The year-end holiday season will be packed with two months of events, something for everyone, Sharon Goodrich said, announcing tentative plans for Hollidazzle 2004.

Christmas lights on downtown shops and businesses will set off the season beginning Nov. 1. From then, both new and familiar events will continue through the end of the year.

A group of tourism professionals conceived the idea for Hollidazzle last year. &uot;When we knew our tourism was down, we looked at the months when it was at rock bottom,&uot; said Goodrich, who works for the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau. &uot;That was November and December. We looked at putting together some events to draw people here.&uot;

The 2003 events were successful. &uot;It was wonderful. We had enthusiastic people from the region and from out of state,&uot; Goodrich said. &uot;We didn’t have the manpower to track it, but we know it had a significant economic impact.&uot;

Some of the familiar and traditional events that remain a part of the 2004 Hollidazzle include the downtown open houses at shops welcoming holiday shoppers, the popular presentation of &uot;The Nutcracker&uot; by Natchez Ballet Academy, lighting of the Christmas tree, the Friends of the Library Christmas Tour of Homes, candlelight tour of homes, caroling in the park, parades and the Natchez Festival of Music presentation of Christmas music at St. Mary Basilica.

Some new events include presentations both in November and December by Natchez Little Theatre at the playhouse on Linton Avenue. &uot;One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest&uot; will be presented Nov. 25, 26, 27 and 28.

In keeping with the Christmas season, the NLT will present &uot;A Christmas Carol,&uot; rewritten with the setting in Natchez, with performances on four weekends, Dec. 3, 4 and 5; Dec. 10, 11 and 12; Dec. 17, 18 and 19; and Dec. 25 and 26.

Returning for the second year will be the Red Cross USO Show at the National Guard Armory. A hit in 2003 with its Korean War theme, the 2004 show will follow a World War II theme.

Also in its second year will be the Natchez Art Show and Sale at Natchez Convention Center, showcasing works of many different kinds of artists and offering the works for sale.

&uot;Natchez is a perfect place for arts and culture,&uot; Goodrich said. &uot;We had 27 artists last year. We were very proud of how it turned out.&uot;

New to the Hollidazzle events is the Great River Harvest Festival on the Bluffs, featuring food, dancing and the Great Harvest Pumpkin Bake-Off and the Harvest Moon Ball, scheduled for Nov. 20.

Festival organizers will invite church groups from throughout the areas to bring baked goods to sell at the event. &uot;This will be a win-win situation,&uot; Goodrich said. &uot;The churches can make money with their sales, and it will get people onto the bluff.&uot;