The Santa Lucia Festival Queen is an important and admired aspect in the history of the festival. The very first queen was named in the festival's 5th year, 1929. In those early days, the committee had difficulty narrowing down the list of potential candidates. Many young women in the Little Italy neighborhood dreamed of being named the Santa Lucia Festival Queen.
The tradition of naming a Santa Lucia Festival Queen was a way to honor those families that displayed their financial generosity to the festival committee. Candidates would raise money through a ticket raffle. The candidate who sold the most tickets, raising the most money, would be honored as queen. It was a way for young women and their families to show their devotion to Santa Lucia. The funds generated all went toward planning and preparations for the next year’s festival. Without former queens and candidates, it would have been difficult for the festival to run consecutively for over nine decades.
Today’s candidates still sell raffle tickets, but an academic and community service component has also been included.
The Santa Lucia Queen
Abby Distefano 2022 Queen
Abby Distefano attends Concordia High School. Her parents are Mark and Annie Distefano. She has a brother named Josh. Abby's grandparents are Steve and Luci Woodrich, Tony Distefano, and the late Susan Distefano. They have been part of the Santa Lucia community for many, many years. Her great-grandparents were Carl and Nettie Mangiameli and Tony C. and Josephine Distefano. Her great-great grandparents were Mary Mangiameli and Carl and Rosaria Laguzza, all of whom were also very active members of the festival committee.
Because of Abby's family connections, 5 generations of ties to the committee, this festival has been an important tradition in her family. She feels that it is a tremendous honor being the reigning Santa Lucia Festival Queen. Abby's mom, Annie, was queen in 1998. Annie had the honor of crowning her sister, Katie Woodrich Lethcoe, as queen in 1999. Abby has been raised knowing the importance of this tradition to her family and has attended since she was a child. Abby has often volunteered at the festival. Among her favorite tasks - making Italian peppers every year just prior to the start of the festival.
YOU COULD BE NEXT
All prospective candidates must be baptized Catholic and 14 – 21 years of age. Please download and complete Queen Candidate Application, then email to info@santaluciafestival.com
The Santa Lucia Queen is selected based on three criteria – Academics, Community Service and Raffle Ticket Sales.
All applicants must attend the Queens Kickoff Dinner that is held in the Spring.
The Queens Kickoff Dinner is held for prospective candidates and their families.
Community Service begins in March and the date is to be determined at the Queens Kickoff Dinner. Information about Raffle Ticket Sales will also be discussed at this dinner.
