Pottsville Area Winter Carnival contestants show their stuff during Snowdrop, Snowflake fashion shows

Jan. 29—PRIMROSE — Girls in both elementary and high school took to the stage Sunday afternoon at St. Nicholas Hall to introduce themselves during the Snowdrop and Snowflake fashion shows.

The shows were part of the series of events of the Greater Pottsville Area Winter Carnival entering its 54th year.

The 2023 carnival will conclude Saturday with Pageant Night at the Pottsville Area High School auditorium followed by the Royal Ball.

T.J. Fitzpatick, organizer and board member, explained that the Snowdrop competition is for girls in second and third grades, while the Snowflake pageant is for girls in 11th grade.

The Snow Queen category includes women between the ages of 18 and 29, residents of Schuylkill County and not married.

Fitzpartick said the winter carnival started in 1968 and has been held consecutively since that time, with the exception of 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is our first year back since 2020 and it feels like we never left," he said. "We had a lot of interest like we had in the past making this a special year."

Fitzpartick said candidates are judged on poise, personality, voice projection and appearance.

"It gives them a chance to show themselves and tell why they think they should be selected," he said.

Sunday's fashion show was the second of three events on the way to earning the crown in the respective categories.

Fitzpatrick said a meet the judges night was held Saturday.

"Everyone here is excited, not only the girls but their families, their parents and grandparents," he said.

The Snowdrop candidates showing off their outfits include: Everly Boyer, Minersville; Emma Cuttic, North Schuylkill; Adelaide Fanelli, Blue Mountain; Callie Felty, Assumption BVM; Danica Frederick, Blue Mountain; Olivia Hand, Williams Valley; Cora Koperna, St. Nicholas; Amirra McFarland, John S. Clarke Elementary; Irelynn McGovern, Minersville; Ava Mennig, Blue Mountain; Thea Osatchuck, Schuylkill Haven; Mina Payne, North Schuylkill; Julia Rhody, Schuylkill Haven; Laila Shutt, Williams Valley; Luna Swisher, Assumption BVM; Sophia Tahuilan, Shenandoah; Alizee Varona, North Schuylkill; and Madison Zimmerman, Blue Mountain.

The Snowdrop competition judges include Terri Lee Keck, Dr. Amy Stankavage, Lim Leaswitch, Althea Machamer, Jessica Brennan, Gretchen Witman, Jen O'Pake and Julie Balay.

Zach Swisher walked his daughter, Luna Swisher, out of the hall still dressed in her outfit depicted as popcorn similar to that bought in a movie theater.

The Assumption BVM School second-grader said she enjoyed pageant and its many activities and hard work.

"It was fun," she said.

Her mother, Jessica, was on hand for her daughter's performance but could not see the end because she had to take the couple's younger child home.

Zach Swisher said when his daughter was asked what her favorite place for vacation was, she replied, Avalon, New Jersey.

"That's where we take our vacation," he said. "She loves it and I'm glad it's part of her memories."

The 2023 Snowflake participants include: Alaina Bartashus, Pottsville Area; Kylee Fehr, Blue Mountain; Kaylee Klee, Schuylkill Technology Center; Victoria Kunstek, Schuylkill Technology Center; Abbey Leskin, Nativity BVM; Rachel Lund, Blue Mountain; Melissa Malarkey, Nativity, BVM; Brenna McGowen, Pottsville; Nicole Neiswender, Schuylkill Technology Center; Kaycee Raczka, Minersville Area; Zoie Reifsnyder, Schuylkill Haven Area; Emma Seiger, Pottsville; Ella Sites-Kagenski, Blue Mountain; Kenley Stine, Pine Grove Area; Cassidy Tobias, Shenandoah Valley; and, Addison Zelinsky, Schuylkill Haven.

Judges for the Snowflake portion of the show include Tom Palamar, Kelsey Bowers, Mike Devlin, Cathy Coyle, Amanda Tokarick-Moyer and Attorney Karen Noon.

Mia Perry, 2020 Snowdrop winner, took to the stage again to introduce the Snowdrop contestants who look to succeed her this year.

Perry's mother, Leeza Bartol, of Orwigsburg, was on hand to cheer her daughter on the same way she did two years ago when Mia was 8 years old.

Turning 12 on Thursday, Mia said she is not sure she will move on and compete when she is a high school junior.

"It's really fun," she said, looking at the stage while eating a piece of pizza at the end of the fashion show.

Whether or not Mia opts to continue in the competition when she is in high school, Bartol said she is so proud of her daughter.

"I have watched her grow from a young girl into a beautiful woman, " Bartol said.