PITTSTON — Children in festive frocks joined their families Saturday, filling the John P. Cosgrove Center at the Pittston Memorial Library as they competed for a chance to be crowned the Little Miss and Little Mr. Leprechaun for the upcoming Pittston St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
This is the third time the event has been held, according to parade co-chair Sara Donahue.
“The Tomato Festival Committee does the Little Miss/Little Mister Tomato which is always a super successful contest during tomato festival time, and we thought it would be a good idea to mimic that and try to get more children involved in our parade and the festivities,” she said of the pageant’s inception.
The competition is open to boys and girls between the ages of three and seven. They are judged on two categories of beauty and personality by Donahue and other committee members of the parade and its corresponding events.
Aside from adding a bit of fun and flare to the festivities, Leprechaun Loop chair and event judge Tiffany Ferentino said the pageant helps bring families and community members together.
“It’s just so much fun to see all the families come out, they’re having such a good time,” she said.
About 50 guests watched on as 6 boys and seven girls took turns speaking to Donahue, showing off their festive outfits and answering questions on the parade, leprechauns and more as the judges looked on.
Dressed in green from head-to-toe with matching accessories six year-old Kingston resident Richard McCabe flipped the tables, asking Donahue a question of his own.
“What happens when a boy leprechaun and a girl leprechaun kiss?” he asked with a grin.
When asked him for the answer McCabe reached into the pot and pulled out a printed scarf, proclaiming “It makes a rainbow!” to the group’s delight.
Moving over to the girls, six year-old Jessica Miller of Pittston exclaimed that a leprechaun is “the little green guy who hides at the end of the rainbow” while showing off a green tulle tutu and shamrock-printed top.
As the judges were tallying up scores, Jenkins Township resident Katie O’Boyle explained why she decided to enter her three year-old son, Flynn, into the competition.
“We’re Irish, we like St. Patrick’s Day,” she said. “It’s getting the community together for something positive and fun.”
Soon after it was time to crown the two winners.
McCabe snagged the title of Little Mr. Leprechaun, and was all smiles as he traded his sequined shamrock hat for a new hat and sash. Then Donahue announced that three year-old Hailey Lane of Hughestown won the title of Little Miss Leprechaun, presenting her with her own sash and a sparkling tiara.
“She loves parades, she loves throwing candy, she loves the fire trucks,” Hailey’s mother, Jessica, said following the win.
“I thought I could get leprechaun gold,” Hailey responded, adding that she was excited to be a part of the parade now.
Both children will ride in a convertible during the lead division of the Pittston St. Patrick’s Day Parade next weekend.
“I think it was a really great competition,” Donahue said. “I really enjoyed talking to the children and hearing their answers, what they like about the parade and leprechauns.”
