CA Garlic Festival Prince & Princess Program

Dear Future Garlic Prince & Princesses (and parents),

WELCOME! We are excited to invite you to participate in the 3rd annual California Garlic Festival Prince & Princess Program! You have the exciting opportunity to be a part of one of the most exciting community events in the Central Valley! The annual California Garlic Festival will be held August 30 - September 1, 2024 at our new home at the Merced County Spring Fairgrounds in Los Banos, California.

NEW FOR 2024 - Due to popular demand, we have added Prince and Mini Mr. divisions so that young boys ages 11 & under can also participate!

This is a RECREATIONAL EVENT ONLY! It is NOT a competitive pageant! Every boy and girl entered will be featured in the special Prince & Princess Show and everyone will receive special royal regalia LIVE on-stage during the festival by our newly crowned Garlic Festival Queens!

Our program values are Integrity, Respect and Kindness! We seek to promote community pride and appreciation of local agriculture while giving our youth new and exciting leadership & development opportunities.

This is a great chance for children of any ability or experience level who would like to try and see what a positive experience pageants can be! (Yes, Even boys can do pageants!)

Basic Info: (please refer to Terms & Conditions below for complete rules)

1. Residency: There is no residency requirement for this program.
2. Age Divisions: Your age as of August 1st determines your age division as follows:
   • Prince & Princess Division for boys and girls ages 8 & under
   • Mini Miss & Mr. Division for boys and girls ages 9-11
3. Program Areas: 
   
   •  Fun-Fashion Runway ("Boots & Bling" cowboy or cowgirl western wear theme)
   • On-Stage Question
4. Prizes:
   • All Participants: will be featured in a special show LIVE on stage during the festival and receive three complimentary festival passes. These passes are valid for free entry for the entire run of the 3-day festival!
   • All Boys will receive a custom medallion!
   • All Girls will receive a custom sash & tiara!
   • NEW Special Awards: 
     • Photogenic Award - special recognition for one boy and one girl in each age division; selected by panel of judges using the headshot photo you will submit with your Program Bio.
     • People's Choice Award - optional special recognition award for one child overall based upon online voting. Votes are $1 each. Winning participant will receive special prize!
5. Participation Requirements & Deadlines:
   • August 1st - Entry Deadline (online)

   • August 15th - Program Bio & Headshot Deadline (online)

   • August 24th Prince & Princess Mixer Event - Time & Location TBD in Los Banos, CA

   • September 1st California Garlic Festival Day 2 -Prince & Princess Show Day - 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Merced County Spring Fairgrounds at 403 F Street, Los Banos, CA 93635

Please carefully review the Terms and Conditions below as they are the official rules and regulations for this program.

Please make sure that you review our Official Prince & Princess Participant Guide linked here for in-depth information and helpful tips for sucess in our program.

We look forward to working with you this year!

In the family spirit of pageantry,
Shim Lacy
Pageant & Princess Coordinator
Phone/Text: (209) 518-3915
Email: ShimLacy@gmail.com

1. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: There are NO geographic or other residency requirements for participation in the California Garlic Festival Prince & Princess Program.
2. AGE REQUIREMENTS: Participant must be 11 years of age or under as of August 1, 2024.
3. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
   1. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
   2. Applications that are incomplete or not received by the Entry Deadline may NOT be accepted.
   3. Program is limited to first 20 girls and first 10 boys to register and pay entry fee.
4. PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS: Participant and at least one parent/ guardian shall participate in the following activities:
   
   1. REQUIRED:
      1. August 1st - Entry Deadline (online)
      2. August 15th - Program Bio & Headshot Deadline (online)
      3. September 1st - California Garlic Festival Day 2 - Prince & Princess Show Day 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Merced County Spring Fairgrounds at 403 F Street, Los Banos, CA 93635
   2. OPTIONAL:
      1. August 20 5:00 pm - August 30 5:00 pm - online voting period for optional People's Choice Award
      2. August 24th Prince & Princess Party - Time & Location TBD in Los Banos, CA
5. PROGRAM AREAS: Each participant will have the opportunity to be featured LIVE on-stage during the Prince & Princess Show taking place as indicated in required activities listed above:
   1. Fun Fashion Runway
   2. On-Stage Question
6. WARDROBE REQUIREMENTS: Participant's parent/ guardian is responsible for providing their child's wardrobe for the program, which includes:
   1. Prince & Princess Mixer: casual attire appropriate for bending, stooping and playing group games
   2. Fun Fashion Runway & On-Stage Question: outfit of choice that fits in the "Boots & Bling" theme of cowboy or cowgirl western wear
7. PRIZES: The California Garlic Festival Prince & Princess Program will award the following prizes:
   
