NATCHEZ — There will be enough Christmas spirit in Natchez this weekend to warm the heart of even the meanest Grinch.

Saturday and Sunday are both packed full of Christmas related events.

Saturday gets an early start from 8 to 11 a.m. with Breakfast with Santa at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church. Tickets are $10, can be purchased at the door and include breakfast and a picture with Santa. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Jefferson Street preschool program.

Melrose will open its doors for Christmas at Melrose including free home tours and activities throughout the day. The house is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At 11 a.m. at the Natchez National Cemetery local veterans will place wreaths on graves as part of the national Wreaths Across America event.

Also on Saturday, puppeteers from Puppet Arts Theater will perform “Peter the Wolf” at 2 and 4 p.m. at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the performance are $6 for children and $10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at Natchez Pilgrimage Tours by calling 601-446-6631.

Saturday will also be a day of music with a noon concert by Kara Klein at Monmouth. Klein will bring her Carnegie Hall concert to Natchez and entertain crowds over lunch at the historic mansion. Tickets for the lunch and concert are $60. For more information or reservations call 601-446-7700.

An evening of music will be provided by Celtic performer David O’Flaherty at 8 p.m. at Margaret Martin. Tickets are $40 for adults, $30 for senior citizens and $20 for children. They can be purchased at the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau or by calling 601-446-6345.

Sunday’s schedule includes singing and sipping with the annual community caroling event in Memorial Park and a new hot chocolate sipping contest.

The contest begins at 4:30 p.m. and the maker of the best hot chocolate will be crowned at the end of the event.

Participants should bring a half-gallon of their best hot chocolate. Tasters can purchase eight tickets for $5 and cast votes for their favorite drink.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the people’s choice of the best recipe. There is no entry fee, but table space must be reserved by calling Regina Charboneau at 601-445-0338.

The contest will be followed by the Natchez tradition of candlelight Caroling in the Park at Memorial Park. The tradition began 13 years ago when Kathy Sizemore wanted to bring a little taste of New Orleans to Natchez.

“When I lived in New Orleans we had a big one in Jackson Square,” she said. “I loved that one, and I love it here.”

The caroling starts at 6 p.m. and will last an hour. Candles will be distributed starting at 5:30 p.m.

Burnley Cook will provide accompaniment and the songs will be led by community members.

Sizemore asks that attendees bring a canned food item, dry good or dishtowels to be donated the The Stewpot in Natchez.

Also on Sunday Auburn will open its doors from 1 to 3 p.m. for a Christmas open house featuring free home tours, refreshments and entertainment.