By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
The 2024 Fourth of July Pageant will be held again this summer on June 22, and for anyone who still wants to be a Miss Fourth of July candidate, the deadline to enter the pageant has been extended to June 7.
Community Services Director Esme Meza said 2023 was the first year the city held the Miss Fourth of July Pageant. She said Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez asked city staff to explore the creation a Miss Fourth of July Pageant to complement the city’s annual Fourth of July activities.
The participation fee to enter the pageant will be $20. Meza said individuals must live in Del Rio to participate. She added the Fourth of July Pageant is more centered on local and community events.
Meza said they have moved the pageant date to June 22 to allow the pageant winners to attend the Rotary Club’s annual Independence Day Rodeo the following week. The final day for headshots will also be on June 7 at the Del Rio Transportation Department, and the pageant dress rehearsal will be June 21 in the Red Oak Ballroom at the Del Rio Civic Center.
Pageant categories include Baby Miss (six months to two years old), Toddler Miss (two years old to four years old), Tiny Miss (five years old to six years old), Little Miss (seven years old to nine years old), Preteen (10 years old to 12 years old), Junior (13 years old to 15 years old), Teen (16 years old to 18 years old), and Miss (19 years old to 26 years old). Other categories not bounded by age include Miss Photogenic, Miss Firecracker (for the entrant with the most patriotic attire), and Miss Independence (People’s Choice Award).
There will also be a King category for boys, which will include categories in the Children’s Male Division (five years old to 12 years old) and the Teen Division (13 years old to 17 years old). Meza said the category was something their Fourth of July staff brought up to include this year.
For submitting entries and asking additional questions on the pageant, contestants can call City Hall’s front desk at 830-774-8558.
