Ventura County Fair Parade!

Every August, the Ventura County Fair is held in Ventura at (where else?) the Fairgrounds! And to kick off the festivities, there is a big parade the first weekend of the fair- and as Miss Ventura County, I got to lead the pageant family pack of convertibles!
All the titleholders, princesses and parents met together at 8 a.m. on the parade route down Main St. in Ventura, where we had about two hours to socialize and get better acquainted with one another. I had the opportunity to better get acquainted with the newly crowned 2012 community titleholders:
Miss Moorpark Sydney Campbell
Miss Teen Moorpark Emily Gratke
Miss Simi Valley Shelby Herzig
Miss Teen Simi Valley Taylor Thompson
Miss Twin Counties Sarah Salazar
Miss Teen Twin Counties Elizabeth Sutton
Miss California IJM Kimberly Bebo
We took some great group photos to pass the time, and around 9 a.m., my beautiful Jaguar convertible arrived, courtesy of Land Rover Jaguar of Ventura!
And that's about when the dramatic part of the day began: around 9:15 or so, it began to rain...!! All of us dolled up beauties ran for cover underneath some nearby trees while parents pulled out umbrellas for us; I made a dash to my beautiful convertible and chatted with Bruce, our Land Rover Jaguar representative and wonderful parade driver! Our director was ready to pack up and head home- but I insisted we wait it out; there was NO way I was going to let it rain on MY parade! And sure enough, the rain was gone about 20 minutes after it started- and the sun shined through just in time for the start of the parade!  =)
Following the parade, I walked to my car to get going... and happened to run into a (wait for it) princess themed birthday party!! The girls were SO giddy to see and talk to me! We took lots of fun pictures and  talk about how ugh fun it is to be a princess; they even let me jump in the Enchanted Forest Jolly Jump!! It was such an adorable and unexpected surprise, and a wonderful end to a wonderful day! =)
Parades are ALWAYS so much fun! They are a chance to get to know my fellow local and community titleholders; they are also a wonderful opportunity for me to meet the people of Ventura County and network within the multiple communities that come together to celebrate! In this particular parade, we all came together to celebrate the kickoff of the fair and what the fair represents: summer FUN! =)

Some of the Titleholders and Princesses with Patti, Our Associate Director! <3 

Our Entire Crew of Titleholders and Princesses!

Me with Miss Moorpark and Miss Teen Moorpark!

Me with Miss Teen Simi Valley =)

Having Some Fun with the Police Department Vehicle... or tank...? Haha!

And then it began to rain...!

Waiting Out the Rain in the Jag!

Me with My Beautiful Jaguar Convertible! I was a special guest!

Me with Bruce of Land Rover Jaguar Ventura! We had such a fun time! =)

Waiting for the Parade to Begin with My Princess!

Me with Princess Raeline! =)

Getting Started! =)

Riding in the Parade! What fun it is to be royalty! =D

Surprising the Princesses at their Birthday Party!

Me with All of the Party Princesses!

Jumping in the Jolly Jump!