The Carbon County Fair is looking for young ladies to participate in the 2019 Queen and Junior Miss Programs.

Applications can be obtained on the fair’s website at www.carboncountyfair.com or by calling 570-325-8685. All applications must be postmarked by June 15. There is no application fee.

To participate in either contest, contestants must reside in Carbon County or West Penn Township (Schuylkill County). The Fair Queen contestants must be a female at least age 16 but no older than 20 years of age as of June 1, 2019. Contestants for the Junior Miss must be 13 years of age but no older than 15 years of age as of June 1, 2019.

The Fair Queen and Junior Miss programs are not one of beauty. Anyone meeting the criteria may apply. Contestants will be judged on an essay, personal interview and speech presentation.

The fair committee, noted that the judges look for the candidate who they believe will best represent the fair, while they effectively promote agriculture, although involvement in an agriculture program is not a requirement. It was emphasized that the fair is about our youth, and the Queen and Junior Miss programs keep teens involved in our county fair.

The 2019 Fair Queen and Junior Miss will be crowned during the opening ceremony of the Carbon County Fair at 5 p.m. Aug. 5. The teens selected will receive scholarships as noted on the fair’s website.

Maria Burits of Palmerton was selected as the 2018 Carbon County Fair Queen and competed at the 2019 Fair Queen Pageant in Hershey in January.

The fair will be held on Aug. 5-10 on Little Gap Road in Palmerton. There is a general admission fee of $5 (unless paid by credit card, then $5.50 per person) for everyone 6 years and older. Admission includes musical entertainment. There is an additional fee for some arena events for those 6 years and older. For more information about the fair, go to the website at www.carboncountyfair.com or call 610-826-1862. You may also send a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive a fair brochure, by mailing: Carbon County Fair, P.O. Box 633, Lehighton, PA 18235-0633.

The fair is located 3 miles east of Palmerton. From Allentown, take Route 145 North to Route 248 West to the Palmerton Exit to Delaware Avenue. Stay on Delaware Avenue and go through Palmerton. At the Y, stay right, fairground is 3 miles on the right. From PA Turnpike, take exit 74 to 209 south to 248 East. Take Palmerton Exit and follow directions above. From Stroudsburg take 209 South and turn left on Forest Inn Road (just past Country Junction) through Aquashicola, bear left on to Little Gap Road, fair is 3 miles on right.