The chief spokesperson for Demopolis’s annual festival, Miss Christmas on the River, will be crowned at the Demopolis Civic Center on Saturday, Oct. 3. The pageant will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Some 48 high school students from around the region will compete for the crown. Miss Christmas on the River represents the annual Christmas on the River festival by speaking to organizations, civic groups and media about the weeklong festival, which will be held from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5.

“The contestants have individual interviews with the judges on Saturday during the day,” said Miss COTR coordinator Dana Eddins. “Then, they have an informal supper with the judges at the Civic Center before they get ready for their evening gown competition.”

The evening’s program will consist of a parade of contestants in their evening gowns, and then the top five will be asked an on-stage question.

Eddins is in her second year as coordinator for the Miss Christmas on the River pageant.

“My job is to get things organized: send forms out to the schools, receiving the forms from the contestants, setting up interviews, getting the judges and backstage helpers — just all the nuts and bolts of the event,” she said.

“It’s a lot of fun! It’s nice to be able to help out with something for Christmas on the River. It is such a big thing for our town. It’s a lot of fun for the girls, and I like to be a part of the fun that they’re having.”

The Miss Junior COTR, Young Miss COTR and Little Miss COTR, pageants will be held next week.