[6/26/03]Weekend events in Vicksburg include everything from the crowning of Miss Mississippi 2003 and a steamboat race to special rubbish collection.

The Mississippi Queen and the Delta Queen will dock at City Front Sunday as part of the annual Great Steamboat Race, and officials for the Main Street Program hope to have downtown popping to greet guests aboard the vessels.

“We are trying to perk interest for Sunday and make it more of a happening day,” said Rosalie Theobald, director of the Main Street Program.

Vicksburg’s Jim Pickens and the All Star Jazz Band will play tunes from noon until 12:45 p.m. at City Front and from 1 until 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1211 Washington St. Additionally, about 10 downtown merchants that normally would be closed will open for business.

The Miss Mississippi Pageant will continue tonight and Friday en route to culminating Saturday night with the crowning of a new Miss Mississippi.

Friday’s pageant events include an autograph party for contestants in groups A and B from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Candy’s, 1312 Washington St. Tickets for preliminary competitions tonight and Friday night are $25. Saturday night’s competition is sold out but will be broadcast on WLBT-TV3.

And city residents wishing to get rid of extra rubbish can drop it off at three locations in the city Saturday.

Containers will be at the east end of South Street, at Poplar Street in the curve at Third North Street and at the Vicksburg Police Department precinct in Marcus Bottom.

Yard waste including limbs and leaves and furniture will be accepted. Hazardous matters, large appliances and tires will not be accepted.

The Great Steamboat Race dates to the legendary 1870 contest from New Orleans to St. Louis between the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee.

The race is an 11-day cruise from New Orleans to St. Louis with stops at Natchez, Greenville, Memphis, Paducah, Ky., and Cape Girardeau, Mo.

About 174 passengers on the Delta Queen and about 416 on the Mississippi Queen will be invited to tour the Vicksburg National Military Park while in the city, from about 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

This year’s race will end July 7 as the boats race to the finish line at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.