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CORONAVIRUS

COVID-19

Lilac Festival Coronation closed to the public due to coronavirus; livestream avaliable

2018 Spokane Lilac Festival queen, Halle Nelson, crowns Madison O' Callaghan as the 2019 Spokane Lilac Festival queen during a coronation at West Valley High School on March 3, 2019. Because of the closure of schools and concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, this year’s coronation will not be open to the public. (Libby Kamrowski / The Spokesman-Review)
By Emma Epperly emmae@spokesman.com(509) 459-5122
2018 Spokane Lilac Festival queen, Halle Nelson, crowns Madison O' Callaghan as the 2019 Spokane Lilac Festival queen during a coronation at West Valley High School on March 3, 2019. Because of the closure of schools and concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, this year’s coronation will not be open to the public. (Libby Kamrowski / The Spokesman-Review)

The Spokane Lilac Festival Association announced the coronation ceremony scheduled for Sunday would be closed to the public but would be livestreamed.

The Lilac Court Coronation typically has 200 to 300 attendees, but in accordance with COVID-19 recommendations the event will no longer be open to the public.

The Lilac princesses are nominated by their high school each year. They then participate in a five-week royalty preparation program focused on character building, service and leadership.

The Spokane Lilac Festival queen is then selected by a panel of judges after the princesses compete individual interviews.

“We appreciate the community support that has been shown to the Lilac Festival Coronation for so many years and are saddened that we must take these steps to protect our Royal Court and our community during this time of uncertainty,” the association said in a statement.

The event has been held in Spokane every year since 1941, according to the association, and a queen has been crowned every year since 1948.

Streaming information will be listed on the Spokane Lilac Festival website (spokanelilacfestival.org) when it becomes available.

The association said they will continue to follow advice from state and local officials as they plan events scheduled for the end of April and early May. The Lilac Torchlight Military Parade is currently scheduled to be held Saturday, May 16.