Weekend filled with lots of music, more

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 12, 2016

NATCHEZ — Music, music and more music. That’s what’s in store for the Miss-Lou this weekend.

The weather will be perfect for enjoying some time outdoors at either Riverstock or the Great Big Yam Potatoes festival, with partly cloudy skies and high temperatures in the mid-80s.

When the sun goes down, plenty of activities will still be in store, including a Natchez Little Theatre production and Festival of Music activities.

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Natchez Festival of Music

The weekend is packed with Natchez Festival of Music events.

At 7 p.m. tonight, Jonathan Levin will perform “The 300-year Journey,” a tribute to the diverse groups who settled in Natchez throughout its 300 years.

Tickets are $20, and the event will be at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Friday night, visit the Natchez Performing Arts Center at Margaret Martin School for Blues, Brews and Soul presented by Australian singer/songwriter Peter Harper.

Tickets are $25, and the event will begin at 7 p.m.

Saturday night the festival will present “An Evening of Andrew Lloyd Webber at The Towers.”

Tickets are $100 and includes entertainment and adult beverages. The event will begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Natchez Festival of Music events are available at natchezpilgrimagetours.com, 800-647-6742, or at the door.

Visit natchezfestivalofmusic.com for more information.

“Mississippi Pinocchio”

Tonight, the Natchez Little Actors will take the stage to tell the story of a puppet who wants to be a real boy, albeit not in the original Italian setting in their first performance of “Mississippi Pinocchio.”

“Mississippi Pinocchio,” based in Natchez, tells the story of Gepetta, an Italian woodcarver who comes to America to live the American dream, but faces the troubles of most immigrants in the early 1900s.

She then carves a puppet, Pinocchio, who ends up adding to her troubles before deciding to become a real boy by changing his ways.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $20 and can be reserved by calling 601-442-2233 or by purchasing them online at natcheztheatre.org.

Heirloom Plants of Natchez … Then and Now

Karen Dardick will present “Heirloom Plants of Natchez … Then and Now” at the Rosecraft Garden Club’s monthly meeting at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

“Rosecraft, now in its 87th year, is the oldest garden club in Natchez and one of the oldest in America,” Dardick said. “It is an appropriate time to pay tribute to our horticultural heritage and the botanical bounty of this region.”

The event will be at Grace United Methodist Church, is free and refreshments will be served. For more details, call 601-304-1007.

Color Dash and Riverstock

Start your Saturday morning off with a burst of color at the Color Dash.

The Color Dash 5k is a fundraiser with 50 percent of profits going to benefit the Young Professionals program as well as Leadership Natchez.

Pre-packet registration pickup will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at The Barrel Room in Bowie’s Tavern.

Registration starts at 8 a.m. Saturday morning at 211 Main St., the race begins at 10 a.m. and a color explosion as well as check presentation will take place at 11:30 a.m.

After the run, rock out on the river to the seven bands lined up to perform during the fourth annual Riverstock.

Ashlee Coleman, a volunteer with the event, said Riverstock is a family event with something for everyone.

“There’s entertainment for the kids and there’s free food,” Coleman said. “In the past, we have stuck with mainly one genre, but this year we have everything from pop and R&B to country, blues and soul.”

When you need a break from dancing and singing at the top of your lungs, you can check out free samples from The Markets, food trucks, carnival rides and artist booths.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and will last until 11 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased the day of the event. They are $20 for adults, $10 for children 6-12 and children 5 and under get free admission.

Tickets and more information are also available at riverstockfest.com.

Great Big Yam Potatoes Old-Time Music Gathering and Fiddle Contest

The Mississippi Fiddlers Association will host the 2016 Great Big Yam Potatoes Old-Time Music Gathering and Fiddle Contest Friday and Saturday at Historic Jefferson College.

The festivities begin at 6 p.m. Friday with a potluck dinner, followed by a dance at 7 with live fiddle music.

Saturday is packed, starting at 9 a.m. with some of the regions best old-time musicians.

The fiddle contest begins at 10 a.m. for musicians 17 and under. Fiddlers 18 and older will take over after lunch.

The top three fiddlers from each division will receive cash prizes. The entry fee is $5.

All events are free to attend, and Aunt Suzie’s Catering will sell hot plate lunches at noon Saturday.