Little Miss Monroe is a Fair highlight

This year, at the 13th annual fair, Marguerite Dafoe of the Monroe Township Mothers Club, hopes cute-kid contests will attract crowds of contestants.

By:Al Wicklund
MONROE — Every year, among the most appealing events at the Monroe Township Country Fair are the cute-kid contests where Little Miss Monroe, the Town Squire and the most eye-catching of those in the Baby Buggie parade are chosen.
   This year, at the 13th annual fair, Marguerite Dafoe of the Monroe Township Mothers Club, hopes these contests will attract crowds of contestants.
   "We’ve had nice entries in the past. Last year, we had about a dozen contestants — all cute kids — in each of the three categories. I’d like to see even larger numbers in next month’s contests at the fair," Ms. Dafoe said earlier this week.
   The event — which Ms. Dafoe said is fun for the child contestants, their mothers and the spectators — will be part of the noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 9 fair at Thompson Park.
   The fair is sponsored by the Mothers Club and the township’s Recreation Department.
   Ms. Dafoe is the Mothers Club’s fair coordinator.
   Should it rain on the scheduled day, the event will be rescheduled for two weeks later, Sept. 23.
   Ms. Dafoe said the Baby Buggie contestants are very young — they’re children who still basically rely on a carriage to get around.
   "The Little Miss Monroe and Country Squire contestants are girls and boys who still are considered preschoolers," she said.
   Ms. Dafoe said, while the Little Miss Monroe, Country Squire and Baby Buggy contests are fun, they are only part of an activity-packed day.
   "There will be daylong music by ‘DJ Delight,’ a disc jockey team, and a show by American tenor Dominic Mantuano, scheduled for 4 p.m., as well as a car show," she said.
   Ms. Dafoe said there also will be a number of different games, a variety of food, crafters and a mix of vendors.
   She said fireworks at dusk will be part of the fair’s grand finale.
   Admission is free of charge.
   "The fair is geared for family fun. I think our fair has succeeded in delivering that fun year after year," Ms. Dafoe said.