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Public works employee Eddie Coleman spreads branches before hooking them to the frame of the Christmas Tree while working with a crew to assemble it at the intersection of Main Street and Commerce Street in downtown Natchez Friday afternoon.
'Christmas in Natchez' starts Nov. 27
Published Saturday, November 7, 2009
NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce is getting a head start on the holidays in anticipation of the first-ever “Christmas in Natchez.”
The City of Natchez is working to transform downtown into a storybook winter wonderland, assembling the city Christmas tree in the heart of downtown, and hanging wreaths along Main and Franklin streets with the utmost care.
The early spread of Christmas cheer is a joint effort among the chamber, the Natchez Tourism Council, the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau and volunteers — known as the Natchez Christmas Committee — to jump-start economic activity and tourism during the holiday season, said Chamber President Debbie Hudson.
“We’ve been attacking (Christmas in Natchez) like a pilgrimage and everything else,” Hudson said. “We wanted to bring something after the balloon races.”
Christmas in Natchez kicks off at 6 p.m. Nov. 27 with the lighting of the City Christmas Tree on Main Street. Downtown shops will remain open until 8 p.m. that day. Hudson said various church choirs and local performers will sing Christmas carols by the tree from 5 to 6 p.m. each day until Jan. 3.
The holiday event also includes a downtown “Shop Til You Drop” event, the Natchez Christmas Parade and a best hot chocolate competition.
But before the events can be enjoyed, the decorations have to be up and running, Hudson said.
“We raised money to do all the new decorations that are now on Main and Franklin, garland will go up on Main and Franklin and we’re adding ornaments to the tree,” Hudson said. “We’re trying to get all the buildings on Main and Franklin outlined in lights and have them all decorated.
“We’ve even had workshops on how to have creative storefronts for our merchants, so we’re trying to do everything.”
The Natchez Christmas Committee collected approximately $20,000 in contributions to put on Christmas in Natchez, Hudson said. The CVB has spent $10,000 to market the event to surrounding areas.
Hudson said the city will flip the switch on all Christmas lights Nov. 27. A test lighting is set for Nov. 15.
“It’s been a joining of all forces and it’s been great,” Hudson said.
“Everybody’s starting to get in the Christmas mood.”
For a full schedule of Christmas in Natchez events, visit the Web site visitnatchez.org.
Comments
Posted by goodoleboyslikeme (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember Christmas shopping at night downtown as a kid. Of course back then we came to town in a covered wagon pulled by a dinosaur...used up two parking spaces by McCrory's...
This could be a really nice thing for Natchez. Couple things tho-
"Downtown shops will remain open until 8 p.m. that day. " Hopefully they will open nearly that late more than the one day. Night under the lights is a great time to shop in a downtown shops setting. If they close at 6PM, I'll be coming downtown for the atmosphere, but probably having to shop at the big city because they are open later. Again.
My usuals even sorely missed my annual fudge gift last year because my weekends were all tied up, and I couldn't finish my weekday commute in time to make it on weeknights.
"carols by the tree from 5 to 6 p.m." Ditto here, would be nice to stretch this to 8PM as well.
Apologies if that's nitpickin' on my part - hope its a big success. I'll be there.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
goodoleboyslikeme, It costs money to to keep stores open for extra hours. Money for electricity, heat, and employess adds up. And when you stay open an extra 2-3 hours for a much smaller number of people that may or may not come in, you may have lost more money than you made.
I'd love to see the Chamber and/or city try to funnel some people to our downtown shopping in the same manner that so many other small towns do. We need some prominent signs directing car traffic into our "Historic Business District". ALL other small towns with old downtown buildings have done this. The little signs in place that direct folks to stuff like "gaming" are grossly insufficient. One only wonders why our historic downtown has been left out and shut out, but something needs to improve quickly.
