The 14th annual Hank Williams beauty pageant will kick off the activities of this year’s Hank Williams festival.

The pageant, which will be held on May 1 at Georgiana High School, will be the first event to start what usually proves to be Butler County’s premier event.

Pageant director Barbara Clem felt that this was an excellent way to begin the festival.

&uot;We always have such a good time,&uot; said Clem. &uot;The girls are always very nice and it is a fine event to be a part of.&uot;

The pageant expects to have competitors from eight different divisions.

There will be three divisions for children of the preschool age.

Baby Miss will feature competitor’s ages 0-11 months, Little Miss will have competitors from 12-23 months and Toddler Miss will have contestants from ages 2-3 years.

For elementary school children there will be a Petite Miss pageant for children ages 4-6 years, Mini Miss for ages 7-9 years and a Junior Miss for 10-12 years.

Girls age 13-15 may compete in the Teen

Miss with those 16-21 going for the title of Miss Hank.

Each division will have a winner and three runners up.

Queens will receive a savings bond, crown, flowers and a trophy.

Runners up will receive a banner and a trophy.

&uot;We like to give them all a trophy so that everyone has something to show,&uot; said Clem. &uot;We think that makes it a lot more fun for the contestants also.&uot;

An optional photogenic contest will also be presented.

There will be one winner per division.

Winners will receive a trophy and portrait package.

All photos must be submitted no later than 1 p.m. the day of the contest.

The name, age and division should be written on the back of the photo. No photos larger than 8×10 will be used.

The deadline for entries is April 30 at 8 p.m.

The beauty pageant occurs almost a month in advance of the 25th annual Hank Williams festival at the Hank Williams Music Park in Georgiana.

This event will occur on June 4 and 5.

Entertainment will begin Friday night at 3 p.m. with Brad Magness and Lee Roy Parnell taking the stage.

Saturday gates will open at 8 a.m. with Brad Magness, Connie Smith, David Church, Jett Williams, Larry Crocker and headliner Marty Stuart providing entertainment.

Local performers appearing at the show include Garrett Miles, Hillary and Harleigh Spangler, Gerald Songe, David Church, Andy Norman and the Kando Band, Terry Smith, Robert Layton and J.C.’s Pure Country Band, Starla Jones, Colin Leatherwood, Larry Crocker and Mary McDonald.

Former Drifting Cowboy members Clent Holmes, Braxton Schuffert, Bernice Turner, Pee Wee Moultry, R.D. Norred and Don Helms will also make appearances.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for the whole weekend for $30 through May 31.

Tickets for Friday only are $15. Saturday tickets will be $25.

There will also be a barb3eque dinner. Tickets to the dinner will be $10.

Clem said that it is important to get the word out about the upcoming events as soon as possible.

&uot;Letting the people know is the biggest thing for us,&uot; said Clem. &uot;The sooner they know the sooner they can make plans.

For more information on these events contact Pat Middleton at 334-376-2097, Barbara Clem at 334-376-2555 or Phyllis Armstrong at 334-382-8239.

Entry fees for the pageant may be mailed to the Georgiana Kiwanis Club. P.O. Box 151 Georgiana, AL 36033.