No time for digestion, Christmas begins today.

Shake yourself out of the turkey stupor and head out on the town in Natchez.

Downtown, the mall and other stores are open and offering deals for Black Friday, and evening entertainment cranks up at 5 p.m.

The official kickoff for Christmas in Natchez starts with the annual turkey gumbo cook-off this afternoon on Main and Commerce streets.

Cooks and chefs will put a new spin on those leftovers and offer tasting cups for a small fee. If you ate too much Thursday, eating while you walk downtown today may be a great idea.

Crowds will gather between 5 to 7 p.m. in preparation for the Christmas tree lighting, offering a great chance to catch up with old friends who may be home for the holidays.

And at 7, the lights lining the giant Christmas tree in the middle of Main Street will come on, officially lighting up the holiday season in Natchez.

Christmas in Natchez activities will continue up until the big day, and you have many opportunities to enjoy the season right here at home.

Check out christmasinnatchez.com for a full listing of events and begin filling out your holiday planner.

It’s a great season of fun, family and giving, and we hope everyone will take this opportunity to realize what Natchez has to offer.