The crowning of Miss Pumpkin Show and her court is a tradition almost as popular the festival itself.

Tomorrow night, 1998 Queen Shannon Stowers, a Logan Elm High School senior; first attendant Meredith Briggs, a Circleville High School senior; and second attendant Kim Dixon, Teays Valley High School graduate; will take their last "royal ride" through the Circleville streets. By night's end, their seats on the festival float will be assigned to three of 12 hopeful candidates from the junior and senior classes at six area high schools.

Selected to represent their school by their classmates, each contestant will travel to the West Main Street stage for final judging following the parade.

Once selected, the newly crowned court will join Little Miss Pumpkin Show and her attendants for the remaining five parades.

The contest is sponsored by Circleville Sunrise Rotary. Judges for the evening will be Pat Fehring, president of Fifth Third Bank; Ed and Sonja Chinn of Deercreek Golf Course; Mary Ann Braden of the Miss Ohio Alumni group.