Plans for the 40th annual Westby Syttende Mai are moving forward with a few changes in store.

The event kicks-off with the annual princess banquet at the Westby Area High School on Saturday, May 10. The princess banquet and coronation, had traditionally been held on a Friday evening, but due to a judging availability conflict in 2007, the banquet and coronation was moved to Saturday to accommodate the judge’s schedules.

New royalty will replace outgoing 2007 Princess Paige Pederson and her court Kelly Haugen and Grace Homstad. The banquet begins at 5:30 p.m. with a meet and greet session followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Banquet tickets are available for $12 at local businesses and reservations must be made by May 5. Tickets will be sold in advance only. Contact Mary Daines at 634-4405 of Kristi Fortun at 634-2615 for further ticket information.

The princess coronation will follow the banquet in the Westby Area High School gymnasium. The coronation is open to the public and the cost of admission is a $3 Syttende Mai button available at the door and at local businesses.

There will not be a princess ball following the coronation ceremony as reported in the May 1 issue of the Westby Times. We apologize the error.