Natchez — First Friday Weekend, a monthly event hosted by the Natchez Downtown Association, has been cancelled for this month.

NDDA Director Carrie Lambert said Hurricane Gustav threw a wrench in the plans for this weekend’s event.

“Due to the inclement weather and the damage downtown suffered by merchants, artists and residents, we have decided to go ahead and cancel,” she said.

Lambert said she made the difficult decision late Wednesday to not go through with the event.

“Everybody is stretched kind of thin right now and getting ready to collapse,” she said.

Lambert stressed that the Saturday night outdoor movie will not take place and while the Art Walk is officially cancelled, some downtown stores will remain open after hours for patrons and will be serving refreshments.

She said postponing the event to later this month would detract from it being a first weekend of the month event.

With September officially off, the event will resume normally in October with the Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and a street dance from 8 to 10 p.m.