This year’s St. James Grape and Fall Festival Pageant will be open to entries from all ages.

The pageant will be changing its name from Queen Pageant to Royalty Pageant while keeping the current divisions, including Mini Queen (kindergarten and first grade), Junior Miss (seventh-eighth grade) and Queen (ninth-twelfth grade).

The 2026 Pageant Coordinator Krista Kelly said community members asked why they or their kids haven’t been able to enter the pageant.

“I really want to do what’s right,” said Kelly. “When the community speaks, you have to stop and listen.”

During her first Grape and Fall pageant as a coordinator she realized that divisions weren’t open to toddlers and seniors. The festival was first celebrated in 1932 to honor the local grape harvest and showcase the community’s first queen pageant (daughters of farmers). Male escorts have been a part of the festival, but the contest has never had divisions for boys.

Kelly said she expects the pageant to be similar to the Holiday Pageant in Phelps County, which has divisions for boys zero through six years old, and girls of all ages.

“I’m kind of anxious to see what applications come in,” said Kelly.

Eligible children who want to enter the contest must be enrolled or home schooled within the St. James R-1 School District.

Kelly said the way they will split the divisions up will be based upon the number of applicants for the pageant.

Kelly said the chamber has been advertising the pageant since the end of the school year.

The Grape and Fall Festival Facebook page on June 8 made the announcement about opening the pageant to all ages.

The pageant is currently in need of judges because of the expected added categories.

Sponsorships are $50 for local businesses wishing to sponsor entries.

The registration deadline is July 13 for applicants. Interested applicants for the pageant may contact Kelly at 573-821-5252 or Parks Director Kristy Rich at 573-699-8026.