Tulip Fest coronations of ’88, ’89 continued tradition of four decades (with photos)

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jeff Wilkin

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Petals and posies are fine for some young women.

Maria Mokhiber and Heather Britt preferred petals and poses during the late 1980s.

Both were chosen tulip queens for Albany’s annual Tulip Festival. Mokhiber wore crown and cape in 1988; Britt succeeded her in 1989.

The games for thrones had started weeks before. Nine candidates for queen gathered at press conferences for photo shoots.

Mokhiber’s only subjects had been in classrooms. She was a 21-year-old senior at Siena College when she was named queen. Britt was a senior at Mercy High School in Albany at the time of her coronation.

The Albany tradition began in 1949.

The reign of 2012 queen Emily Finnegan is nearly over. Five finalists for the 2013 queen have been chosen, and one will bloom — along with scores of Peerless Pinks, Red Emperors and Arabian Mysteries — at this weekend’s 65th annual Albany Tulip Festival.

The festival begins Friday with the noon street scrubbing in downtown Albany. Flowers, food and music will be all over Washington Park Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. both days.