Willowbrook student to reign as Lombard Lilac Time queen
Kathleen Gomez has a bit of a dilemma in her plans for May 20: Two events at almost the same exact time.
Graduating from Willowbrook High School at 1 p.m., and riding in a parade at 1:30 p.m. as the 2018 Lombard Lilac Time Queen.
Gomez was crowned Saturday afternoon at a ceremony in Lilacia Park, 150 S. Park Ave.
The annual contest recognizes Lombard girls for their service to the community and their schools.
"Being recognized for your achievements for your whole town is just a dream," Gomez said. "And the scholarship doesn't hurt, either."
She will use the $1,000 award to help pay for attending the University of Missouri, where she plans to study journalism.
Gomez volunteers with the Easter Seals of DuPage County and Fox Valley. She has also been a counselor at two theater camps, been a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, and helps the Lombard Historical Society.
Gomez and the Lilac Princesses attended the first Lilac Time event, the Little Lady Lilac Ball, Friday night. After the coronation, Gomez and the ballgown-clad princesses happily posed for snapshots with future would-be Lilac Princesses.
On Saturday, a few of the lilac bushes in Lilacia Park had some blooms. According to the Lombard Park District's Bloom-O-Meter at lombardlilactime.com, budding is just beginning.
Events continue throughout the next two weeks, including an arts and crafts fair today, heritage and botanical tours of the park, concerts, a plant sale, a lilac bush sale and a wine-tasting event. Admission to the park is free, but some events charge a fee.