CavOILcade plans Jan. 13 crowning of queen in Groves
Published 11:30 am Thursday, January 4, 2018
- FILE PHOTO — The 2016 cavOILcade Queen Taryn Crochet waves to onlookers during the annual cavOILcade parade in Port Arthur in October 2016. Mary Meaux/The News
Hurricane Harvey disrupted an annual celebration of the oil and petrochemical industries in Greater Port Arthur, but not for long.
CavOILcade 2017’s September and October events, delayed by the August hurricane and consequent flooding, are muscling their way into the new year.
“Things were disrupted after Hurricanes Rita and Ike but only the annual Queens Scholarship Coronations had to be rescheduled,” said Pam Trosclair, cavOILcade director. “Of course, with football season we cannot compete so coronations were held in January.”
This year, Trosclair said, most events were delayed but cavOILcade is ready to crown its 2017 queen. That will happen at 8 p.m. Jan. 13 at Groves Middle School.
“Girls participating as princesses were hit hard by Harvey, with some losing a few possessions and others losing everything their family owned,” Trosclair said. “We lost at least seven participants because of Harvey. We have regrouped and are ready to crown a new queen.”
CavOILcade dates back to 1953, when U.S. Rep. Jack Brooks crowned Barbara Putman on the steps of the sub courthouse. Over the years, the event has included events like the “Hat Breakfast,” street parade and picnic on Rose Hill Manor. Lee Eagleson was chairman in 1953.
Over the decades, other highlights included an appearance by Tony Bennett in 1960 and the Dick Dowling Centennial in 1963, which marked the centennial of the Civil War Battle of Sabine Pass.
Other entertainers to perform here included Bobby Vinton, Jeanie C. Riley, Ray Stevens, Crystal Gayle, Charley Pride, the Osmond Brothers and Bo Didley.
The street parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 20, a Saturday, in downtown Port Arthur. Participants will begin to line up at 8:30 a.m. in the Monroe Theatre parking lot at Lamar State College Port Arthur and the parade will start at 10, going down Procter Street to Houston Avenue.
“Everyone is invited to participate: marching units, bands, organizations, church groups, royalty, sports team, floats, you name it,” Trosclair said.
To sign up for the parade or for coronation information contact cavOILcade director Pam Trosclair at 409-498-1793 or go to Facebook .com/cavOilcade.
