A scholarship pageant that celebrates confidence, character and community
Young women build confidence, learn valuable interview skills, and make new friends during two weeks of summer fun leading up to the competition. Plus, they get to explore our mint heritage on a mint farm tour and are guests of honor in the Grand Mint Parade!
Representing the Mint City
The Mint Queen and her court represent the Mint Festival at special events, parades and community service opportunities throughout their year-long reign.
Congratulations to our 2025 Royalty!
Mint Queen
Hannah Spencer
1st Runner Up
Olivia Melton
2nd Runner Up
Ava Ballbach
Junior Miss Mint
Rylee White
Little Miss Mint
Arianna Munger
A Treasured Tradition
The first Mint Queen, Elouise Harris, was crowned in 1936! She returned to crown the next Mint Queen during the first official Mint Festival Pageant in 1985. Since then, more than 40 phenomenal young women have represented the festival as Mint Queen.
The Queen's Court expanded in 1994 with the crowning of the first Little Miss Mint, and again in 2005 when the first Junior Miss Mint was crowned. The portraits of every former Queen's Court are displayed each year at the pageant for a walk down memory lane.
Did you know?
The young woman crowned Mint Queen receives a $1,000 scholarship!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
All the details!
Who is eligible to participate in the Mint Festival Pageant?
Candidates must live or go to school in Clinton County, Michigan. This includes St. Johns, Fowler, Westphalia, DeWitt, Ovid-Elsie, Bath, Wacousta, Maple Rapids, Riley and Eagle. Are you unsure whether your school or home address qualifies? Send us an email and we're happy to help! Age categories span from 8-20 years old (as of the date of the pageant). Little Miss Mint candidates are 8-10 years old, Junior Miss Mint candidates are 11-15 years old, and Mint Queen candidates are 16-20 years old.
What do we do during the two weeks of practices?
The entire pageant experience is so much more than the night of the pageant! Participating in the Mint Festival Pageant is an amazing opportunity to learn public speaking and interview skills, build self-confidence, and make new friends! We pride ourselves on creating a fun, welcoming environment where girls can be themselves, learn new skills and foster real connections in our community. Practices include one-on-one mentoring, mock interview practice, a hair and makeup tutorial from Nicole's Salon and Day Spa, and a Mint Farm Tour to learn about the history and process of growing mint - what gave the Mint City its claim to fame!
What are the responsibilities of the Mint Queen and Court?
Being a member of Mint Festival Royalty is an exciting, rewarding and memorable experience. The Mint Queen and her Court serve as ambassadors of the Mint Festival and the St. Johns area as they travel around mid-Michigan to events, festivals and parades. The year-long reign is a special opportunity to grow closer to our community, make new connections, and flourish as a young leader.
How will I know if my application is accepted?
After submitting your application, you will see a confirmation screen that your application has been submitted. Once we receive your application, you will receive notification via email confirming your participation. Once we have reached 10 candidates in an age category, additional applicants will be considered following determination of capacity by the pageant committee. We will notify all applicants of their status prior to the orientation meeting in June.
