Karaoke contest to feature 3 girls, 2 women from area

Five young women from Costa Mesa and Newport Beach will compete for thousands of dollars in prize money in the finals of a karaoke competition at the Orange County Fairgrounds today.

The competition, SongBurst 2008, has two divisions, youth and adult, each offering a grand prize of $1,000. Three local girls and two local women qualified for the finals during preliminary events a few weeks ago.

Karaoke Scene Magazine is hosting the event, which is being held at the Fairgrounds for the first time. The junior finals start at 11 a.m., and the adult finals start at noon.

Admission costs $2 for adults and is free for children younger than 12. Free parking is available in the lot across from City Hall.

— Alan Blank