A broken water main delayed the third night of preliminary competition in the 2012 Miss Mississippi pageant Friday, but the show went on.

The water main burst at the Vicksburg Convention Center just before 7 p.m. delaying the start of the competition and forcing the cancelation of several production numbers. Instead of an 8 p.m. start, the competition got under way at approximately 9:25 p.m.

The building was evacuated for safety reasons, and the 42 contestants were sent back to their hotel rooms to wait. Those coming to see the show were turned away and asked to come back around 9 p.m.

“We sat and waited,” said Jackie Wilson, who drove from Brandon with her husband Bill. “It happens, but it seems like it was taken care of and they responded quickly.”

Crews from the City of Vicksburg Water and Gas Administration worked for just over an hour to fix the main.

“You really see what you can get done when you work together,” said Artis Williams, general manager of the Vicksburg Convention Center. “We had it fixed quickly.”

Williams said a small amount of water leaked into the mezzanine area of the building, but there was no major damage. The cause of the problem could not be determined.

“Fortunately it was only on the top floor, but the whole building did lose water,” Williams said. “We’re just very appreciative of everyone’s help.”

David Blackledge, executive director of the Miss Mississippi Corporation, said he was also grateful for everyone’s cooperation during the delay.

“The Water and Gas Administration jumped on it so quickly, and I’m just thankful,” Blackledge said. “You’ve got to improvise sometimes in life, we’re just glad no clothes or equipment were destroyed.”

A few audience members waited around outside for the doors to open, but most left and came back later.

Angie and Kimberly Thigpin from Jackson got word about the delay before they made their way downtown.

“When we got to Vicksburg we went shopping at the Outlets at Vicksburg and dropped some dollars there,” Angie Thigpin said.

Doors to the Convention Center opened just before 9 p.m. to let audience members in, but the pageant was not performed in its entirety.

Blackledge said because of the late start, certain production numbers were left out of the show. The contestants only participated in the swimsuit, talent and evening gown with on-stage question portions of the competition, in addition to Miss Mississippi 2011 Mary Margaret Roark’s farewell and the show’s finale.

Leroy Williams with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department said despite the delay, there was “definitely a bigger crowd” at the pageant Friday night in comparison with the other two nights of preliminary competition.

“I’m just elated it was not the final night,” Blackledge said. “It could have been worse.”