A governor, a queen, and a marching band, what do these three things have in common? They were all a part of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Saturday in Pineville.

You couldn't have picked a more beautiful day or setting for this year's festivities and if you've never made it out to the Mountain Laurel Festival, imagine all the charm and grace of the Kentucky Derby, Southeast Kentucky style.

When you start the day off with a bang, you know everything is just going to come up roses, well Mountain Laurels to be exact.

"It's not only a festival to recognize the Mountain Laurel, which is a beautiful native plant, but also to recognize the tradition," said Governor Ernie Fletcher.

Make that 77 years of tradition with the annual parade keeping step with those children trying to find new places to store all their candy.

"We're watching the parade, watching the cars go by, listening to some music, getting some candy and stuff like that," said Jake Rose.

"We enjoy the community and all our visitors and would love to see more and more come," said Shawn Fugate.

But what's a festival without some beauty queen candidates, or 20 of them, from universities and colleges across the state all culminating in a coronation ceremony fit for a queen.

"We get to crown the queen, and give her a kiss, but I assure the first lady it's only on the cheek," Fletcher said.

Sarah Elisabeth Hargis of Centre College was named the 2007 Mountain Laurel Festival Queen.