TIPTON — Dressed in bright orange shorts and a ripped top, Carly Foley was not a likely candidate for a beauty pageant.

“I told somebody I was doing this, and they laughed at me,” she said.

The 16-year-old Tipton High School junior was not to be deterred. Wearing mismatched socks and 3-inch heels, Foley strutted across the stage during the last practice before the Miss Tipton County Pork Festival Queen pageant.

“I only have one pair of matching socks,” she explained.

The other girls didn’t wear socks.

On Wednesday, Foley, along with 13 other girls, was busy with last-minute details — pivoting on stage, dancing, and prepping for interviews.

The contestants take to the Main Stage at 8 p.m. today to compete for the crown.

Already a big attraction at the three-day festival, some organizers are hoping it will draw even larger crowds as this year marks the festival’s 40th anniversary.

Some contestants entered just to have fun, including 16-year-old Emily Nichols.

“I like ... modeling things, getting on stage.”

Nichols had a few obstacles to get past. While the other contestants participated in dance practice, Nichols hung back, leaning on her crutch displaying a knee brace.

“I was playing football ... in my friend’s back yard,” she explained. “I knew I wasn’t going to be able to dance.”

Laura Givens, 16, was worried she’d suffer a similar injury just from walking.

“The hardest part is wearing these heels,” she said. “It’s my first time doing anything like this.”

“If you fall ... you get the sympathy vote,” Foley encouraged.

They will also have an interview, an on-stage question and a chance to model active wear and formal wear.

“It’s different because I don’t normally wear dresses. I normally wear shorts under dresses if I wear one,” Foley said.

She and her friends are going to show the crowds a different side of their personalities.

“I like being spontaneous,” she said.

Foley said she will likely be wearing a hot pink dress with sequins, though she hasn’t made her final decision. Givens, who never thought she’d be in a pageant, said she is ready to upstage everyone in her dark teal dress, while keeping her signature glasses on. Nichols’ goal is to get changed without holding up the show.

Mostly the girls were excited to be involved in the Pork Festival.

“This is the one time there’s something fun going on in Tipton, one of the times,” Givens said.

“My grandparents fly up from Florida to come to the festival,” Foley said. “Seeing [my family] is just a bonus.”



Pork Fest schedule:

Today

11 a.m. - Pork chop tent opens

Noon - Exhibits open

4 p.m. - Art show opens, Pizza King lot

4 p.m. - Carnival opens; get wrist bands on South Independence Street

5 p.m. - Opening ceremony

5:30 p.m. - Kickoff parade

6 p.m. - Granpa Cratchet show, southside of courthouse

6:30 p.m. - Princess pageant

8 p.m. - Miss Tipton County Pork Festival pageant

10 p.m. - Food tents close

Friday

5 to 10 a.m. - All-you-can-eat breakfast

6:30 a.m. - WWKI Morning Show live

11 a.m. - Tents open for lunch

11:30 a.m. - Elks Lodge golf scramble at Tipton Municipal Golf Course

Noon - Festival exhibits

4 p.m. - Carnival opens

6 p.m. - Granpa Cratchet show south side of courthouse

6:30 p.m. - Country Crossroads on stage

7:30 p.m. - Kendall Phillips, country

8 p.m. - Granpa Cratchet

9 p.m. - T. Graham Brown

10 p.m. - Food tent closes

Saturday

6 a.m. to 10 a.m. - All-you-can-eat breakfast

8 to 10 a.m. - Porkboy and cartoons meet with children

10 a.m. - Festival officially opens. The “Porker Run” begins.

11 a.m. - Pork chop dinners served

11 a.m. - Porky’s Car Show at the park.

Noon - Parade formation on South Street

2 p.m. - Grand parade

4 and 6 p.m. - Granpa Cratchet southside of courthouse

7 p.m. - Dane Varese in concert

8 p.m. - Mojo Risin, The Doors Tribute band

8 p.m. - Granpa Cratchet

10 p.m. - Food tent closes

All concerts and entertainment are free. Most food and ticket vendors take Visa and Mastercard



If you go:

What: The 40th annual Tipton County Pork Festival

When: Today, Friday and Saturday; the festival is 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday

Where: Tipton Courthouse Square

Cost: Admission is free.



Food tent menu:

Single chop $4

Sandwiches $4

Sides 75 cents

Pie $1.50

Soft drink or water $1

Refills 50 cents

Coffee, milk 75 cents

Meals

One chop (or sandwich), two sides, pie and drink $7.50

Two chops, two sides, pie and drink $8.50

One sandwich, one side and drink $5.50

Sandwich and drink $5

Kid’s meal and prize $3