The Junior Orange Bowl is a non-profit organization based in Coral Gables, Florida, that holds the Junior Orange Bowl International Youth Festival, a series of events held for the youth of South Florida and the world. The oldest and most popular event of the festival is the Junior Orange Bowl Parade in downtown Coral Gables. History Known as "The Largest International Youth Sports and Arts Festival," the Junior Orange Bowl Youth Festival blossomed in 1948 when the first Junior Orange Bowl Parade journeyed through beautiful downtown Coral Gables. This was the wonderful beginning of a festival that is totally dedicated to "Celebrating Youth". The Junior Orange Bowl has grown into a year-long youth festival, offering community, academic, and athletic events for youth and families. The first Junior Orange Bowl Queen, Sandy Wirth, was crowned in 1951 starting a tradition of shaping and mentoring young community leaders. The 9 - 14-year-old girls are judged on poise, personality and presentation. Preliminary pageants are held throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties, as one queen, two princesses, and one little sister is chosen to be the Junior Orange Bowl community ambassadors each year. The Royal Court regularly volunteers at community service projects to develop leadership and philanthropic values in addition to their duties to be present and represent the Junior Orange Bowl at festival events. Tennis The sixties marked the introduction of several new events. In 1962 the Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship was established for boys and girls that are 12 & 14 and under. Over the years the draw has included several great players who have gone on to gain stardom on the professional circuit. Tennis greats Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, Mary Joe Fernandez, Monica Seles, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have all played in the Junior Orange Bowl tournament. Today the International Tennis Championship draws over 1,500 players from 75 countries and is widely known as one of the most respected youth tournaments in the world. Golf 1964 was the inaugural year for the International Golf Tournament, and the Girl's tournament was added in 1977. Top U.S. and foreign players 18 years and younger compete in this event which is now recognized as one of the world's most prestigious junior golf tournaments. This invitational has produced such professional stars as Andy North, Craig Stadler, Hal Sutton, Mark Calcavecchia, Bob Tway, Billy Mayfair, Willie Wood, and Jose Maria Olazabal. The Golf