D Section
Wednesday May 15, 2013
‘I Dream of Rhody’ Rhody Fest is about fun, games, families By Patrick J. Sullivan of the Leader
Sweet dreams are made of this: smiling kids, happy adults and royalty doing the Rhody Wave. The 78th Rhododendron Festival’s royal court, Queen Emma White Thunder, Princess Cori Cardona and Princess Kaila Olin welcome you to the year’s largest community festival. “It’s been a lot of fun,” said Queen Emma of her Rhody royalty experience so far. “It was really cute [at the Sequim Irrigation Festival parade) seeing the little kids waving and smiling.” The trio’s choreographed dance routine aboard their “I Dream of Rhody” themed float was well received in Sequim, and should be again Saturday at the Rhody Grand Parade. “I was really impressed at how the crowd gets so involved,” said Princess Cori. “Everyone did the ‘YMCA’ song with us.” Princess Kaila Olin, who joined the royal court after the resignation last month of Megan Walsh, is happy to be part of Rhody. “They made it an easy transition,” Kaila said of Emma and Cori, girls she came to know during the coronation process. “Everything just fit and we’re having a lot of fun.” She is looking forward this week to seeing her family, friends and classmates Cori Cardona, Queen Emma White Thunder and Kaila Olin welcome you to the 78th Rhododendron Festival. Olin is a junior at Port Townsend High School, while during Rhody. Monday afternoon, preparing to pose White Thunder and Cardona are seniors at Chimacum High. Photo by Patrick J. Sullivan for photographs at the Rhododendron Centennial Garden at Fort Worden State Park, the girls were greeted by pouring rain, thunder and lightning. No problem, said the Rhody queen. “My last name is White Thunder so it’s
Grand Parade Lineup: 2
Rhody Schedule: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
Rhody Run is Boston Strong: 9-11
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