A queen is crowned: Rhododendron Festival royalty named at coronation in Chimacum

Published 10:46 am Sunday, March 15, 2015

The 2015 Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival queen, Samantha Smith, 17, left, stands with her court made up of, from left, princesses Deidra Morris, 16; Morgan Chaffee, 17; and Lillian Kelley, 17.

Samantha was chosen to reign over the 80th annual festival coming in mid-May during a coronation at Chimacum High School’s auditorium Saturday.

The new queen made history as the first candidate to have been a member of junior royalty and the queen’s court before being chosen as the festival queen.