Come out and celebrate Natchez Festival of Music’s 25th Anniversary with A Christmas Cabaret at 7 p.m. today at the Natchez Convention Center.

Kick off the Christmas season with an evening of wonderful Christmas music and decorations sponsored by the Natchez Festival of Music in downtown Natchez on the bluff of the Mississippi River. The evening will offer multiple vocalists performing in front of the famed University of Southern Mississippi jazz ensemble and myself as the emcee. The vocalists will include John Christopher, Mary Ann Kyle and Jennifer Hart with pianist Joseph Britain.

My wife Bonnie and I relocated to Natchez because of our collective passion for history, historic architecture and the rare “sense of community” and hospitality the City of Natchez provides. I am looking forwarding to emceeing the Christmas Cabaret and enjoying an evening of Christmas music with both local residents and tourists that will be in attendance. Friday night will be an evening to remember so come out and decorate a table for a chance to win an encore ticket package for the 2015 season, which will include tickets to multiple events with an array of wonderful musical performances sure to please all.

The Christmas Cabaret will begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. and cash bar at the Natchez Convention Center 211 Main St. Individual tickets are $35 or $300 for a table of 10.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 601-446-6631 or 1-800-647-6742 or natchezpilgrimage.com or at the door. Everyone is encouraged to decorate their table for Christmas, which can be done between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today. The prize for first place in decoration is an encore package for the 2014-15 Season.

Sunday, the Alcorn State University Fine Arts Department will present its Concert Choir and Men’s Chorale to perform their annual Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. at St. Mary Basilica, 107 South Union St. There is no cost to attend the event making it a great opportunity for family fun and to experience Christmas music in a beautiful setting. This event has become a holiday tradition not to be missed.

The Natchez Festival of Music is celebrating its 25th year of providing world-class music and theater performances in Southwest Mississippi and Central and Eastern Louisiana. The line-up of musical entertainment extends from light opera to a celebration of the blues. In May 2015, each weekend will bring an array of wonderful music and musicians, including “Best of the Mississippi Blues — A Tribute to Robert Johnson” featuring Vasti Jackson, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, the Pirates of Penzance, and many more diverse musical events enough to please all types of musical preferences.

Please watch this space and look for further announcements and the complete season of the Festival’s 25th Year on their website at natchezfestivalofmusic.com.

 

Kevin Kirby is the Director of the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau.