VIDALIA — The Miss-Lou has come alive with holiday cheer as locals are lighting their homes with Christmas decorations. Meanwhile, local groups are hosting festivities this weekend to encourage everyone — whether native to the area or just passing through — to get into the holiday spirit.

The Vidalia Beautification Committee’s Christmas Tour of Homes starts at 4:30 p.m. this Sunday. It includes a festive tour of three homes from Vidalia hosts Herman and Audrey Curry, Tim and Belinda Welch on Alabama Street and Justin and Robyn Gregg of Whitehall Plantation said committee spokesperson Sabrina Doré.

Advance tickets are $15 each or a discounted price of $12.50 each for a group of two or more, Doré said.

“We see a lot of churches and other groups come through,” Doré said. “It’s so much more fun to experience with others.”

All tickets will be $20 each starting the night of the event, and only a limited amount will be sold, so those who wish to participate should act quickly to reserve their slot, Doré said.

“The Christmas Tour of Homes was one of the first fundraisers we did when the Vidalia Beautification Committee began in 2016,” Doré said. “The Garden Club homes had a tour many, many years ago and so many of us wanted to bring it back. It’s just so much fun. We have about 50 tickets sold each year, and for an organization of our size, that is a huge success.”

Doré said the Curry and Welch homes are new to the tour this year.

The Curry family opens several rooms of their house as well as gorgeous lighting displays in their backyard that can only be seen on tour, she said, while the Welch family’s newly built home has also been adorned with an all-out Christmas display.

Because of its popularity in previous years, the antebellum home on Whitehall Plantation is back on tour this year as well as the Gregg family’s holiday collection of themed Christmas trees and antiques, Doré said.

“The tours are self-guided,” Doré said, “so you just pull up to whichever house you want to see first. All of the addresses of the homes are printed on the ticket. You can spend as much time at each house as you want.”

The Vidalia Beautification Committee’s 2019 Christmas ornaments, designed by Kaytlyn McDonald, will also be available for purchase at each home for $10 each, Doré said.

Each ornament depicts a holiday variation of the classic Town of Vidalia logo painted green with red holly berries on a 3-inch white porcelain disk.

“With us being a non-profit, all of the money we collect goes back into the town —for decorations for Christmas and just beautifying the town itself,” Doré said.

Tickets to the Christmas Tour of Homes may be purchased at Shelter Insurance at 1636 Carter Street or by phone call or text to 601-807-9995.

Here are a few other holiday festivities happening around the Miss-Lou starting this weekend:

• Auburn Antebellum Home will have its annual Christmas Open House from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday with free tours, 1812 era baked goods by Terri DeShong from Pennsylvania and entertainment. The newly restored detached kitchen and slave quarters will also be open to the public. Santa will be hanging out in the kitchen to visit with children, so parents are encouraged to bring their little ones and their cameras.
• Natchez Little Theatre is hosting a “Spectacular Christmas Show” at 7:30 p.m. each Friday and Saturday through Dec. 15 and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $20 each. The box office and auditorium will be open one hour prior to the performance. For reservations and tickets, visit natcheztheatre.org or call 601-442-2233.
• Natchez Festival of Music is hosting its Christmas cabaret, “Ringin’ Swingin’ Christmas,” at 7 p.m. Friday at the Natchez Community Center, 215 Franklin Street. Tickets are $40 each or $350 for a table of ten. This event features three of the festival’s musical stars, Maryann Kyle, Jessica Medoff and David Walker. A cash bar with wine, cocktails, sodas and water will be available and attendees may bring the food of their choice to enjoy during the show. All public tables will be graced with a poinsettia available for purchase after the show. Sponsors of tables for 10 are encouraged to decorate. Access to the community center will be available from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the day of the performance for sponsors to arrange the tabletop. Decorations will be judged, and the winner will receive two tickets to all 2020 May Festival main stage events.
• Downtown Natchez Christmas Parade starts at 6 p.m. Saturday. Parade floats will line-up beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Broadway Street and travel through downtown.