I hope you are ready for a great Christmas season! Many of Santa’s little helpers have been hard at work planning one of Natchez’s best holidays ever.

With the community’s help, Natchez will have new decorations throughout downtown. Twenty wreaths and six fabulous new garland strings have been purchased and will hang magnificently draped on Franklin and Main streets. Downtown buildings will be outlined with bright majestic white lights. A new drum will be the base of the Christmas Tree, which will be beautifully decorated with red ribbons making it wonderful to look at during the day as well as at night. The Natchez Visitor Reception Center will be all decked out as well!

The Tourism Council Christmas Committee has also put together an unbelievable calendar of events with choirs singing at the tree nightly, a gumbo cook-off, Peter and the Wolf Puppet Show as well as so much more. Go to www.natchezatchristmas.com.for all the details.

Now we need your help. To continue one of our Christmas traditions, the annual Christmas Parade will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. This year’s theme is a “Musical Christmas,” and we are asking that you join other groups in this community and enter a float. Church, school and other organizations are encouraged to participate. For applications please stop by First Natchez Radio Group at No. 2 O’Ferrall St. or log onto www.95county.com. Go to “Giant Stuff” for all Christmas information. Please call me at 601-442-4895 if you have any questions.

This Holiday season can be very magical in Natchez, be a time to bring people together, and create memories. The Christmas parade needs to be an event that we all anticipate and that represents our entire community. Your participation and help will be greatly appreciated!

René Adams is a co-chairman of the Tourism Council.