They are gone.

Tickets for the Miss Mississippi Pageant competition are sold out, the executive director of the Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen Pageant Winky Freeman said.

“We sold out at least a week and half ago,” Freeman said, of the state pageant that will run from June 19 through 24 at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Earl Edris, who serves as the executive secretary of the Miss Mississippi Pageant Corporation said early ticket sales have been due in part to this year’s 60th anniversary edition of the competition being held in Vicksburg and the fact that many of the former Miss Mississippis will be returning to the stage.

Also, Edris and Freeman said people heeded their advice.

“We told people to order early,” Freeman said.

Executive director of the VCC Annette Kirklin said depending on the size of the Miss Mississippi Pageant stage, the facility would hold between 2200 and 2400 people, which would include ticket holders, contestants, performers and princes and princesses.

This year, 44 contestants are vying for the tittle with five of whom are locals —Miss Vicksburg Anne Elizabeth Buys, Miss Warren County Colby Brumfield, Miss Hinds Community College Abigail Walters, Miss Heart of the South Mary Katherine McCaa and Miss North Central Mississippi Emily Tingle.

For those who did not get tickets, there will be several events held throughout the week to meet and greet the royalty.

At 7 p.m., Monday, June 19, the Miss Mississippi Parade will be held along Washington Street, and an autograph party will follow at the Outlets at Vicksburg.

Contestants will also be signing autographs on Wednesday and Thursday.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, group B will sign autographs at the George Carr Dealership, 2950 S. Frontage Road, and at 10 a.m. Thursday, groups A and C will sign autographs at downtown Vicksburg stores.

Because tickets were sold as a set for all four nights of competition, Freeman said he has seen some individual tickets posted for sale on Facebook.

“There are some people that bought a set of tickets and are planning to only come one night,” he said.

The Miss Mississippi Pageant Competition will kick off at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, with the first preliminary competition. Two more preliminary competitions will follow on Thursday and Friday with the final night of competition and crowning on Saturday. For more information, visit missmississippipageant.com.