The Fourth of July is still eight weeks away but there’s only a week to go before the May 15 deadline for royalty contestants to step forward for the annual fundraising effort that helps pay for the holiday fireworks and more.

Royalty contestants sell food and raffle tickets to raise money for the chamber of commerce-sponsored Fourth festivities — and they get to keep a portion of the sales for themselves, whether for college expenses or most anything else.

It’s a lot of work, and the job of organizing schedules, planning events and ordering food needs to start soon. The royalty contest with its ticket sales usually kicks off the last weekend in May.

In past years, the contestants who competed to raise the most money have always been individuals, but it doesn’t have to be one person. “It doesn’t have to be an individual. It can be a group or an organization,” including friends, church groups or sports teams, said Lora Lee Mason, the chamber’s executive director.

“If they’re part of the Wrangell community and excited to participate, they’re welcome to throw their crown into the ring.”

A group or a nonprofit could use its share of the royalty sales proceeds as their own fundraiser.

Whether an individual or a group, no one had filed for the royalty competition as of Friday, May 1, Mason said.

“We would love to get some applicants.”

Application forms and more information is available at the chamber office in the Nolan Center, or email info@wrangellchamber.com for more information, or call the chamber office at 907-874-3901.

Looking ahead to the Fourth, in a change from recent years the fireworks will go off on the evening of July 4, not July 3. The rest of the activities over the three-day celebration are still being pulled together, Mason said.

The chamber will manage the royalty fundraiser, fireworks, parade and vendor booth organizing, and community volunteers will manage other activities such as games and street contests.

Janice Lorraine Taylor won this year’s Fourth of July logo contest — and $500 — for her winning design that incorporates Wrangell scenery with a banner proclaiming the 250th anniversary of the United States, all in the form of a postage stamp.