Weekend filled with Valentine’s, tricentennial events

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 11, 2016

NATCHEZ — This weekend is expected to bring nice weather and lots of things to do for locals and out-of-towners.

The high temperatures will be in the low 70s today and Friday, but will dip into the upper 50s Saturday. The high on Sunday is expected to be 61 degrees.

Friday has a 10-percent chance of rain and Sunday has a 20-percent chance, but Saturday should be clear.

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Indian Slaves and Black Indians Lecture

Grand Village of the Natchez Indians historic resources specialist Janice Sago will present a program at the Grand Village from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday that focuses on the Indian Slave trade and associated raiding in the southeast in the late 17th century. The lecture will also examine the relationships between American Indians and African slaves and the emergence of Black Indians. Admission is free.

Adams County SWCD Tree Sale

From 7 a.m. to noon Friday at the USDA Service Center at 110 Northgate Road in Natchez, The Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District, along with other local sponsors, will give out free superior loblolly pine seedlings to the public in honor of Arbor Day. The seedlings will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Adams County SWCD Auxiliary will also sell 1 to 1.5 foot tall seedlings during the event. Proceeds will benefit school programs such as Conservation Youth Camp, safety day and other conservation educational programs.

Traditions Made Modern: A Celebration of African Culture through Food, Music and People

The weekend-long event celebrating African cultural influences in Natchez will begin with an opening reception at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. The reception will include a meet-and-greet with the panelists in Saturday’s Hip-Hop event, as well as a guided after-hours tour through the museum.

Admission is free.

Natchez Festival of Music: For the Love of Broadway

The Natchez Festival of Music will present “For the Love of Broadway” at 7 p.m. Friday at The Carriage House Restaurant.

The show is a benefit for the Natchez Festival of Music. The evening will include songs from some of Broadway’s greatest musicals, a dinner prepared by Chef Bingo Starr, a silent auction featuring Natchez and Louisiana artists, a live auction featuring dinner and travel packages with auctioneer Rusty Jenkins, and a cash bar.

Tickets are $75, $40 of which is tax deductible, and can be purchased at the door or in advance through Natchez Pilgrimage Tours at 601-445-6101 or at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center.

For more information, visit natchezfestivalofmusic.com.

Sankofa Lecture

The Traditions Made Modern celebration continues at 10 a.m. Saturday with the Sankofa lecture at the Natchez Museum of African-American History and Culture. “Sankofa” means taking what is good from the past and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress. The lecture will visit the history of Africans and African Americans in Natchez.

Admission is free.

Natchez Hip-Hop Summit

The summit, part of the Traditions Made Modern weekend, will begin 1 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez High School multi-purpose room. The event will include tributes to hip-hop music, recognition of local artists with performance and a moderated panel discussing the current state of the genre and how it relates to issues of racial identity in modern America.

Music will be provided by DJ Rock Ya Body and DJ Buzz.

Admission is free.

Tour of Historic Downtown African American Churches

Guided tours of four historic civil rights churches will be offered from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m Saturday as part of the Traditions Made Modern weekend.

Churches on the tour include Holy Family Catholic Church, Zion A.M.E. Church, Beulah Baptist Church or Rose Hill Baptist Church at any time or in any order during the event to participate. Donations will be accepted at the churches.

Harambee: Gathering in Celebration of Food, Music and People

Harambee means “all for one.”

Natchez’s “Harambee” is part of the Traditions Made Modern celebration. The event is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Natchez Visitor Center, and will include African-inspired food, a cash bar and live music by The Black Suns of Natchez.

Tickets are $25. Interested parties should purchase tickets in advance online at natchezpilgrimage.com, by calling 800-647-6472, or at the Natchez Visitor Center. Some tickets will be available at the door.

Southern Road to Freedom

A musical tribute to the African-American experience in Natchez from the colonial period to the present day will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday at Holy Family Catholic Church.

Tickets are $15. Interested parties should purchase tickets in advance online at natchezpilgrimage.com, by calling 800-647-6472, or at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center. Some tickets will be available at the door.