Applications available for local pageant

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The 2009 Greater Youngstown Festival is currently accepting applications for the 2009 Miss Italian Youngstown Pageant.

This year, the pageant will be July 31. It is one of the main events to help kick off the first night of the 24th Annual Greater Youngstown Italian Festival, which will be held along Federal Plaza in downtown from July 31 to Aug. 2.

The pageant is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the main stage, which will be located on Federal Street, in front of the former Phar-Mor building.

The pageant is culture-based. Any young lady between the ages of 16 and 23 can enter if they have Italian as part of ancestry. The pageant gives young ladies the chance to present a speech about their Italian heritage and talk about what being Italian means to them. A talent portion is also a part of the show. In the past, participants have highlighted everything from speech skills, singing, dancing, playing musical instrumentals, and a number of other hobbies to showcase their talent of choice.

For more information, call Anthony Julian at (330) 799-8184 or e-mail him at ACE90JAG@SBCGLOBAL.NET. The deadline to sign-up for the pageant is July 4.