NATCHEZ — Fall is on the horizon with the promise of cooler weather as well as a stream of events and festivals in Natchez.

Here are a few upcoming events both visitors and locals might not want to miss.

Natchez Balloon Festival

The 34th  annual Natchez Balloon Festival takes flight Friday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Bicentennial Gardens next to the historic house Rosalie, 100 Orleans Street.

The festival features live music from John “Papa” Gros and The Allman Betts Band on Friday; Maggie Brown, The B3, Mr. Sipp, Cowboy Mouth, and Bishop Gunn on Saturday and Matt Willis and Chris Gill & The Sole Shakers on Sunday.

Festival gates open at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18; 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20.

Weekend passes may be purchased in advance for $30 each or $40 at the gate and free for children under 12 years old. Friday tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. Saturday tickets at $20 in advance or $25 at the gate.

Commemorative T-shirts are $15 to $30 each.

Tickets and merchandise may be purchased at the Historic Natchez Foundation at 108 South Commerce Street and the Natchez Visitor Center at 740 South Canal Street or online at natchezballoonfestival.com with a processing fee.

The Historic Natchez Foundation merchandise store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The merchandise store will close at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, to relocate to the festival site.

The Weekend Battle of the Belles

A weekend fundraising event to support suicide prevention and mental health starts Friday, Oct. 25 through Saturday, Oct. 26.

The Weekend Battle of the Belles is organized by a group of LGBT+ members and supporters called Y’all Means All Natchez. The event will feature a drag show comprised of straight men from Natchez and is hosted by “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” star, Nina West, and live music from Grammy-nominated country music artist Ty Henderson.

Registration and reception party begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Choctaw Hall, followed by an after-party at 8 p.m. at the Natchez Brewery and an after-after party at The Birdcage.

Guests will also have the opportunity to tour historic homes in Natchez starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 before the big show begins at 7 p.m. in the Natchez Auditorium.

Tickets to the opening reception are $35 each and $50 to $75 each for the drag show. Tickets may be purchased at bontempstix.com/categories/concerts.

For more information, visit yallmeansallnatchez.org.

Natchez Antiques Forum

During the weekend of Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, antique and design enthusiasts are invited to explore the influence of the La Belle Époque era — dated from the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 to the outbreak of World War I in 1914 — upon Natchez.

Lectures start at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Carriage House Restaurant at Stanton Hall.

A welcome dinner starts Thursday, Oct. 31, at Longwood and includes a Mark Twain reenactment and a cemetery tour on the Longwood grounds.

Friday, Nov. 1, there will be a southern lunch of fried chicken and biscuits at the Carriage House. Later, attendees will have a French-influenced dinner at the Victorian home, Glen Auburn.

Ticket packages are $295 for silver, $395 for gold and $495 for platinum packages.

Platinum ticket packages include “Venir Dejéuner: Paris to Natchez,” a Parisian inspired lunch by chef Regina Charboneau and a lecture by Anais Romand, an award-winning French costume designer. Other talks throughout the weekend include topics on architecture, landscapes, photography, and Parisian Art Nouveau through posters.

Space is limited. For tickets or more information, visit natchezantiquesforum.com or natchezpilgimage.com or call 601-445-6102.