The gateway events to the annual Christmas on the River festival kicked off the season on Saturday, as the COTR pageants got under way at the Demopolis Civic Center.

Kathleen Randall, a senior at Demopolis High School, was crowned Miss Christmas on the River on Saturday.

As Miss Christmas on the River, Randall will serve as the spokesperson for the annual festival, making appearances on television and radio stations statewide and promoting one of the longest-running river festivals in the nation.

The Miss Christmas on the River court included first alternate Tera Elizabeth Schroeder, a junior at Demopolis High School; second alternate Jessica Leanne Brock, a junior at Marengo Academy; third alternate Emily Ann Jay, a junior at Southern Academy; and fourth alternate Leanna Parker, a sophomore at Demopolis High School.

Jennie Hurst, a junior at Demopolis High School, was elected by the contestants as this year’s Miss Congeniality.

Others making the top 20 in the Miss Christmas on the River pageant were Jade Elizabeth Bates of Southern Academy, Morgan Irene Cooper of Demopolis High School, Jordan Grace-Anne Cramer of Demopolis High School, Madison Elizabeth Davidson of Demopolis High School, Kaitlyn Freeman of Demopolis High School, Valerie Katherine Harper of Southern Academy, Anna Margaret Jones of Demopolis High School, Miranda Luker of Sweet Water High School, Jo Anna Newson of Sweet Water High School, Reanna Parker of Demopolis High School, Lindsey Sexton of Southern Academy, Mary Morgan Tucker of Demopolis High School, Victoria Elizabeth Washburn of Demopolis High School and Allison Woods of Southern Academy.