By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Addison Dykstra was crowned queen of the 2024 Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant sponsored by Geneseo Rotary held on June 14, 2024, in Geneseo City Park. She received a $500 scholarship from Rotary to use to continue her education, and she has completed her first year the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where she is majoring in News Broadcast and minoring in Political Science. She is the daughter of Curt and Sara Dykstra.
Addison Dykstra is the 2024 reigning Geneseo Music Festival Queen and she will present the crown to the 2025 Music Festival Queen at the upcoming pageant on Friday, June 13, in Geneseo City Park. Photo by Claudia Loucks
Her title as the current Music Festival Queen will end as the 2025 Queen will be crowned at a program on Friday, June 13, in City Park. But Dykstra’s memories of her experiences will last a lifetime.
Miss Dykstra reigned over Music Fest activities during Father’s Day weekend last June, including the parade on Father’s Day, June 16, and she did an excellent job at appearing at events throughout the Father’s Day weekend in Geneseo.
“The court and I made sure to make appearances at al of the events throughout the weekend,” she said. “We visited the Farmers Market and all of the vendors at the craft show. We also listened to various performances and we participated in the Jazzercise event and cheer clinic.”
Attending the Father’s Day Fly-In Breakfast at the Gen-Air Park Airport was a highlight of the weekend, she said, and added, “There was a great turnout from the community and I think it is such a unique and fun way to celebrate the men in our lives. Overall, the weekend was so much fun. I had a great time experiencing it all with my court!”
In reminiscing about last year, Miss Dykstra shared that she “loved being involved with the community over the weekend! I had great conversations with several people throughout the course of the weekend, and I really enjoyed the time I spent with my court.
Geneseo is a supportive tight-knit community, and the Music Festival weekend really showcases that.”
Last year also was a special year with the addition of the Little Miss Music Festival Pageant and Miss Dykstra said one of her favorite memories from the weekend was buying matching bracelets with the Little Miss court from one of the show vendors.
“Little Miss Shea Robertson and I purchased matching coral beaded bracelets,” she added.
When asked about the excitement on the night she was crowned “2024 Geneseo Music Festival Queen,” she answered, “Pageant night always comes with a lot of nerves and excitement. Every girl that participated in the pageant was deserving of the crown, but I was very grateful to have been chosen as the Music Festival Queen. With that also came a lot of excitement to represent Geneseo and music, which I hold very close to me.”
For the evening gown competition of the pageant, she chose to wear the dress she had worn to her senior prom at GHS…”It is a royal blue shoulder Sherri Hill gown,” she said. “There is flower detailed embroidery throughout the top along with floral appliques along the shoulder and waist. I wanted to wear something different and fun for senior prom, and I fell in love with that dress, so I was excited to get another wear out of it at the pageant!”
Miss Dykstra had watched the Music Festival Queen Pageant in previous years and added, “I remember as a Little Miss Henry County Fair contestant in 2011, walking across the stage and getting to introduce myself before the Music Festival Pageant. It was so fun to see all of the older girls participating.”
And when asked why she entered the Queen Pageant, Addison said, “I have always enjoyed Music Festival weekend! Music is a major component of my life, and I am so grateful to be in a community that celebrates it. I thought the pageant would be a great way to get involved with the weekend and community, along with an opportunity to earn money for college. I was excited to spend extra time with my peers as well!”
Another question of Miss Dykstra was to share something she might say to senior girls in high school who might consider being in the Music Festival Pageant, and she replied, “I believe that pageants are a great opportunity to develop interview skills, public speaking, and presentation! These are all skills that you will carry on and need throughout your life. In addition, this pageant is a great way to get involved within the community and spend time with peers before heading off to college while also earning a scholarship. College forces you to step out of your comfort zone, and I believe that this pageant is a great opportunity to do so while also having fun with your friends!”
She added that she was “appreciative of the scholarship as being an out-of-state student is expensive. I also received the local Rotary Scholarship during Scholarship Night at the high school. I am very grateful for the Rotary and all of their contributions to my college education! I used all of my scholarships toward my tuition!”
Miss Dykstra will be graduating early from the University of Tennessee and she plans to attend law school after completing undergraduate studies.
“I rushed and joined the Sigma Kappa Sorority,” she said. ‘Our philanthropy is the Alzheimer’s Association, and this past semester, we were able to raise over $30,000 towards our cause! I am also involved in Vol News, which is a student-run news organization on campus. Within this program, I helped cover events, run cameras, and anchor for our social media page. I also sang in the University Choir during first semester.”
“I absolutely love the University of Tennessee,” she added. “I had a blast over this past year and have met so many new people. I was scared to go out of my comfort zone and move 10 hours from home; however, Tennessee has been such an amazing experience. Who knew that I would have best friends living in New Jersey and Nashville! There nothing I love more than wearing orange and cheering on the Volunteers in everything!”
