Directors for the 86th Annual Water Carnival were announced May 11 after official contracts were signed for the role. Angela Harral and daughter Kelli Harral Burns will direct this year’s event, which is themed “Port Stockton.”

Water Carnival President Cary Acosta, who has been involved with the annual event for 35 years, explained that Harral and Burns’ script/ presentation received the most votes from the 13-member Water Carnival Board.

“We have people submit scripts and do presentations, and the board takes a ballot vote, and whatever script gets the most votes get selected. The board is made up of 13 members – 12 members and the 13th member to give us the odd vote is a chamber representative if they are a board member,” she said.

Harral first debuted as a Fort Stockton Water Carnival Association director in 2008, “Surf’s Up.”

The pirate ship from her script was a prop crew masterpiece stretching across the south end of Comanche Springs Pool. Her daughter Kelli helped her that year.

Harral is a former FSWCA President, board member, Fort Stockton CVB member, and current Fort Stockton Chamber of Commerce Ambassador.

Her mother-in-law, Peggy, and aunt Iva Aline competed in the 1939 Water Carnival Bathing Revue, the name for the event during that time. Peggy and Aline had fond memories of taking part in the local tradition 70-plus years later.

Harral and her husband DA Harral did the Water Carnival Couples Dance Act in 1991. Harral has directed and assisted acts, the Miss Fort Stockton pageants, and pageant divisions intermittently since 1991.

“Their children and grandchildren love growing up in Fort Stockton and participating in Water Carnival,” Acosta said.

Burns is a former Miss Texas Teen USA 2009, Miss Junior Miss 2007, Miss Teen 2004, Miss Sub Teen, and Miss Wee Miss.

Her older sisters, Kristi and Kati, are former Miss Fort Stockton’s from 2004 and 2007.

Her brother Mark Harral swam the Water Carnival duet with Kasia Havins in 2004 and her brother Jake Harral is a past Water Carnival President and board member. The prop crew is still his volunteer go-to.

Nathan Urias, her brother-in-law, also took part in the Water Carnival.

Burns was a Houston Texans Cheerleader from 2011-2014. She has been on their HTC Alumni Squad for three years.and

Burns debuted as Water Carnival director in 2011, “The Princess,” at age 18. Her mother helped her with the show. Some will remember the prop crew’s diving castle from the event that year.

Kelli is married to Nick Burns they have two daughters Kennedi & Kimberli who will be signing up Water Carnival this year and baby son Kolt.