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Natchez is hope to more than 10,000 spectacular Crepe Myrtles. (Photo courtesy Douglas Adams)

Sally Junkin Ballard award.

Crepe Myrtle Cupcakes from Natchez’s own Butter Cakery, 404 Main St., have become a beloved tradition, marking the start of Celebrate the Blooms. When these seasonal favorites appear, locals know it’s time to savor the sweetest part of the season. (Submitted)

The “pink table” at Nest, located at 505 Franklin St., displays elegant glassware adorned with butterflies, seasonal décor, and a curated collection of all things blooming — perfect for celebrating the beauty of summer in Natchez. (Submitted)

Bloom-inspired cocktails are in full flourish at Frankie’s on Main, 422 Main St., where seasonal sips like the Golden Hour, with Aperol, pineapple, and tequila, toast the start of Celebrate the Blooms. It’s how Natchez does happy hour in full color. (Submitted)

Natchez streets are lined with beautiful crepe myrtles. (Submitted)

NATCHEZ — Each summer, Natchez bursts into vivid color as thousands of crepe myrtle trees bloom across downtown and nearby neighborhoods. This year, the Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) is once again welcoming the seasonal spectacle with its annual Celebrate the Blooms festival, running through June and July, with self-guided walking and driving tours designed to showcase the city’s vibrant crepe myrtle canopy.

“So far, 2025 is looking good for a banner crop of crepe myrtles, maybe as a result of the intense rains we had this spring,” said Elizabeth Greer, Downtown Natchez Alliance Board Member and Promotions Team Chair. “The white trees – the “Natchez Crepe Myrtles” – are already in bloom. Now we are seeing the lavender and light pink blooms, and soon the magnificent deep pink and red trees should take over. Hopefully, the major rains that could knock off the blooms are behind us, and this will be our most spectacular season in recent memory.”

Natchez’s recognition as the “Crepe Myrtle Capital of the World” is largely due to the vision of the late Sallie Junkin Ballard (1926-2017). Her “2000 for 2000” campaign, launched at the turn of the millennium, led to the planting of more than 2,000 crepe myrtles across the city, supplementing an impressive number of ancient trees that were already a signature feature of Natchez’s streetscape.

DNA’s Celebrate the Blooms program includes three self-guided crepe myrtle tours: the Bloom Drive, a scenic motoring loop through neighborhoods; the City Cemetery Tour; and the Sip & See Stroll, a walkable loop through the heart of downtown. The tours, originally designed by Master Gardener Elaine Gemmell, are available for download at https://www.natchezdna.org and on the DNA Facebook page.

Visitors and residents are also invited to explore the downtown historic district where locally owned boutiques, antique shops, cafés, and galleries embrace the Celebrate the Blooms season with colorful storefront displays, bloom-themed merchandise, crepe myrtle-inspired mocktails, cocktails, or desserts, and seasonal specials. “Summer is a wonderful time of year to experience Downtown Natchez,” said Leah Gibson Hunter, Executive Director of the Downtown Natchez Alliance. “Whether you’re sipping iced tea on a shady patio, browsing handmade crafts, or pausing under the blooms for a photo, we invite everyone to slow down, take a walk or drive, and enjoy the uniquely welcoming community spirit of our city in full bloom.”

Sallie Junkin Ballard “Keep Natchez Blooming” Award

DNA’s annual Sallie Junkin Ballard “Keep Natchez Blooming” Award Ceremony is a much-anticipated highlight of the Celebrate the Blooms season. The award honors individuals and organizations who demonstrate exceptional volunteer commitment to enhancing the appeal of downtown through beautification projects and efforts to create welcoming, outdoor spaces. Nominations are open through Monday, June 16, and can be submitted at www.natchezdna.org. The 2025 honorees will be announced at the Celebrate the Blooms Bash, Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Smoot’s Grocery during the Downtown Natchez Farmer’s Market. This casual community gathering is free and open to the public, and includes refreshments, a cash bar, and a plant sale.

Natchez’s annual Celebrate the Blooms event builds on the vision of New Orleans-based historic property realtor Peter Patout, who founded the Natchez International Crepe Myrtle Festival in 2019. In 2018, Patout had visited Natchez, nearly 20 years after Sallie Ballard’s 2000 trees project, to discover upwards of 10,000 crepe myrtle trees within the city limits alone. Patout’s festival continued through COVID and in 2022, his team transitioned the project to DNA to continue as Celebrate the Blooms. Patout’s early efforts “to not take beauty for granted” inspired the city’s ongoing commitment to floral beautification and community pride.

About the Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA)

The Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to revitalizing Downtown Natchez in collaboration with the City of Natchez and downtown stakeholders. Guided by the city’s award-winning Downtown Master Plan and the Main Street Four-Point Approach – Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization – DNA fosters downtown placemaking, walkability, and livability; tracks key economic metrics; works to match market needs to available real estate; and provides small businesses support. It’s in our DNA to keep downtown thriving for residents, visitors, and future generations. DNA is a nationally accredited Main Street America organization and active member of the Mississippi Main Street Association. For more information, visit www.NatchezDNA.org.

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