DEMOPOLIS – As Christmas on the River prepares to dazzle Alabama once again, it is only right for the annual COTR pageants to soon be in full swing.

The dates are set and pageant eager citizens can mark their calendars.

Miss COTR will be October 1, Miss Junior COTR will be October 3, Young Miss COTR will be October 4 and Little Miss COTR will be Oct. 5.

“The girls have to be ready to be in parades and other events that start off COTR,” Nicole Larkin, Little Miss pageant coordinator, said.

Good news, there is still an opportunity to register for COTR pageants although the deadline is today.

Each pageant has a maximum number set for participants and as long as the number for the age group has not been reached, there is still time.

Ladies in grades 10-12 are invited to participate in the Miss COTR pageant and girls in kindergarten to third grade still have the opportunity to participate in the Little Miss pageant. “I can take up to 50 girls,” Larkin said. “So I won’t stop taking girls until I don’t have space.”

Ladies must be 5 years old or older to participate in the pageants. Entry forms are available at the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce.

Larkin said young women should participate because it’s exciting for both the participants and their families.

“A lot of family members get to see their daughters and granddaughters all dressed up and having fun,” Larkin said. “Then we ask the girls a question and they answer. That’s sure to be funny.”

For information about Miss COTR, contact Rebecca Roemen at (334) 289-3128 and for Little Miss COTR information contact Larkin at (334) 289-5295.