Opening rounds start for karaoke competition

The opening rounds of the annual karaoke contest at the Costa Mesa swap meet, SongBurst 2009, start Saturday.

Last year, several kids from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa made it through the early rounds to the finals of the competition, where they competed for a $1,000 grand prize, but none won.

There are qualifying rounds on all four Saturdays until March 7 at the Orange County Fair and Events Center, where the swap meet is. Five competitors will be picked from each round to appear in the finals March 21.

If it rains on any Saturday, the corresponding round is postponed until that Sunday.

There is a $5 entry fee to sign up, and pre-registration is not required. Many of the entrants just see the outdoor stage while shopping and decide to participate. Separate divisions are set up for kids and adults. For more information, call (714) 826-2212.

— Alan Blank