The 2010 Christmas on the River pageants get under way during the first week of October and will help kick off the COTR season.
The Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce is selling reserved seating tickets to the pageants for $8 each, beginning on Monday, Sept. 13. Only 100 seats are available in the reserve seating, and are available on a first come, first served basis.
“It’s always a big event,” said pageant coordinator Ann Parsons. “The reason we have the pageants in October is because Miss Christmas on the River is the festival spokesperson.”
The deadline to enter the pageants is this Friday, Sept. 17. Each pageant’s age group conforms to the grade divisions in Demopolis City Schools. Each pageant will take place at the Demopolis Civic Center, and the entry fee for each pageant is $25. Only the first 50 applicants for each pageant will be accepted. Applications are available at any Demopolis City School.
Each pageant’s court will ride on a float in the Christmas on the River children’s parade on Saturday, Dec. 4.
The Miss Christmas on the River Pageant will take place on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m., and is open to contestants in grades 9 through 12. Applications should be mailed to: Dana Eddins, 1400 Herbert St., Demopolis, AL 36732.
Miss Christmas on the River will serve as the spokesperson for the festival, making appearances on TV and radio programs as well as at community events.
The Miss Junior Christmas on the River Pageant will take place on Monday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m., and is open to contestants in grades 6 through 8. Applications should be mailed to: Kaye Evans, 410 Clover Ridge Dr., Demopolis, AL 36732.
The Young Miss Christmas on the River Pageant will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m., and is open to contestants in grades 3 through 5. Applications should be mailed to: Lisa McHugh, 1600 Indian Hill Road, Demopolis, AL 36732.
The Little Miss Christmas on the River Pageant will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m., and is open to contestants in grades kindergarten through 2. Applications may be mailed to: Jennifer Clem, 907 S. Main Ave., Demopolis, AL 36732.
Entry fees should accompany the pageant applications.
This is the first year for Evans to work with one of the COTR pageants.
“It’s going well,” she said. “Everyone has been very cooperative, and it seems like we’ll have an excellent pageant. I’ve got the judges lines up, and I think we’re running ahead of schedule.
“It’s been really nice! I’ve had a lot of help, and we’re looking forward to it.”