BY CAMERON WERTZ 

The 53rd annual Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival will bring in the new year with a month full of snow — Snowdrops and Snowflakes, that is.

The event, with the theme “Welcome 2020,” will host its annual Snowflake, Snowdrop and Queen pageants, although with a slight change this year. All three pageants will be held on the same night.

The pleasantries start with a kickoff party from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Billie Payne Community Center, formerly The Roundhouse, Snowdrop organizer Carole Lee said.

“We have an (acquaintance) party with the Snowdrops, that way they all get to know each other, they’re not being judged and it’s just a fun day. We do all kinds of things that day: crafts, games, dancing, whatever they want to do. It’s a good time to get to know each other. We decorate it up and take pictures of all the girls in front of the settings of the evening for this year, which are different,” she said.

The next event the candidates will be part of is Winterfest, which will be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, in downtown Pottsville, event organizer T.J. Fitztpatrick said.

“We just have a table at that (Winterfest). And we’re going to have our current royalty at Winterfest, and we’re going to sell buttons and T-shirts, and we’re hopefully going to have the snowman there for pictures and whatnot,” Fitzpartrick said.

The Royal Tea Party will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Walk In Art Center, Schuylkill Haven, Lee said.

She said the tea party is not mandatory for the contestants, “but I don’t know any girls that ever want to miss it.”

Everyone is invited to attend.

On Friday, Jan. 24, the festivities will really kick off with the Queens fashion show, followed by Yuengling Night from 7 to 11:30 p.m. at St. Nicholas Hall, Primrose.

“We’re going to have our Queens fashion show; that’s going to happen from 7 to 8 (p.m.) and then we’re going to have Sapphire play from 8 until right about midnight at the event. With the fashion show and Sapphire, we have giveaways and prizes from Yuengling that we will be giving out throughout the night,” Fitzpatrick said.

The event is restricted to those 18 and older. Admission is $15 for those 21 and older and $10 for those 18 to 20.

The Snowdrop and Snowflake candidates will get their chance to walk the runway on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Snowdrop show will start at 1 p.m. and the Snowflakes at 5 p.m. at St. Nicholas Hall.

“Snowdrops are second and third grade (girls). And the Snowflakes are high school juniors,” Fitzpatrick said.

Finally, pageant night will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Pottsville Area High School, with the Royal Ball following from 9 to 11:30 p.m. at St. Nicholas Hall.

For more information, visit the carnival’s Facebook page, Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival.

Contact the writer: cwertz@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6004