June 19 was the final day to qualify for the three upcoming Miss Lake Demopolis beauty pageants.

The Little Miss Lake Demopolis pageant will be held at 7 p.m. on June 24 in the Demopolis Civic Center, followed by the Junior Miss Lake Demopolis pageant at 7:30 p.m. on June 25, and the Miss Lake Demopolis pageant at 7 p.m. on June 27.

The entry fee for the pageants is $15.

The contests are being presented in association with the third annual "Freedom on the River" Festival, sponsored by the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce.

The schedule of events for the Freedom festival itself begins July 3 with the "Best Burger on the River" contest from 5 p.m. to midnight at the City Landing ball field. Teams will vie for the best burger recipe. The registration fee for cooking teams is $25.

Paul Garner and Boyd Duckett, Modern Day Holden, The Fossils, Night Fever, and Azzif will perform that evening beginning at 6 p.m. as part of a "Riverstock" music festival.

Admission for "Best Burger" is $5.

The July 4 events start at the City Landing with a water safety inspection from the U.S. Corps of Engineers at 2 p.m.

A speed boat racing demonstration is also planned for 2 p.m. At least 10 speed boats will be on hand to race two at a time. There will be contestants from Mississippi and Tennessee.

Children’s Day, sponsored by the Marengo County Historical Society, will last from 3 to 6 p.m. at historic Bluff Hall.

There will be games for ages three to 12. There will be free balloons, races, ring toss, horseshoes, bowling, tic tac toe toss, bubbles, popcorn and lemonade.

The following games will cost 25 cents to enter: cupcake walk, facepainting, ball toss, water gun gallery and the grand prize game.

You can have your photo made with Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty for $2.00.

There will also be chinese yo-yo’s, sunglasses, visors, shakers, wandstreamers and pinwheels for sale.

A Children’s Patriotic Parade will be held at 6:15 p.m. on Commissioners Drive. Participants in the parade should line up at Bluff Hall at 6 p.m. The parade will go down to the City Landing and back up to Bluff Hall.

Prizes will be awarded in various age groups (including adults) to the most patriotic bike, wagon or stroller in the parade. Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Lake Demopolis will be featured in the parade.

Gospel performers will perform at 3 p.m. at the City Landing. Mitzi Forester Gates, the Lewis Family and the Jubilee Sensations are scheduled to appear.

The three-on-three basketball tournament will also begin at 3 p.m. at the city tennis/basketball court near the Demopolis Civic Center.

Registration forms for the tournament can be picked up at the office of the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce or at The Athlete’s Foot. Entry forms need to be returned by June 30.

There are four age divisions: youth, high school, adult and masters. First and second prizes will be awarded in each group.

Door prizes have been donated by several vendors and will be given away during the tournament to players.

For more information, call The Athlete’s Foot at 289-8733.

The famous Lake Demopolis Duck Race will also begin at 3 p.m. One duck can be sponsored for $5 or three for $10.

A group of organized games

for all ages including an egg toss, sack race and much more is planned for 4 p.m. near the new pavilion at the City Landing.

The Dr. Pepper Flamingo 500 race and the Country Music Showdown will both be held at 5 p.m.

The music showdown will feature eight local performers who have previously qualified through WIN 98 radio. Boyd Duckett and Mitzi Forester Gates will be the judges.

The annual July 4 fireworks display which begins at 8:30 p.m. will end the Freedom festival.