At a coronation held on Saturday March 28 at the Spokane Community College Auditorium the Spokane Lilac Festival Association (SLFA) crowned the 2026 Embrace Festival Queen, Queen Hayden Bowdish from Cheney High School.
Queen Hayden is involved in Cheney High School Leadership, DECA, Key Club among other activities and serves as a Launch NW Peer2Peer Mentor. Queen Hayden plans to attend either University of Washington or Washington State University to pursue a Masters in Information Systems.
In her speech Queen Hayden spoke about leading with quiet authenticity and embracing challenges to turn the qualities that set individuals apart into the strengths that bring people together.
The Royal Court Princesses are:
- Ava Hubble – University High School
- Ava Payne – East Valley High School
- Chloe Nelson – Spokane Valley Tech
- Kahlan Cartmell – Shadle Park High School
- Naliesha Richardson – Gonzaga Preparatory School
- Simone Kaczmark – Lewis & Clark High School
At the coronation, Royal Court members were presented with court scholarships. Additional awards included the Spirit of Lilac, Community Service, and Academic Achievement scholarships, among others. Funded through private, civic, and corporate donations, the Spokane Lilac Festival Association awards over $25,000 in scholarships each year to support Royal Court members in their academic pursuits.
Queen Hayden and the Embrace Royal Court will represent the SLFA at the Annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in downtown Spokane on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7:45 p.m. and will travel with the SLFA Float to over one dozen community festivals across the Pacific Northwest this summer.
Kids of all ages are invited to meet and support the Royal Court at a Royal Tea Party held on Sunday, April 26, at the Historic Davenport Hotel, tickets can be found online at www.spokanelilacfestival.org.
