Christmas comes early to Demopolis. Well, Christmas on the River begins early, and it kicks off with four pageants this week.

The Miss Christmas on the River pageant will be held tonight (Saturday) at 7:30 p.m. at the Demopolis Civic Center.

The winner of the pageant will be the spokesperson for the annual festival, making appearances at several events and in several interviews in print and on TV.

Forty-eight high school students will compete for the title won last year by Demopolis native Alexa Beech.

Then, the younger girls take the stage, as the Miss Junior Christmas on the River pageant will be held Monday at 7 p.m., the Young Miss Christmas on the River pageant will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. and the Little Miss Christmas on the River pageant will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m.

All pageants will be held at the Demopolis Civic Center, and general admission is $5, with children’s admission at $3. Some reserve seating for the Miss Junior and Little Mis pageants are available through the Chamber of Commerce office for $8 each.

Come out, have fun and help Demopolis kick off the 2009 Christmas on the River season. Chances are that you know several of the contestants (or their parents), and it is a fun way to start getting into the Christmas on the River mood.