? It must be time for the Beautiful Babies Contest!
For three days each August, bragging rights and prizes are on the line in the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees’ Beautiful Babies Contest. Open to anyone age 0 to 36 months, this contest is a longtime Heritage Festival feature.
“The Ypsilanti Jaycees Beautiful baby project is not something you will want to miss,” noted the Jaycees’ project manager, Olivia Jones. “It is a wonderful project that gives right back to the community of Ypsilanti. “
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Held each year during the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, the Beautiful Babies Contest differs from your traditional festival pageant. Contestants vie for the highest amount of paid votes to be crowned the 2013 King, Queen, Prince or Princess. Votes can be either purchased at the festival, or online at the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees’ website.
“It’s always been a highlight for me to see the parents and their children walk in the Heritage Festival Parade,” commented 2013 Management Development VP James Dreher about the contest. “Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm of the participants as they stick around, and walk throughout the festival each day advertising is something that is just very ‘Ypsi’, and helps add to the small-town charm to the festival.”
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This year’s contest runs from August 16th to 18th. Registration can be found online at http://ypsilantijaycees.com, with a paper entry form available to download. Contestants are encouraged to register early to avoid the increase in registration prices, and to promote their participation in the project.
Proceeds from this contest are used throughout the year by the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees to conduct their community service and outreach projects while continuing the Junior Chamber movement in Ypsilanti. The Jaycees (or Junior Chamber) is an organization for 21-40 year olds committed to empowering its membership to create positive change in their community and each other’s lives by developing members’ full leadership potential.