Big crowds open festival

No one was prouder of 7-year-old J.P. Nay of Seymour than his little sister, Maddie.

Running up to the stage where he had just been crowned Oktoberfest Prince on Thursday evening, she threw up her hands and congratulated her brother.

"He did so good and he is the best," 5-year-old Maddie said. "Now he has a crown and I'm proud of him. He deserves it."

Also being crowned Thursday after the festival's opening ceremonies on the north stage was Brooklyn Bradley, 6, Seymour. She won the title of Oktoberfest Princess and will join Nay in representing the festival in the annual parade Saturday.

Crowning of the prince and princess was among opening-day activities that - combined with great weather - brought out a large crowd to the downtown.

Although Nay and Bradley didn't remember each other, Bradley's mother, Lindsey, said they were in the same preschool class together.

Helping crown this year's winners were 2007 prince Derek Harrell, 11, and princess Kaelen Eglen, 7.

This year's contest, sponsored by the local Beta Kappa chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, was successful in raising more than $8,400 for charity.

"I can't say how proud I am of these boys and girls," said member Barb Neville, who served as announcer for the event.

Each of the 21 children who entered the contest had to raise money through donation cans at local businesses and by  asking friends, family and neighbors to donate. Participants had to be between the ages of 6 and 10 and be a Jackson County resident. The boy and girl bringing in the most money are named the winners.

Nay, the son of Paul and Rachel Nay, raised $1,679.54, and Bradley, the daughter of Ryan and Lindsey Bradley, brought in $1,200.

Bradley said she liked being a princess.

"I feel good and I'm very happy about it," she said.

Raising so much money wasn't easy, though, she added.

"I worked really hard and went door-to-door," she said.

For Nay, being named prince was a dream come true.

"I've always wanted to be the prince, and I ran last year and didn't get it," he said.

This year the sorority also recognized second runner-up Marissa Reedy, 9, and first runner-up Matti Hague, 6.

"All of them did an outstanding job," Neville said.

For their hard work, the children received gift bags, courtesy of the sorority, and Nay and Bradley won bicycles.

All money raised by the contest goes to support the sorority's philanthropic work. Since the first contest 36 years ago, the sorority has raised nearly $60,000. The money is divided among various local, state, national and international charities, including Jackson County United Way, Anchor House, health care scholarships for local high school students, Camp Riley for handicapped kids in Martinsville, Easter Seals and St. Jude's Hospital.

Nay's father, Paul, said he was proud of his son and all the hard work he put in to raise money.

"He enjoys helping other kids," Paul said.

Neville said she was pleased and surprised by how much money the contestants raised.

"With the economy being like it is, I didn't think we would do as well as we did," she said. "The kids worked really hard and deserve recognition."

Other participants in the 2008 Oktoberfest Prince and Princess Contest were Kirsten Anderson, Kendra Ault, Skyla Ault, Koralin Beddoe, Jaden Begley, Aubrie Bowman, Baylee Daviner, Eveline Jaceczko, Nevaeh Marks, Brianna Murray, Adison Patton, Skya Rogers, Kayla Stuckwisch, Garrett Heisey, Jacob LeMarr, Jacobi Owens, Dominique Rogers and Dayton Shumard.

Before the prince and princess contest, the Seymour Oktoberfest Board named the winners of several awards.

Best New Booth - Seymour Harvest Church's Pommes Frites food booth

Best Arts and Crafts booths - Libby Tabeling, first place; Circle B Crafts, second place

Best Food or Activity Booth - Cornerstone Church's Buffalo Wings, first place; Wild Bill's Old Fashion Soda Pop, second place

Window decorating contest for downtown businesses - Community Agency Building, first place; Artistic Impressions, second place; Global Travel, third place