The Coronation of Queen Yam Danica Jo Vestal.
Tradition, pageantry, and Yamboree pride filled the Gilmer Civic Center on Wednesday evening, October 14, 2026, as Danica Jo Vestal was crowned the 89th East Texas Yamboree Queen.
Before an audience gathered to witness one of the festival’s most cherished traditions, Yamboree President Janice Gage placed the royal scepter upon Queen Danica hands, marking the beginning of her reign and another memorable chapter in the history of the East Texas Yamboree.
The daughter of BJ and Sabrina Vestal, Queen Danica made a breathtaking entrance in an elegant baby-blue gown complemented by a regal mantle and magnificent sweeping train. More than 5,000 beads and gemstones adorned the ensemble, catching the stage lights and sparkling throughout the evening as she made her way across the coronation stage.
Representing the Gilmer Rotary Club, Queen Danica was escorted by Eli Duvall.
The Queen’s Coronation has long been one of the signature events of the East Texas Yamboree, bringing together generations of families and community members in celebration of a tradition that has become synonymous with the festival. A second coronation performance was presented Thursday evening as Yamboree festivities continued through Saturday night.
Adding to the evening’s sense of tradition was the formal presentation of 88th East Texas Yamboree Queen Mia René Gage, symbolically connecting one Yamboree reign to the next.
Also presented was Princess Sophia Dean, Duchess of the Bluebonnet Literary Club, along with the Ladies-in-Waiting, visiting duchesses, escorts, and the Queen’s child attendants. Together, the members of the royal court filled the stage with the elegance and pageantry that have distinguished the Queen’s Coronation for generations.
For Queen Danica Jo Vestal, the evening was more than the placing of a crown. It was a moment surrounded by family, friends, community, and nearly nine decades of Yamboree tradition, a night of celebration that will forever hold a special place in the story of the 89th East Texas Yamboree.