   1. ALL PARTICIPANTS: Shall receive three complimentary festival passes valid for entire 3-day run of the festival. Passes will be distributed in person in advance of the festival during the Prince & Princess Mixer event detailed in activities listed above. NO WILL CALL PASSES.
   2. All MALE Participants: shall be presented with a custom medallion LIVE on-stage during the Prince & Princess Show on Day 3 of the festival as specified in activities listed above. 
   3. All FEMALE Participants: shall be presented with a custom sash & tiara LIVE on-stage during the Prince & Princess Show on Day 3 of the festival as specified in activities listed above. 
   4. Special Awards
      1. Photogenic Award: One boy and one girl from each age division shall be chosen by the online judges panel from headshot photographs provided and shall be awarded a prize. This award is judged by a separate panel of judges prior to the festival weekend.
      2. People's Choice Award: The child who recieves the highest number of votes at the conclusion of the online voting period as specified in activities listed above shall be awarded a prize.
8. BACKSTAGE ACCESS: One Parent/Guardian MUST be present with child during all activities including backstage line up and on stage for the LIVE show. Parent/ Guardian is responsible for assisting the child on stage, as needed, for the comfort and safety of the child. No other family or guests are permitted backstage. 
9. LOST/STOLEN ARTICLES: The princess and pageant directors, individual committee members, festival committee members, nor Noceti Group Inc. shall not be held liable for any accident, personal injury, or damaged, lost or stolen items as a result of participation in the pageant or festival related events.
10. HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT: In consideration for allowed entry and participation in all activities associated with the California Garlic Festival, Parent/ Guardian does hereby RELEASE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS, the princess and pageant committee, their present and former officers, directors, members, staff, sponsors and agents from all claims, injury, loss, or damage that may accrue as a result of entry into and participation thereof. Parent/Guardian further acknowledge and understand that they alone will be held liable and responsible for any and all personal injuries or damages to property, caused by them and/or persons, including minor(s) under their care, custody and control.
11. MEDIA RELEASE: Each participant will be featured on the official Miss California Garlic Festival Pageant & Princess Program Facebook page that will include their head shot and fun facts & information provided on their Program Bio. Additional media features may also include newspaper and television both online and in print form. Each participant will be featured LIVE on-stage during the California Garlic Festival Prince & Princess Showcase which will take place on Day 3 of the Festival as follows: (1) Fun Fashion Runway (2) On-Stage Question (3) Coronation "Crowning" Ceremony which may also include live public broadcast and/or recording for subsequent public broadcast. Parent/ Guardian hereby gives consent to the princess and pageant committee to photograph, videotape or otherwise digitally record and use images and/or sound recordings of their child or children to use in any public media, including radio, TV, internet, social media, print or any affiliated web pages. Parent/ Guardian further understands that the intended use of such images and information is solely for the purpose of advertising, marketing, fundraising and or/ the promotional and public awareness purposes of the festival and hereby waive any rights or interest in the images or recordings as contemplated in this release or any expectation of monetary compensation or other personal benefit in perpetuity.
12. RESIGNED/DISQUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS: Any individual who has either previously resigned or been removed from one or both the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival or California Garlic Festival Prince & Princess Programs at any time may be prohibited from participating in either program in the future, subject to express approval of the princess & pageant director.
13. SMOKING/ALCOHOL/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES: The California Garlic Festival Pageant has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY REGARDING SMOKING, CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL OR USE OF ILLEGAL OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. No contestant, queen, participant, parent and /or program volunteer shall smoke, consume or use tobacco, any tobacco product, alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, or medication or controlled substances used in any manner not prescribed by a medical doctor. This rule is in effect at any and all princess or pageant-related events and activities, during official pageant, and the prince & princess show. 
    1. “Smoke” or “Smoking” means: (1) inhaling, exhaling, or burning, any tobacco, nicotine, cannabis, or plant product, whether natural or synthetic; (2) carrying any lighted, heated, or activated tobacco, nicotine, cannabis, or plant product, whether natural or synthetic, intended for inhalation; or (3) using an electronic smoking device or hookah.
    2. “Tobacco product” means: (1) any product that is made from or derived from tobacco, or that contains nicotine, that is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed, whether inhaled, absorbed, or ingested by any other means, including but not limited to, a cigarette, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, or snus; (2) any electronic smoking device and any substances that may be aerosolized or vaporized by such device, whether or not the substance contains nicotine; or (3) any component, part, or accessory of (1) or (2), whether or not any of these contains tobacco or nicotine, including but not limited to filters, rolling papers, blunt or hemp wraps, hookahs, mouthpieces, and pipes. “Tobacco product” does not include drugs, devices, or combination products authorized for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as those terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
14. CODE OF CONDUCT: Each participant and each parent/ guardian, agrees to affirm and adhere to the following code of conduct during time as participant in the California Garlic Festival Prince & Princess Program:
    1. Is NOT currently listed on the National Sex Offender Registry OR California Sex Offender Registry.
    2. Will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the highest standards of public morals, courtesy and professionalism upholding the program values of Integrity, Respect, and Kindness.
       1.  Anyone participant or parent/ guardian who displays conduct unbecoming shall be immediately disqualified from the program and forfeit any prize or award potentially earned and the next highest scoring individual will be chosen instead.
    3. Will NOT attempt to promote or recruit any current queens, participants or contestants or visiting royalty for ANY OTHER PAGEANT, PAGEANT SYSTEM OR PRINCESS PROGRAM either in person on online until one week after the festival has concluded. 
       1.  Any partricipant or parent caught recruiting or promoting ANY OTHER PAGEANT OR PAGEANT SYSTEM prior to or during the festival weekend will be immediately disqualified from the program, forfeit any awards or titles they may earn and may be escorted from the premises immediately.
    4. Will not defame, slander or libel any other contestant, judge, pageant director or committee member, festival staff or committee member, Noceti Group Inc. or any other individual or entity associated with participation in the California Garlic Festival Pageant and Prince & Princess program.
       1.  Any defamatory, slanderous or libelous remarks whether verbal, written in text, email or on any social media platform will result in immediate disqualification from the program and forfeiture of any prize or award won and may result in legal action.