In case you haven’t noticed, the year-end holiday season that includes most people’s favorite times &045; Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays &045; has blossomed with new activities and new enthusiasm generated by a group of tourism activists. What’s more, it has a new name, meant to

symbolize some of the good things about the year’s end that attracts and enchants so many people.

Hollidazzle is in full swing in Natchez.

Take a look at all the opportunities to do something special during the next six weeks.

Now, with the Christmas Arts and Crafts Show a completed success, along with a couple of holiday open houses in the historic downtown shopping district, the Hollidazzle activities continue with such all-time favorites as &uot;The Nutcracker&uot; and the Natchez Garden Club Victorian Christmas Luncheon.

A classic tale set to beautiful music and dance, &uot;The Nutcracker&uot; is a holiday tradition stretching back many generations.

Natchez Ballet Academy will present the annual program &uot;The Nutcracker&uot; Nov. 20-23, with evening performances at 8 p.m. and a Sunday performance at 2 p.m. at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center, 64 Homochitto St. Tickets are $10 for the balcony and $7 for orchestra and are available at One of a Kind on Main Street or by phone at (601) 445-5555 or (601) 442-3885. Tickets reserved by phone cn be picked up at the door at the performance. Tickets also will be for sale at the door for each performance.

High tea at historic Magnolia Hall, South Pearl Street at Washington Street, will include all the treats of an old-fashioned gathering, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Nov. 22. Reservations are necessary. Call (601) 442-6672 for information and for reservations. Tickets also will be available at the door.

Nov. 22: Fall Harvest Festival opens at Main Street Marketplace. Come early for all the fun and the best of the area’s fall harvest season. Highlight of the day is a gumbo cook-off featuring families and friends who have pulled out their favorite recipes for the contest. Come early. The marketplace, Main at Rankin Street, opens at 8 a.m. and will be open all day.

Nov. 22: Antiques Row merchants will hold holiday open houses at their shops. Great shopping opportunities and a chance to see some lovely shops dressed for Christmas.

Holidazzle Art Show will feature works of many artists from the area on exhibit and on sale at the Natchez Convention Center at Main and Canal streets Nov. 28-29. Patron’s night is Nov. 28, 7 to 9 p.m., with tickets at $25. Wine and cheese will be served. On the 29th, the show will be open 1 to 5 p.m. with a $5 ticket for entry. Call (601) 446-6345 or 800-647-6724 for tickets or for more

information

Natchez Garden Club Victorian Christmas Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 4 an annual Natchez favorite featuring delicious homemade foods served in one of Natchez’s fine antebellum mansions, Magnolia Hall, corner of Pearl and Washington streets. Tickets, $10 per person, are available at the Magnolia Hall Gift Shop and will be available at the door on the day of the luncheon.

Call (601) 442-6672.

The community Christmas tree, standing at the intersection of Main and Commerce streets, will be lighted at 4 p.m. Dec. 5 to signal the official beginning of the season.

City of Ferriday, La., will hold its annual Ferriday Christmas parade beginning at 10 a.m, Dec. 6.

City of Vidalia, La., will hold its annual Vidalia Christmas parade beginning at 3 p.m., Dec 7.

Dec. 7: The Alcorn State University Concert Choir with orchestra will present Handel’s &uot;The Messiah&uot; under the direction of Dr. David Blackburn at 7 p.m. at beautiful St. Mary Basilica, corner of South Union and Main streets. The concert is free, but donations will be accepted as a fund-raising effort for the Natchez Opera Festival.

Natchez High School Madrigal Singers will entertain at dinner at King’s Tavern, 619 Jefferson St., Dec. 11-12. Call (601) 446-8845 for reservations or information.

Candlelight tour featuring Linden, Longwood, D’Evereux and The Briars, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Transportation available from the Natchez Convention Center at 5:30. Tour tickets are $20 per person. Call (601) 446-6345 or 800-647-6724.

Main Street Marketplace will host Santa for visits with children and sponsor a gingerbread decorating activity.

Dec. 13: High tea at Monmouth Plantation, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., $25 per person. Reservations required. Call Monmouth at 442-5852.

Dec. 13: Candlelight tour of Rosalie, Auburn and Magnolia Hall, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person. Call (601) 446-6345 or 800-647-6724.

Natchez Christmas parade gets under way at 3 p.m., Dec. 14. Santa, bands and floats will bring downtown Natchez to life with all the color and sounds of the season.

Dec. 14: Caroling in Memorial Park will begin at 7 p.m. A delightful annual event, the caroling brings together people of all faiths who enjoy singing songs of the Christmas season, with songbooks provided.

The congregation of Temple B’Nai Israel will celebrate Hanukkah Dec 19 and invites the public to attend this beautiful service at the historic temple, corner of South Commerce and Washington streets.

High tea at Monmouth Plantation, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Dec. 20. $25 per person. Reservations required. Call Monmouth at 442-5852.

Dec. 20: Santa returns &045; this time by river, stopping at Vidalia for the bonfires on the levee and a program at the Vidalia amphitheater.

Dec. 20: Candlelight tour of Rosalie, Auburn and Magnolia Hall, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Transportation available from the Natchez Convention Center at 5:30. Tour tickets are $20 per person. Call (601) 446-6345 or 800-647-6724.

The traditional British holiday known as &uot;Boxing Day&uot; will include a grand meal at the Carriage House Restaurant on the grounds of Stanton Hall Dec. 26. The Holy Family Catholic Church Gospel Choir will perform. Call (601) 445-5151 for more information and for reservations.