Lilac Princess McKenna Horricks and Lilac Queen Jane Finkel are crowned June 6 during a ceremony that marks the traditional start of the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival. The 59th Annual Lilac Festival opened Friday, June 6, in traditional fashion with the crowning of the Lilac Queen, despite nearby rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning. The storm avoided Marquette Park, and Mayor Margaret Doud crowned Jane Finkel as the 2008 Lilac Queen.

Mayor Doud was joined by 2007 Lilac Queen Kristi Kamphuis, who passed her crown to Miss Finkel, as well as Father Garcia of Ste. Anne's Church and Mary McGuire Slevin of the Tourism Bureau.

After her coronation, Miss Finkel said the threat of rain couldn't affect the beauty of the Island and of the festival.

"Mackinac Island manages to be beautiful no matter what the weather," she said.

Miss Finkel, who is the daughter of Lee and Pam Finkel, will be a junior at Mackinac Island Public School in the fall. She has been a member of the Lakers' soccer, volleyball, and basketball teams, plays the drums, piano, and guitar, and also sings. She enjoys painting, fashion, and design. She leaves in late August for an 11-month stay in southern France as part of a Youth for Understanding student exchange program.

She said the parade is her favorite part of the Lilac Festival.

"It seems like everybody gets really excited. Basically, everyone goes," Miss Finkel said. "I've gone ever since I was little. It seems like something that is really important to the town."

The Lilac Queen's duties include opening Fort Mackinac in the spring, participating in the Taste of Mackinac, and representing Mackinac Island in off-Island events.

McKenna Horricks, the daughter of Jason and Kelly Horricks, was crowned Lilac Princess. Miss Horricks, who just spent her first winter on the Island, will be in the first grade this fall. She loves horses, soccer, and her computer.

Miss Horricks is looking forward to participating in the parade, which she said is her favorite part of the Lilac Festival. She especially loves the candy that is tossed to the parade audience.

The queen is selected by her high school peers, while the princess is selected randomly from elementary school candidates.

Members of the queen's court include Arial Leeper, Karlena Mosley, Shayleen Mosley, Shelbie Mosley, Rhodene "Michi" Mullings, and Danielle Wightman.

Arial Leeper is the daughter of Tim and the late Patti Leeper. She will begin her senior year in the fall and has been a member of the volleyball team since the eighth grade. She was also the 2001 Lilac Festival Princess.

Karlena Mosley, the daughter of Ben and Louann Mosley, was graduated from high school this month and plans to attend Central Michigan University to study accounting. Miss Mosley was the Lilac Princess in 2000 and was a member of the queen's court in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Her sister, Shayleen, will be a senior this fall and is a member of the soccer team. She was also in the queen's court last year.

The other Mosley sister on the court, Shelbie, will be a junior. She plays soccer, volleyball, and basketball and will be attending a basketball camp this summer. She was the Lilac Princess in 2005.

Michi Mullings, who will be a senior, is the daughter of Chad and Pearl Hoeksma. She plays several sports, including soccer, volleyball, and basketball, and this year placed second in the long jump at the track and field state championships. She served on the queen's court last year.

Danielle Wightman, the daughter of Dan and Kathi Wightman, will also begin her senior year in the fall. Miss Wightman, a member of the volleyball team, also loves horseback riding and fashion.

Following the coronation ceremony, the court gathered with family and friends for a reception at Patrick Sinclair's Irish Pub.