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Lately, there seems to be no end to the exciting events and happenings in Natchez. To list them all has become next to impossible, so I have started referring folks to the Events Calendar at Visit Natchez, https://visitnatchez.org/events/. 

And if you’re not following this calendar or listing your events there, you’re missing out!

The line-up for the next four weeks on the Visit Natchez website exceeds 30, and some of these are multiple-day events – and a number of other events aren’t even listed!

In fact, just this weekend we have The Bluff City Disc Golf Tournament, Live at Five beginning its six Friday series of concerts at The Bandstand, the Woven Wind Project Film Showing and Workshop at the NAPAC Museum, The Music Festival kicking off its 2025 Concert Season with Blues Artist Vasti Jackson’s BB King Concert at the Civic Center, The Natchez Kite Festival on The Bluff, The 85th Commemoration of the Rhythm Night Club Fire of 1940 at the Rhythm Night Club Museum, the Pooch-A-Palooza Pet Mayor Election “Meet the Candidates” at Smoots, the continuation of a month-long observance of National Parks Week by staff-members of the Natchez National Historic Park, and a Sunday afternoon dedication of the newly-completed Natchez Columbarium at the Historic Natchez City Cemetery. 

Looking ahead to the month of May (yes, the events just listed are only for this weekend!) we have more Natchez Festival of Music concerts (from Mozart to Whitney Houston, Mahler to Patsy Cline!), more Live-at-Five events, a Natchez Reads event at the Historic Natchez Foundation, an inaugural “StayTuned Music Fest” on the grounds of Dunleith, a ribbon cutting at the new downtown gallery of renowned Mississippi Artist Wyatt Waters, Cinco de Mayo at the Natchez Brewing Company, a children’s play and other events at the Natchez Little Theatre, The Miss-Lou Makers Market on The Bluff, the Natchez Spring Carnival on The Bluff, a continuation of tours by the Natchez National Historical Park, and other events I am just beginning to hear about that aren’t on the schedule yet – including a circus! 

And these events and happenings are in addition to the other, everyday things we have going on in our beautiful city: Carriage Rides, Open Air Tours, Sunsets on the Bluff, Amazing Restaurants, Live Music, Night Spots, our Award-Winning Every-Saturday Natchez Farmers Market, a Brewery, a Winery, Historic Homes Open Every Day, Museums Waiting to be Explored, Dozens of Specialty Shops, Antique Malls, Art Galleries, Six City Parks, New Playgrounds, Baseball at Duncan Park, Tennis, Pickleball, Golf, Disc Golf, Historic Walking Trails, Outdoor Excursions, Bike Rentals, ATV Riding, Horseback Riding, Kayak Fun, Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Ghost Tours, Food Tours, Movie Tours, Greg Iles Tours, Cemetery Tours, the Natchez National Historical Park sites… I think you get the point. And I know I’m leaving things out. 

When people say there’s nothing to do in Natchez, I have to wonder what Natchez are referring to? Our city has so much going on, it’s enough to wear a person out! Needless to say, there’s a lot to do in Natchez. And the list keeps getting longer, with more and more to do. We are so blessed to live in this amazing place we call home and millions visit. My prayer is that the blessings on our city will continue under God’s favor. Because Natchez Deserves More!

Dan M. Gibson is mayor of Natchez.