Katie Gorman, the 2007 Miss Onalaska, will crown the 2008 Miss Onalaska at the pageant being held 7 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at the Onalaska High School Performing Arts Center.

Eight contestants are vying for the crown this year.

Tickets will be available at the box office, which will be open the night of the pageant from 6 p.m. up until show time.

This year marks the 32nd year that the Miss Onalaska pageant has been part of the Miss America program.

This year’s Miss Onalaska pageant will feature eight contestants; five of them are in their first pageant. Pageant veterans participating this year include Sarah Beier, Gina Gentry and Jackie Hart, while the newcomers are Natalie Anderson, Cassie Dickow, Brittany Lee, Aimie Sella and Miranda Rosenthal.

The contestants will present a wide range of talents, from flute and piano instrumentals to jazz and ballet dance routines to vocal solos.

There also will be other entertainment as well, with Bob Olson, a longtime pageant participant, former Miss Onalaska Katie Ekern and Miss Twin Cities Angela McDermott. Miss Wisconsin 2007 Christina Thompson also will be on hand performing an instrumental solo on violin.

The new Miss Onalaska will compete in the 2009 Miss Wisconsin Pageant. The winner also will take home at least $1,500 in scholarship money.

People attending the pageant will have a chance to bump the scholarship funds up by participating in a silent auction held before the pageant and during intermission.

Silent auction items include two getaway packages with a night’s stay at Holiday Inn Express, autographed CDs by former Miss Americas Dorothy Benham, Katie Harman and Kellye Cash, autographed children’s books by 2000 Miss America Heather French, an MVP Golf Academy certificate for a month of unlimited practice sessions and more.

In a new twist introduced by the Miss America organization last year, contestants this year will each raise at least $100 for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Randy Erickson contributed to this article.