By LOGAN KIRKLAND

NATCHEZ — Part of Main Street will be transformed into “Biscuit Alley” as part of the inaugural Natchez Biscuit Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Local chef and festival creator Regina Charboneau said she spearheaded this event because when she returned to Natchez, the impact of tourism on the city was very clear.

Charboneau said she was encouraged to create an event that would affect the community in a positive way like the annual balloon races and pilgrimage tours.

“The idea is to continue to create these weekends that are unique to Natchez,” Charboneau said.

Charboneau said since Natchez is the Biscuit Capital of the World, she is emphasizing how biscuits are unique to Southern culture.

Charboneau said sometimes when you live in a small town you have to move away in order to realize what it is you had that was special. For her, that something special was a Southern staple, biscuits

“In Natchez we had biscuits, you know, once or twice a day,” Charboneau said. “Biscuits are as individual as the cook’s thumbprint.”

The festival will take place at Main Street between Pearl and Canal streets.

The festival will consist of many activities including a biscuit cook featuring guest judge Julia Reed, writer for Garden and Gun magazine, biscuit demos, biscuit tasting and the search for Natchez’s very own biscuit queen.

Admission into the festival is free, along with admission to the cook off.

“We just know that this is going to grow into something wonderful,” Charboneau said. “Just throw a batch of biscuits together and come on down.”

More information about the festival can be found at natchezbiscuit.com.