Good morning everyone! It’s that time again — time for the Downtown Development’s First Friday Weekend events — and boy have we kicked it up a notch or two! We’ve also paired up with the Food & Wine Festival to really bring it to the events — so here’s what we’ve planned for you:

4Friday — From 5 to 8 p.m. is the Downtown Art Walk throughout the Downtown area and Live Music by Osgood & Blaque. Start at Franklin and/or Main and Union Streets and walk around the historic downtown heading to the bluff.

Participating merchants have blinking lights and balloons outside their shops to signify artists and their works, free refreshments and a fun time inside their shops. Come out to hear the feel good music by Osgood & Blaque on the corner of Commerce and Main at the old B&K Bank building.

Our featured artists this month are Mark Brockway and Jen Charboneau. You’ll find both of them and their work at the Natchez Convention Center where from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. it’s time for Tastings Along the River, which includes guest chefs, lots of food and wine and live music by Sylvia Johns Ritchie.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door. Tickets include the Chef’s After Party. Don’t let the partying stop! From 9:30 p.m. until, continue the fun at the After Hours Chef’s Party at Bowie’s Tavern, which comes with your tickets to Tastings Along the River. There will be a good time, good food and good music by Randy Moore and The Fabulous Suedes at Bowie’s Tavern.

4Saturday — All day downtown, Shop until you drop at our fabulously cool Downtown shops and eat at any of our incredibly delicious downtown restaurants.

Then the Food & Wine Festival starts up early that morning, from 8 to 10 a.m., with the fifth annual Martha White Biscuit Cook-off at the Main Street Market. Admission is free.

Next, start the progressive lunch from 11 to 1 p.m. and visit three gorgeous Natchez homes, the Mellen House, The Elms and Green Leaves. Tickets are $45 and sell out early. From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. come out to enjoy free films by Joe York at the Historic Natchez Foundation at 108 S. Commerce St. Admission is free. From 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. is the wine and cheese tasting at The Castle Restaurants. Tickets are $45. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. we’re having live music downtown. Enjoy the ambiance of Natchez’s beautiful historical district while listing to soulful tunes from local artist/musician, Brandon McCranie, and guitarist, Casey Gilbert, who’ll be performing live on the corner of Main and Commerce on the steps of the old B&K Bank building. Next plan on attending a fun Mixology Class at the Under-the-Hill Saloon at 2 or 3:45 p.m. Tickets are $35. Then at 5 p.m. head over to Bowie’s Tavern for the Brews on the Bluff/Bocce Ball Tournament for lots of food and live music by Randy Moore & The Fabulous Suedes Tickets are $30. At 6:30 p.m. the Food & Wine Festival caps the night off with An Invitation to the Natchez Table — four wonderful houses, Monmouth, Twin Oaks, Glen Auburn and The Burn are offering four course meals, paired with wine and fabulous guest chefs. Seating is limited at each house. Tickets are $85.

Top off the night by dancing in the streets to a little pre-movie music from 7 to 8 p.m. where the movie will be shown — on the corner of Commerce and Main.

End your evening with downtown night at the movies. Admission is free.

This month we’re showing an old classic about a struggling writer, played by George Peppard, who moves into a New York apartment building and becomes intrigued by his pretty, quirky neighbor, played by Audrey Hepburn. We will also have fabulous libations for sale!

Sunday — End the weekend the way every weekend should end, with a Sunday Champagne Brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Carriage House. Tickets are $50 with live music from Osgood & Blaque! What a fabulous tradition and a rich memory for years to come for you and your loved ones!

So please come out and join us for a fabulous weekend filled with art, culture, food and wine, and just plain old fun!

Hope to see you there.

Call 601-442-2929 for further information on Downtown events or 601-446-6631 for reservations at any of the Food & Wine Festival events.

Carrie Golden Lambert is the executive director of the Natchez Downtown Development Association.