By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

RESERVE — Pageant organizers are planning for the sweetest night of the year as the 66th St. John Sugar Queen Pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at St. John Theatre in Reserve.

Tickets are $12 and will be available to the public from 6 to 7:30 p.m. tonight and Thursday in the theater’s lobby. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the pageant.

The pageant committee would like to invite spectators from across the region to enjoy the historic night of sugar as local seasons, holidays and traditions are celebrated. 

Six contestants will vie for the title of 66th St. John Sugar Queen when the pageant, with a theme of “A Girl For All Seasons,” takes the stage.

Contestants include Saige Brady, daughter of Jamie and Shantelle Brady; Ani Boudreaux, daughter of Bart and Teresa Boudreaux; Maddie Ruiz, daughter of Todd and Toni Ruiz; Brooke Stein, daughter of Gregg and Celeste Stein; Jenna Gendron, daughter of Raymond and Joann Gendron, and Alaina Williamson, daughter of Johnny and Carla Williamson.

Pageant Director Sue Cancienne said several awards will be given out to contestants, including Most Photogenic, Miss Congeniality, People’s Choice and Fashion Award. 

Cancienne said a new award this year will be the Introduction Award, which will be given to the contestant who best represents themselves during the pageant’s opening introductions. 

In the dual role of master of ceremonies at this year’s pageant will be Michael Hoover and Chrissy Carter Cifuentes, who served as the 2011 St. John Sugar Queen.

During the pageant, local entertainment, including Formal Connection’s yearly fashion show, will keep the audiences’ toes tapping with performances, songs and dances. One of the annual dances is that of the Sugar Teens, a dance group made up of local students who will enter high school this year. 

This year the 14 Sugar Teen dancers are choreographed by Courtney Loupe and Sandy Guidry.