One of the most popular events of the year returns to the stage of the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center as the community crowns its next queen Saturday.

The 78th annual Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant takes place 7 p.m. that evening in the middle school auditorium. Tickets for the event cost $15, and can be purchased in advance from the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce office, located inside the downtown train depot, through 3 p.m. Thursday, or at the door the night of the pageant.

Eleven young women will be vying for the crown and sash — as well as thousands in scholarship dollars — during Saturday’s pageant. The contestants are:

• Emily Dodd

• Katherine Hurrle

• Lea Cooper

• Katlyn Briney

• Emmaline Sovine

• Sara Wright

• Haleigh Longcore

• Harli Ivey

• Madison Phelps

• Vivianna Lucio

• Amanda DeLong

The theme of this year’s pageant is “The Secret Garden,” featuring a set based around floral design elements, said Pageant Director Jessica Voldrich. Local radio personality Joe Jason will again serve as master of ceremonies for the event, hosting alongside 2016 Miss Dowagiac Anne Zebell and her court of honor.

Entertainment will be provided by students with Miss Michele & Co. dance school, and several visiting community queens will be recognized during the event.

“We are really excited,” Voldrich said. “I think we will have a fun and entertaining pageant this year.”

This year’s pageant is the first that Voldrich, a native of Dowagiac, has helmed. She is past royalty herself, crowned as Miss Dowagiac in 2002 and Miss Cass/St. Joseph in 2004.

After moving to Upland, Indiana, to study communication and public education at Taylor University, Voldrich spent nearly 10 years working for the university before moving back to the Dowagiac area in 2014 with her husband, where she works on the family farm with her parents, she said.

“I have had a lot of great experiences beyond Miss Dowagiac,” Voldrich said. “I do not define myself by the fact I won the pageant, but it was an important part of my journey and growth as a person. It can be that way, win or lose, for any contestant.”

A longtime volunteer with the pageant, Voldrich took over as director of this year’s pageant, so she oversees the programming and a staff of around 60 volunteers, she said.

Over the last several weeks, the contestants have put in countless hours preparing for Saturday’s pageant, visiting other pageants, participating in makeup and hair dressing sessions, undergoing etiquette and interview training and other activities, Voldrich said.

“They have learned and grown a lot these last few months,” she said. “It will be great to see them on stage.”

The top three contestants, along with Miss Congeniality, will receive scholarship money for their continued education. Other scholarships will be awarded the during evening as well, including the communication award, given to the contestant with the best platform; the Judy Dodd Memorial Community Service award, given to the contestant who does exceptional volunteer work; and the happy ad award, given to the contestant who sells the most celebratory ad space in the program.

Since the introduction of scholarships to the pageant in 2000, the pageant has awarded almost $60,000 to contestants, including $8,500 last year, Voldrich said.

“That amount of money is unbelievable for a small town pageant,” she said. “The community is always so supportive of it.”

An afterglow party for the new court of honor will take place immediately following the end of the pageant at Round Oak Revisited restaurant on Front Street. The event is free and open to the public.