BUZZELL: Miss America visiting Warner Robins in November
Watson Boulevard in Warner Robins will be the place to be Nov. 14.
Start the day at 9 a.m. with coffee and a bite to eat at the All Saints' Episcopal Church Women's Marketplace, 1708 Watson Blvd., which lasts until 2 p.m. As you make your way through the many vendors showcasing handcrafted items, baked goods, jewelry and a vast array of gift items just in time for the holiday season, be sure to stake your place on Watson Boulevard by 10 a.m. That's when the homecoming motorcade with the city's own Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell will make its way downtown to the cheers and waving hands of well-wishers lining the road.
The motorcade will begin at the intersection of Houston Road and Watson Boulevard (Houston Health Pavilion is the landmark at that general location) and head east to downtown Warner Robins ending at City Hall. Cantrell was crowned Miss America 2016 on Sept. 13 in New Jersey at the birthplace of the legendary competition in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall during its 95th anniversary.
Joining Cantrell will be local school bands and several of the top 10 contestants who were in the Miss America Pageant with Betty. Expected to come to Warner Robins for the weekend will be Miss Alabama Meg McGuffin, Miss District of Columbia Haely Jardas, Miss Florida MaryKatherine Fechtel, Miss Kansas Hannnah Marie Wagner, Miss Louisiana April Nelson, Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts, Miss Missouri McKensie Garber, Miss New Hampshire Holly Blanchard, Miss South Carolina Daja Dial, Miss Tennessee Hannah Robison, Miss Texas Shannon Sanderford and Miss Wisconsin Rosalie Smith.
"We want the whole town to come out to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event on Watson Boulevard," Marcy Waugh, longtime executive director of the Miss Warner Robins Scholarship Pageant Program, said. "Folks might want to park at their favorite breakfast spot on Watson Boulevard and then line the street to cheer on the motorcade as it goes by," she said.
Colorful hand fans in official Miss America pink and blue colors will be given to the first 5,000 people lining the streets to wave to the Miss America homecoming motorcade accompanied by Mayor Randy Toms. Joining Toms for the weekend homecoming events and motorcade will be Miss America Organization Executive Chairman and CEO Sam Haskell. The hand fans have social media hashtag information to join the conversation about Miss Warner Robins becoming Miss America. Also, there is an address to register for two free tickets to attend the dinner party that evening that will be held for Cantrell.
The ticketed evening event begins with cocktails followed by dinner and performances by Cantrell and the other state contestant winners visiting.
The evening will end with an opportunity to meet Miss America. Cocktail attire is suggested.
The Saturday evening dinner party is a ticketed event with limited seating. Tickets are still available by visiting www.missga.org/homecoming. Further information regarding the homecoming motorcade is available by calling 479-929-1111.
Marsha Priest Buzzell is the director of the Warner Robins Convention & Visitors' Bureau and may be contacted at 478-922-5100 or cvb@wrga.gov.
This story was originally published October 27, 2015 at 10:33 PM with the headline "BUZZELL: Miss America visiting Warner Robins in November ."