A new approach to this year’s Fourth of July royalty fundraiser has meant queen candidate Kalee Herman has been here, there and everywhere around town to sell tickets. 

Traditionally, food booths and ticket sales were centered in the chamber of commerce downtown pavilion on Front Street. The program had to pivot when the owner of the land reclaimed it for private use and the chamber dismantled the covered shelter.

This year, Herman has partnered with a variety of businesses, restaurants and food trucks as settings for her fundraising. “Every day is different,” she said. “It’s kind of nice to not be stuck at a booth.”

She acknowledged that bouncing from place to place has made it a little bit of a challenge for people to find her.

“This year had been a little bit of a learning curve. Just selling tickets, I’m probably not going to earn as much as previous years did with the food booths, but at least I’m trying,” she said.

Proceeds from the raffle ticket sales pay for the Fourth of July fireworks and the chamber’s annual operating expenses, with a cut to the royalty contestants — this year, it’s only Herman.

“Not everything is about the money; it’s about the community,” she said. “As long as there’s enough for the fireworks and earning some money for college, it’s definitely worth it.”

Herman, who graduated high school in May, was initially planning to spend at least a year as an entrepreneur in town, and so she didn’t apply for any college scholarships. But the business plan fell through and she will attend Grand Canyon University in Arizona this fall, where she will major in hospitality and tourism management.

Participating in the Fourth of July royalty fundraising campaign is a way of covering some of her college expenses. She’ll receive at least 15% of the total ticket sales.

“I’m like the town — we’re doing our best to adapt to what we have.”

She noted that some people have said they miss the food booths. “They were a good thing when the town had less options, but the town is growing and there are more choices.”

Those choices include a variety of restaurants and food trucks, which have dedicated a percentage of their sales to her campaign. “It’s nice to support each other, not compete with each other,” she said.

“Running the food booths was a very complicated process, which kind of made it hard for people who wanted to run for royalty.”

While she’s encountered some mixed reactions, she says just selling tickets has been mostly positive. “I’d like to see it continue this way. I do think natural improvements will come with time, and I hope it encourages more people to run.”

As for her own experience, “It’s been fun, and exciting, and busy. I like to try new things, so I’m enjoying this. And so many people have helped. It’s like the whole community is running for queen.”

Tickets are $5 and are available at Alaska Vistas, the Stik Café, Michelle’s Taste of Asia, Wrangell Parks and Recreation, Rayme’s Bar, Thai Food by Ae, Wrangell Sentinel and Canoe Lagoon Oysters.

Ticket sales close at noon Friday, July 3.

Winning raffle tickets for the $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 cash prizes will be drawn at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 at the Nolan Center.