2026 Romeo Peach Festival Grand Marshal
Grace Venet has been selected by the Romeo Lions as the 2026 Romeo Peach Festival Grand Marshal.
She has been the Peach Festival Parade coordinator for the Romeo Lions and Romeo-Washington-Bruce (RWB) Parks and Recreation for the past 16 years after taking over for Ron Rossell and his family.
Venet works with RWB Parks and Recreation Director Clara Russell Hunter, volunteers and parks and recreation employees to make the event run as smoothly as possible.
She has worked for RWB Parks and Recreation for 19 years.
Besides parades, her other duties are to program recreational activities for special needs individuals.
She organizes dances, bingos and sports programs such as basketball, football, soccer, bowling and golf.
Venet said that she thinks that this group of people is great to work with and that RWB Parks and Recreation provides a valuable service to individuals and their families.
She also helps organize Starkweather Arts Center, a 27-year-old, non-profit in downtown Romeo.
Venet has been volunteering for 13 years at the organization as secretary and treasurer.
She said there is always plenty of activity to help with — gallery art shows, open mic nights, community projects and clay classes.
Venet involvement also includes the Romeo Mural, Peace Pole Project, Starkweather Alley art projects and the 2026 gallery show of the Starkweather Millinery historical hats.
She has a history of volunteerism with Girl Scouts, PTA, and Romeo High School Band Boosters.
“I never thought I’d be the type of person to spend time volunteering, but doing so has enriched my life in so many ways,” she said.
Venet has lived with her husband of 48 years, Mark, in Washington Township for 40 years and raised two sons and a daughter. She met Mark at Denby High School in Detroit.
She said that she is honored to be recognized by the Romeo Lions for her contributions to the Romeo Peach Festival and the community.
2026 Michigan Peach Queen of Romeo
Eden Eyeson, 18, of Washington Township, is the 2026 Michigan Peach Queen of Romeo.
She is a 2026 graduate of Romeo High School where she was involved in Students Enriching Romeo through Volunteer Experiences (SERVE), National Honor Society and Student Congress in addition to being a Romeo High School Ambassador.
She was a member of the Romeo Theatre Company as well as swim and dive team.
Eyeson is the founder and president of the Cool Girls Care Club, and is a section leader in the Detroit Youth Choir, as well as a youth group leader at her church.
She has been awarded Macomb Conference Scholar Athlete Award, AP Scholar with Honor, St. Timothy Award, Romeo High School Certificate of Honor: HHP Medical, #BeRomeo Award, Swim Team Varsity Letter, Michigan Youth Spirit Hope Award (200+ service hours), National Community Service Merit Award (40+ service hours) and Michigan Community Impact Award.
While in school, she also worked as a swim instructor and lifeguard.
This autumn, Eyeson will be heading to the University of Michigan to study biology, health and society.
She plans to pursue a career in medicine with the goal of becoming a doctor.
She would like to focus on women’s health and the treatment of diseases that disproportionately affect women.
Eyeson said that she is excited serve as the 2026 Romeo Peach Queen to allow her to continue her work in uplifting others and creating spaces where people feel valued on a larger scale.
She said that she hopes to inspire younger girls to lead with confidence and compassion and show that true strength comes from serving others.
Eyeson wants to use her reign to create a program that strengthens the next generation of leaders and reflects the heart of Romeo.
She is the daughter of Michelle and Patrick Eyeson, and sister to Brooklynn.
2026 Michigan Peach Queen of Romeo Runner Up
Lucy Garcia-Gaytan, 19, of Washington Township is the 2026 Romeo Peach Queen Runner-Up.
She is a 2024 graduate of Romeo High School where she was involved in National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and Students Enriching Romeo through Volunteer Experiences (SERVE) in addition to being a member of the Environmental Club.
Garcia-Gaytan was awarded the Michigan Community Impact Award, the SERVE Scholarship and the Youth Spirit of Hope Award.
While attending high school, she also worked several different jobs as a shift leader.
She returns to Oakland University this autumn where she is studying nursing.
On campus, she is involved in the Young Honors College and has been on the President’s List for multiple semesters, which recognizes scholastic distinction, all while working two off-campus jobs.
Upon graduation, Garcia-Gaytan’s goal is to become a nurse in a pediatric specialty such as neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
She also plans to further her education to earn a master’s degree and become a nurse practitioner with an emphasis in dermatology.
Garcia-Gaytan said she is excited to serve as the 2026 Romeo Peach Queen Runner-Up to give back to the community that has shaped her.
As a first-generation student, she said that she has learned resilience and hard work and wants to user her story to inspire others.
Garcia-Gaytan wants to use her reign to create a stronger connection between young students and the community, and to make a lasting impact as a positive role model for others.
She is the daughter of Carlos Garcia-Barragan and Terestia Gaytan, and the sister to Terecita, Karla, Emily, Carlos and Jesus.
2026 Lil’ Miss Peach Blossom
Lil’ Miss Peach Blossom is Scarlett Throne, 7, of Romeo.
She will be in second grade at Amanda Moore Elementary School this autumn.
Her family includes her parents, Zach and Krystal, and has two brothers, Kent and Roman.
Scarlett likes soccer, crafting, Prims group at church, bible journaling, self-care with beauty products and spending time in downtown Romeo at the various shops and the library.
2026 Mr. Peachy King
Mr. Peachy King is Henry Hustek, 7, of Washington Township.
He will be attending second grade at St. John Lutheran Rochester.
His family includes his parents, Justin and Heather, and sibling, Brooklyn, 5, and Mason, 3.
He is an active athlete who plays hockey for the Rochester Vipers and baseball with Washington Little League. He is a huge Detroit Red Wings fan and loves attending games with his family.