A week of Miss Mississippi pageant events begins this weekend, but Monday night’s parade and autograph signing is the public’s first chance to meet the contestants.

The parade begins at 7 p.m. Monday night at the Vicksburg Convention Center, 1600 Mulberry St., and will take Madison Street to reach Washington Street where the parade will continue north on Washington to China Street and will then circle back to the convention center, Vicksburg Main Street Program executive director Kim Hopkins said.

The Vicksburg Main Street Program is in charge of the logistics of the parade, and this year the contestants were asked to help.

“This year the contestants have been asked to line up their own convertibles,” Hopkins said. “Main Street has found cars for the contestants that were not able to locate one.”

She said each of the contestants’ three princes and princesses will be featured in the parade and were also asked to work together to provide their own convertibles. Local dealerships have been instrumental in helping provide convertibles to contestants in need, she said, and this year dealer Johnny Reynolds has been a huge support to her in providing vehicles.

“We even have one or two in Jackson that will bring cars over,” Hopkins said.

The Gulf Coast Corvette Club based out of Biloxi with Tom Bocek will bring four convertibles to assist contestants without prior vehicle arrangements.

“Tom Bocek has been bringing convertibles up for the parade for several years now and is a tremendous help for us,” Hopkins said.

Bocek started contributing his cars to the parade about seven years ago when a family friend who was a contestant asked if she could ride in his 1969 Mustang convertible.

“That’s when we found there was a need for more than just one young lady. There’s several who are without convertibles, and we want to make sure all of these ladies can have a wonderful experience,” Bocek said.

Last year, Hannah Roberts, the eventual pageant winner, rode in his convertible and he thinks it will be good luck for this year’s contestants.

Another annual convertible contributor is Pontotoc Main Street executive director Ellen Russell, who usually supports her local contestants. Last year, she said, her vehicle got to go through the parade three times to accommodate all the contestants.

“It’s a nice little trip, and everybody wants to be in the Miss Mississippi parade,” Russell said, adding it is very well organized.

Hopkins said there are several local convertible owners who contribute their vehicle each year.

“We truly appreciate all of the owners of these beautiful convertibles that will take time out of their busy schedule to come and participate in the parade. Without them we would not be able to have the parade,” Hopkins said.

In addition to the pageant royalty of the contestants and the princes and princesses, the parade will also feature the Hinds Community College Hi-Steppers.

This year’s parade line-up will be handled by Main Street board member Samantha Blount, and Hopkins said she is excited to work with her. Longtime volunteer David McDonald has retired from line-up duties.

“David McDonald retired from the parade last year after many years of volunteering his time and helping line up cars the day of the parade,” Hopkins said. “We will miss him this year for sure.”