NATCHEZ &8212; Partiers at this year&8217;s annual Minorville Jubilee will have something extra to celebrate this year.

Construction on Minor Street

&8212; widening and adding sidewalks &8212; was finished a few months ago. The residents will have a ribbon cutting at the day-long festival Saturday.

The celebration normally draws about 450 people, but will probably draw more this year, organizer Burnett Bridgewater said Wednesday.

&8220;It will be even bigger because we are going to dedicate the renovation of Minor Street,&8221; Bridgewater said.

The jubilee is a 14-year-old community reunion that brings together neighbors and friends from Minor Street and surrounding streets, he said.

&8220;It has thus far restored a lot of pride that had dwindled with the loss of a lot of older individuals in the area,&8221; Bridgewater said.

Food, community and gospel music last all day as Minor Street is blocked off to cars.

The celebration originated as a community project to drive out crime, Alderman Theodore &8220;Bubber&8221; West said Wednesday.

&8220;Minor Street when I took office was labeled the worst street in Natchez, the most crime-ridden in Natchez,&8221; West said. &8220;People were afraid to come out on their porches at night.&8221;

The community project

to connect neighbors became a yearly celebration of culture and friendship, West said.

&8220;It&8217;s one of the prettiest streets in Natchez now,&8221; he said.

The festival draws back old residents, those who have moved away, Bridgewater said.

&8220;Individuals have left the area and moved to other cities,&8221; he said. &8220;We have them return from California and other places. They look forward to reuniting with familiar faces.&8221;

The celebration will start at 10 a.m. Saturday and run until dark, about 8 p.m., Bridgewater said.