Frank Parra cemented his position as one of the top Mr. South Whidbey competitors in the pageant’s 10-year history after winning the 2015 event on Saturday at Freeland Hall.

Parra didn’t stray far from what won him the pageant in 2014. Parra performed alongside his friend, Frank Cruz, who provided his guitar-playing skills while the pair performed “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens.

Parra, owner of Sebo’s Do-It Center and known by many as Mr. Do-it, won the crown in 2014. Just as it did last year, the Mexican folk song got the crowd on its feet.

“People loved it,” said Christi Ruscigno, chairwoman of the Mr. South Whidbey Committee. “They were dancing in the aisles. I’ve never seen that many people dancing in the aisles before.”

Parra also delivered jokes off the top of his head. Cruz would strum a quick tune on his guitar that would correlate with the joke. Parra was proud that he had won the event, but he was more proud of what the effort by all the contestants will do for the cause.

“It’s not about the talent, its about raising the funds that help other people,” Parra said.

The nine candidates raised a combined total of over $30,000 for Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund, according to Friends of Friends president Becky Foote.

The festivities began at around 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Freeland Hall and continued to slightly past 10 p.m.

“I thought it was a good celebration of doing this for 10 years and of the organization,” Ruscigno said. “It was all a surprise. Even the ones that we knew, they were going to be different no mater what.”

Ruscigno said around 190 people were in attendance. The pageant is a tongue-in-cheek competition which pits the community’s most boisterous and fun-loving men against one another in the hopes of raising money for the Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund, a non-profit organization which assists South Whidbey residents in need of help with medical costs. 

This year’s pageant had an added twist as well, as the nine participating contestants were all returning crowd favorites from previous pageants.

The contestants put their talents and personalities on display to win over the admiration, support, and votes from the community in the hopes of winning the coveted title of Mr. South Whidbey. One vote was equal to $1, and the contestant who raised the most money won the event.

The nine men vying for this year’s crown were Parra, John Auburn, Nick Welles, Rocco Gianni, George Henny, Randy Hudson, Paul Matthews, Jim Scullin and Gordon Stewart. Stewart almost missed the event because he was cooking that evening at his restaurant, Gordon’s on Blueberry Hill.

“He got up and just did stuff off the top of his head,” Ruscigno said. “There’s some pretty talented comics in our midst, I have to say.”

The pageant began with introductions of around 24 past competitors in the event.

Ruscigno was especially grateful for Sue Frause, who returned as the Mistress of Ceremonies. Ruscigno also wanted to thank the sponsors of this year’s event, which included Kevin Lungren of Edward Jones, Island Home Nursing, Robert Jangaard ND, Offgrid Systems, Porter Whidbey Insurance, Saratoga Dental, South Whidbey Pediatrics, Useless Bay Animal Clinic, Village Pizzeria, and Whidbey Pies.