- <h2>Pageant Brings Thousands to Vicksburg</h2>
Pageant Brings Thousands to Vicksburg
VICKSBURG, MS (June 28, 2010)- The Miss Mississippi Pageant brings thousands of fans to the city of Vicksburg to cheer on their favorite contestant to win the Miss Mississippi crown. 45 contestants will compete to represent the state at the Miss America Pageant in January.
David Blackledge, Miss Mississippi Pageant director said that the Vicksburg Convention Center will have about 2100 people on Saturday night of the pageant, 2000 on Friday night and between 1800-1900 on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Pageant week is a tremendous economic boom for the city,” Blackledge said. “People come in for 8 days from around the state to stay in our hotels, use our florists, and to shop around town especially downtown and at the Outlets.”
This year’s host hotel, La Quinta Inn & Suites, is going above and beyond to make the pageant girls feel at home. Julie Ford, sales and marketing director for MY Hospitality Services L.L.C., said that they are very excited to host the girls and feel like they are helping in the effort to promote Vicksburg in the process. Special deliveries can be made to the contestants Monday through Friday at the La Quinta Inn & Suites from 2-4 p.m.
“We have some exciting things planned for the girls that have never been done before,” said Ford. “The hotel is completely decorated for the pageant. We have each contestant’s picture on a star on her door. Once the pageant starts, each day the winners will have their stars on display in the front of the hotel.”
Ford said that the host hotel has assisted with the parents and directors including putting together tour itineraries for things to do in Vicksburg and a list of Top Ten restaurants to dine at.
“Special requests were broadcasted on facebook and we received 30 phone calls from parents and families on wanting suggestions on what to do in Vicksburg,” said Ford. “We really take advantage of what all our city has to offer to get the parents and friends out and about in the community. One family has 25 people from around the United States and we have planned their whole itinerary on things to do in Vicksburg.
“Two of our hotel properties are sold out for that week and they typically don’t sell out during this week especially with all the new hotels in our area,” said Ford. MY Hospitality Services properties in Vicksburg include the Wingate by Wyndham, Motel 6, Fairfield Inn, La Quinta, and Days Inn. “The pageant is going to be bigger than every this year.”
This year’s Miss Mississippi Pageant is held at the Vicksburg Convention Center at 8 p.m. on Saturday July 10. Preliminary pageants will be Wednesday through Friday July 7-9 also at 8 p.m. Pageant activities begin on July 3 at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center Auditorium with the Prince and Princess Crowning Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
The Miss Mississippi Pageant Parade and autograph parties also contribute to Vicksburg’s “economic boom” during pageant week. The parade will be downtown along Washington Street on Monday July 5 at 7 p.m. An autograph party at participating downtown stores will follow and stores will stay open until 9 p.m.
“The Miss Mississippi Pageant week has a huge impact on downtown,” said Kim Hopkins, executive director of Vicksburg Main Street. “The parade attracts contestant’s family and friends along with people in our community. Relatives come from all over to support their girls in the pageant. The downtown stores order special items just for this time. Parents are able to send contestants gifts and gift baskets from different stores. Overall it is tremendous for our whole community.”
“Sales go up between gifts and people shopping in general,” said Karen Ruggles, owner of Cinnamon Tree, one of downtown’s boutique gift shops. “It gives people a reason to get out and about during the summertime. The pageant is such an asset for our city.”
The Outlets at Vicksburg will also host an autograph party from 10-11:30 a.m. on Thursday July 8 in the meeting room next to Billy’s Italian Restaurant. Select stores will open early at 9:30 a.m. so shoppers can take advantage of sales.
“It’s our busiest week of the summer,” said Paige Caldwell, Marketing & Special Events for the Outlets at Vicksburg. “We are happy to help promote the pageant and host one of the events.”
Miss Mississippi 2009 Anna Tadlock will make her last public performance outside the pageant at Vicksburg’s Fourth of July “Sparks on the River.” She will kick off Independence Day festivities at the Vicksburg Waterfront with the National Anthem at 7 p.m.. Music entertainment by Super T and fireworks on the Mississippi River will follow.
For ticket information for the Miss Mississippi Pageant call 601-638-6746 or visit http://www.missmississippipageant.com. For more information about Vicksburg and Vicksburg events call the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at 601-636-9421 or toll free at 800-221-3536 or visit online at http://www.visitvicksburg.com.
By Laura Beth Lyons
Mississippi Press Association
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carthage Courthouse
Carthage is the geographic center of Mississippi and therefore an ideal location for businesses to grow and expand. |
|
|