And once the people are walking and shopping our streets, its going to be a natural for the stores to start wanting to stay open longer.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The only negative comment I have in regards to downtown is no parking for the handicapped. They removed the only one there was in front of the old B&K building. I can't walk and there is nothing for us and inconvenient parking means shopping via the internet rather than downtown. I even have trouble getting to the mall unless I have someone with me to push the wheelchair. This is an area that needs to be addressed.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for your understanding "oldgranddad". And it would be nice to know why Franklin Street is always ingored. You would think that Main Street is the only street in downtown Natchez.
Posted by goodoleboyslikeme (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad, you are so right, I do understand that. Had a small shop once. Nevah agin.
But at the same time, a business can't compete or complain when you shop elsewhere if the hours don't compare, and can't expect to draw from all around an area like ours if the folks who work or live out of town can't get there before you close for the night. Maybe one long night a week would work ?
Best of luck to all the local merchants, there are some special places in Natchez. Hope to be in them all this year !
Posted by suzee971 (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I really wish they would put that tree somewhere else besides the middle of the street!
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Before Christmas I will post my addy so your presents can be dropped off in time.
Sincerely,
H
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not change opening hours all around.
Instead of 9 - 5
to
Noon - 8
Most workers don't grow crops anymore so why live by crop working hours.
Most stores have those hrs on Sunday, why not thru the week.
Posted by tdr (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Suzee971 - I agee, Move that tree! It's got to be a better
place!
Posted by happyreader (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good idea, destiny. I've often wondered why so many businesses close right around the time that would-be customers are getting off work. I can see how it would be a real hardship for business owners with small children, but for those who can manage such a schedule, it might be worth a try.
Posted by olderthandirt (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Again.It would be nice if Dennis and Darby would park their vehicles other than on Main or Commerce.How about behind your apt.????
Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on November 8, 2009 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a great step in the right direction. If you want to see how a town smaller than ours has done a great job highlighting the Christmas season, check out St. Francisville. The town population might be two thousand, but one night last year when I went through, there were hundreds of people walking, shopping, and enjoying the decorative lights that every house in town had put up. If we could get that same spirit going in Natchez, the holiday season could be really magical.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom, you are very correct. It would be nice for our downtown to become a popular shopping area destination. And it is entirely possible since we are the largest town for 50 miles in any direction and we are not out of range of quite a few cities. But other smaller towns seem to be ahead of us in ideas. Another one nearby is Natchitoches. They have a great Christmas light show. But they also have some of the most basic stuff required - parking, public restrooms and plenty of nice signs that direct folks where to go. Why these basics seem to elude Natchez is beyond me. But if tourism is all that we have left, I'd say that we need to get busy on this stuff very quickly.
Posted by reb1843 (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Be sure to drop by Cover-to-Cover book store between 2 and 4 PM to get a signed copy of my recently published book, "Southern Voices." Has Natchez and Mississippi and Louisiana content as well as names/letters/diaries/photos of many you might recognize.
Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's great that Natchez has two hard workers here like Regina C. and Ginger H. If not for the hard work of these two ladies we would have our usual quiet Christmas.
Christmas was always and is still my favorite holiday.
Just the idea of getting together with friends and families made it such a great holiday. The residents of Natchez should come together this holiday and be a big happy family. The spirit of goodwill should last year round.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry suzi, that tree (actually a live Cedar to start with) has been on that street intersection for as long as anyone around here can remember, and it better stay there. One year it was moved to the bluff, but a lot of us protested. It's only up for 2 months anyway, and it is one of the things that makes a Natchez Christmas special.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep. The Christmas tree's location is tradition.
:)
Posted by observer (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, no. Don't even think of moving the tree. I wish we could go back to the live one, but at least we need to use some of the money raised to fill in the dark gaps in the tree lights. If you're like me (and Monk)-obsessive/compulsive - this must really bother you.
Happy about the "new" Christmas in Natchez, but many of us remember when it really began - - - 1982. I know the individuals who started it. They turned it over to the Chamber after that year so that the garden clubs wouldn't get in a fight over it! It gradually just went away. Chamber, please don't let that happen again.
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