This month’s First Friday is really going to be special. Music will take center stage in a couple of different ways.

To begin with, we’ll have great music on the streets of downtown with Brandon McCraney, who is presented courtesy of Dr. Douglas Smith, and the Wesley Strebeck Band.

These are outstanding local professional musicians, and if you haven’t heard them, they are reason enough to come on down.

They’ll perform from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Friday.

At 7 p.m., Natchez’s place in the development of the blues will be recognized when the Mississippi Blues Commission and the Mississippi Development Authority unveil and dedicate a Blues Trail Marker in memory of George “Papa” Lightfoot in Jack Waite Park on McCabe Street (between Franklin and St. Catherine).

In addition to the music, our local artists will be displaying their work in many participating stores — the ones with the white lights and balloons out front indicating they’re open, serving refreshments and offering hospitality.

Natchez is blessed with a large and growing community of artists who are constantly producing new work.

From jewelry to photography to painting, artists here are showing the influence of Natchez’s history, culture and, of course, the Mississippi River.

ArtsNatchez, downtown’s free art gallery, will feature the work of Ron Chapman, who does pastel, color pencil and acrylic mixed media paintings, and Salongo Lee who creates traditional and digital photography.

The month’s free outdoor movie is also a special treat. It’s based on the real-life story of the men of the U.S.S. Point Cruz who, during the Korean War, broke all the rules to save an Amerasian boy abandoned in front of an American Army supply depot in 1953.

Knowing the child would not survive otherwise, the men sneaked him aboard their ship, nursed him back to health and arranged to have him adopted in America in time for Christmas. Mississippian Gerald McRaney and Richard Thomas star.

In an added twist, the veterans of the Point Cruz who saved the baby will hold a reunion in Natchez the weekend of Sept. 14. One of their members will introduce the movie and provide some insight into the wonderful tale.

The movie begins around sunset on a giant screen near the corner of Main and Commerce streets.

Bring your own lawn chairs or rent seats for $1.

Food and beverages will also be on sale with proceeds benefitting the Natchez Downtown Association.

Friday will be a great night to have dinner in one of downtown’s new or established restaurants and enjoy a real community event.

Come be part of this new Natchez tradition — First Friday.

Sheri Rabb is on the Natchez Downtown Development Board.